Denomination: Roman Catholic
Holy Redeemer Parish was established in 1926. Monsignor Walter Brennan was the first parish priest. Before 1926 the Corner Brook area was part of Sacred Heart Parish Curling which was established in 1884.
In 1927, Most Reverend. Henry T. Renouf, the Bishop of the Diocese of St. George’s, at the request of Father Walter Brennan, asked the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM) to take care of the educational needs of the parish. A community of six Sisters with Mother M. Xavier as Superior was appointed. On October 2, 1927 a new convent, dedicated to the Sacred Heart, was blessed. St. Henry’s school, called after Bishop Renouf, opened on October 10.
Father Michael Hayes came as an assistant to the parish in 1928. In 1931, due to the shortage of priests in the diocese, Bishop Renouf asked the Priests of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (CSSR) (Redemptorists) to administer the parish. Mount Bernard Ave, where the cathedral is presently located, was called after Father Bernard Coffey, the first Redemptorist pastor of the parish.
From 1926 to 1956 St. Henry’s Chapel in Townsite, served as the parish church. In 1946 the seat of the diocese, situated until then in St. George’s, was officially transferred to Corner Brook Shortly after the arrival of Bishop Michael O’Reilly in 1947, plans were made to build a new cathedral. In 1956 the cathedral on Mount Bernard was officially opened and blessed. The title Immaculate Conception was added to the official title of the parish as the first church on Sandy Point, which served as the pro-cathedral for a while, was named Immaculate Conception. The official title then became, Parish of the Most Holy Redeemer and of the Immaculate Conception.
The Redemptorists moved to St. George’s in 1947 and Father Leo J. Drake became the rector of the Cathedral parish. He was succeeded by Father Charles Costello. The Irish Christian Brothers arrived in the parish in September, 1954, with Brother A.F. Brennan as Superior and as principal of Regina High School. In more recent years, for a brief time, the Sisters of the Holy Rosary and a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary served in the parish.
In 1927, Most Reverend. Henry T. Renouf, the Bishop of the Diocese of St. George’s, at the request of Father Walter Brennan, asked the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (PBVM) to take care of the educational needs of the parish. A community of six Sisters with Mother M. Xavier as Superior was appointed. On October 2, 1927 a new convent, dedicated to the Sacred Heart, was blessed. St. Henry’s school, called after Bishop Renouf, opened on October 10.
Father Michael Hayes came as an assistant to the parish in 1928. In 1931, due to the shortage of priests in the diocese, Bishop Renouf asked the Priests of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (CSSR) (Redemptorists) to administer the parish. Mount Bernard Ave, where the cathedral is presently located, was called after Father Bernard Coffey, the first Redemptorist pastor of the parish.
From 1926 to 1956 St. Henry’s Chapel in Townsite, served as the parish church. In 1946 the seat of the diocese, situated until then in St. George’s, was officially transferred to Corner Brook Shortly after the arrival of Bishop Michael O’Reilly in 1947, plans were made to build a new cathedral. In 1956 the cathedral on Mount Bernard was officially opened and blessed. The title Immaculate Conception was added to the official title of the parish as the first church on Sandy Point, which served as the pro-cathedral for a while, was named Immaculate Conception. The official title then became, Parish of the Most Holy Redeemer and of the Immaculate Conception.
The Redemptorists moved to St. George’s in 1947 and Father Leo J. Drake became the rector of the Cathedral parish. He was succeeded by Father Charles Costello. The Irish Christian Brothers arrived in the parish in September, 1954, with Brother A.F. Brennan as Superior and as principal of Regina High School. In more recent years, for a brief time, the Sisters of the Holy Rosary and a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary served in the parish.
