The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.) are a missionary religious congregation dedicated to evangelizing “the abandoned poor” and the Indigenous peoples of Canada.  When they arrived in the North-West in 1845, their mission was to support and supplement the diocesan priests who were stretched thin from extensive travel, baptizing, and ministering to both the mixed-blood population and the Aboriginal Peoples.  Their arrival marked a significant new chapter in missionary work, and they were warmly welcomed by the communities in the North-West.  It didn’t take long for the Oblate missionaries to recognize that the deep spirituality of the Aboriginal Peoples was a significant factor in their attraction to the Catholic faith.

In 1877, Chief Bull Head of the Tsuut’ina Nation (formerly known as the Sarcee) signed Treaty 7.  When Chief Bullhead entered into Treaty 7, he kept this land for the exclusive use of his people to continue their way of life.  This land, situated between Fish Creek and the Elbow River, was part of the territory occupied by their people.  

Following the signing of the treaty, the Oblates of Mary Immaculate from St. Mary’s in Calgary, which later became the Cathedral, frequently visited the Tsuut’ina Nation reserve.  In 1912, a small chapel was built at a cost of $1,200 and was named St. George’s Church.  Mass was celebrated once a month on Sundays and occasionally during the week.  However, in bad weather, the church could not be reached.  In 1940, Fr. J. Lessard, O.M.I., wrote to Bishop Carroll requesting permission to celebrate Mass in three private houses on the Reserve due to the church being too inaccessible for most of the population, and was granted permission.  In 1950, Fr. Clement Frappier reported to Bishop Carroll that the Sarcee Catholics were numerous and faithful to the practice of their faith but Mass was still being celebrated in three houses on the Reserve because of the remote location of St. George’s Chapel.   He told Bishop Carroll that the congregation was keen to have Mass every Sunday so it was decided that St. George’s Chapel would be moved to a new, more accessible location.  Originally located in the southern part of the reserve, this wooden church was then moved in 1951 to its current location, about 2 miles from Anderson Road.

By the early 1960s, the little church congregation had grown significantly – with 106 Catholic children residing on the reserve and the majority of the community identifying as Catholic.  In light of this growth, it became evident that a new church was necessary, as St. George’s Church was aging, too small, and deteriorating.  The strong Catholic presence on the reserve underscored the urgency for a new church. 

Despite the parishioners’ efforts to raise funds for a new church, their attempts fell short.  In response, Bishop Carroll initiated fundraising efforts, beginning with a special appeal for donations for a new Sarcee church during the Tour of the Pilgrimage Statue throughout the diocese.  By January 1963, it became impossible to continue celebrating Mass at St. George’s Church, prompting Bishop Carroll to recognize that further delays in constructing a new church at Sarcee were not an option.  With funding from the Church Extension Society ($2,000), the Tour fund and funding from the Diocese ($4,000) along with labour offered by the Oblate brothers, the building of the new church commenced.

A pivotal moment occurred during Lent.  Each year, Mass was celebrated at St. George’s Church every Wednesday evening.  While Dick Starlight and Henry Dodging Horse were walking home after evening Mass, they experienced a vision of Our Lady of Peace Church as it stands today.  This vision inspired Dick to contribute to the church’s construction; he sold cattle and offered land originally allocated for his personal use for the church’s site.  This is where the current church is located (as told by Bruce Starlight).

The Oblates arrived in the spring of 1963 to build the church’s frame and returned in the summer to complete the interior, constructing it exactly as envisioned by Dick Starlight and Henry Dodging Horse.  The new church was named in honor of the first mission chapel built in the diocese in 1872, as a Diocesan Jubilee gift.  It was dedicated by Bishop Francis P. Carroll on October 6, 1963, and from that day forward, Mass was celebrated every Sunday at the new church.

In the 1990s, the congregation size started to decline.  Eventually, the church fell into significant disrepair, primarily due to a leaky roof and other issues.  In 2021, Ruby Starlight, granddaughter of Dick Starlight, was interviewed by a Rebel News journalist at the Calgary Stampede Elbow River Camp, a venue celebrating First Nations culture.  During the interview, she invited the journalist and his crew to visit Tsuut’ina Nation to learn about their traditions and highlighted the need for repairs on “her grandfather’s church.”  Moved by the story, Rebel News decided to support the cause and launched a fundraiser titled “Repair the Church” (http://RepairTheChurch.com).  Thanks to the generous contributions, crucial repairs were carried out, including replacing the roof, fixing a broken window, and addressing rodent and groundhog problems.  The parishioners were deeply appreciative of the improvements and viewed the fundraiser as an answer to their prayers, helping to maintain their cherished place of worship.