We are His people, the flock of the Lord On July 1^st, 1947, Archbishop Murray commissioned Fr. St. Jacques to  establish a parish in the Municipality of Charleswood, and also to erect a small  church. The Archdiocese of Winnipeg loaned the new parish $4230.00 and required  a repayment of only $1500.00.  Fr. St. Jacques rented two rooms in a house on Chalfont Rd. and immediately  started to visit Catholic families in the area. On July 22, 1947 a meeting of the men  of the future parish was held. It was decided at that meeting to purchase land and  build a small frame church about 40x20 feet. A three-acre site was found on Roblin  Blvd. across from the Vasa Lund Park. A carpenter was hired at $1.25/hour. Night  after night volunteer men, women and children came to help in the construction of  the church and realize a dream. Prior to the completion of the church in Charleswood, most Catholics of the  area attended either St. Ignatius or St. Charles churches. It was difficult and time  consuming to reach St. Ignatius if one depended on the limited streetcar service  that was later replaced by an also limited bus service. To reach St. Charles, it was  necessary to cross by ferry in the summer or walk across the frozen Assiniboine  River in the winter. The only reference to the naming of the early church is found in the records  kept by Fr. St. Jacques which stated “The original name given this church was St.  Catherine and later changed to Our Lady of Peprpetual Help” When the first Mass  was celebrated on August 24, 1947 at 10:15AM, the church was far from finished.  Old timers tell us they sat on planks supported on nail kegs until chairs and  wooden kneelers were purchased. By the fall of 1947 Sunday school classes began.  Catechism classes were taught on Sunday afternoons by some of the ladies of the  parish.  A ladies group was organized to plan social activities and the youth formed  a C.Y.O. Both organizations became very active and had tremendous enthusiasm.   In October of 1947, the pastor moved into four rooms located in the back  of the church. In the early part of November, Father was given permission to leave  the parish and register at the University of Montreal to take a two-year course in  Social Science to receive a Bachelor’s Degree. Fr. J. Fitzgerald was appointed pastor in November 1947. Father moved into  the rooms at the back of the church but soon found the accommodations very  inadequate for winter living. The attendance at Sunday Mass had increased to the  point where a second Mass was now needed. A small house across from the church  (now Vasa Lund) was purchased for the rectory. Fr. Fitzgerald was asked to accept  an appointment as Chaplain to the Home of the Good Shepherd. It was with regret  that Fr. Fitzgerald left the work he had started in the new parish. Fr. Russell Manning was appointed pastor in 1948. There was little change  during the following year. On June 26, 1949, thirty-six ladies signed the Catholic  Women’s League Charter to form a Council in the parish and become part of the  National Council.  In those days, most of the population increase was taking place in the east  end of the municipality. As the congregation grew larger, it was thought that the  church was not well located. Accordingly, in October of 1950, a more central  location was purchased as the corner of Roblin and Hedley (now Grant).  Preparation to relocate began. The parishioners cleared trees and underbrush from  a portion of the present 2 fi acre site, a foundation for the church was laid and a  very old four room house situated on the property was renovated for a rectory. The  church building was moved in the summer of 1951 and placed where the staff  parking lot now exists. A small addition was added to the rear of the church.  Worship was held in the small church for the next several years. As the parish  grew, it became necessary to introduce a third Sunday morning Mass which was  celebrated by visiting priests, Fr. James Mulholland and occasionally, Fr. Leo  McDonald. The Holy Name sisters and students from St. Mary’s Academy played a  major role in the religious education program, assisted by our own parishioners in  these earlier years. The men of the parish formed car-pools to transport the Sisters  each Sunday.  In 1957 Fr. Manning warned of the need to plan a new church for the near  futures due to the continued growth of both the community and the parish. A fund  raising campaign was started. The parish was canvassed and pledges taken.  Finally, in 1962, a new church was designed and construction commenced that fall.  The total cost was $100,000.00, not much by present prices, but an ambitious  undertaking for about 125 families at a time when an average salary was $6,000.00  per year.  The men cleared more land for the new church and parking lot.  The  driveway in front was one of the first to be designed to facilitate wheelchairs.  The  first Mass celebrated on Palm Sunday, 1963.  The solemn blessing by Archbishop  Flahiff took place on June 23 of the same year. Fr. Manning's 25th Anniversary in the priesthood was celebrated at the 1962  annual smorgasboard at Vasa Lund.  Our Lady of Perpetual Help men's club was  formed in 1962.  They were very active in conducting bingos, picnics, dances and  parish work projects. Fr. Manning went into semi-retirement in September 1970 and was assigned as an assistant priest at St. Mary's Cathedral.  He was replaced in our parish by Fr.  Eugene Oroskovits on September 19, 1970.  During the time Fr. "O" was with us, we  elected our first parish council.  We gathered together and rejoiced as a parish  family at the burning of the church mortgage on December 6, 1975.  A new rectory  and administration centre was built in 1976 at a cost of $71,000.00.  We felt  privileged to celebrate with Fr. O in 1978 on the occasion of his 40th anniversary in  the priesthood.  A roast dinner was held in his honour and a gift presented to him. Due to the increase in students for religious classes, it was decided to ask  Sister Storey from the convent of the Sacred Heart to be program co-ordinator.  Fr.  started visits to the local nursing homes and spent many hours each week visiting  the sick and shut-ins.  We were saddened by his death on February 27, 1979. Many  felt they had lost a dear friend and the name Father "O" had become synonymous  with the virtues of dedication and devotion. As a memorial to Fr. Oroskovits, the parish founded a scholarship fund.  Parishioners and friends donated $9,082.25 which was divided between St. Charles  Academy, St. Mary's Academy and St. Paul's High School to be used as bursaries to  tuition only.  Following the death of Fr. Oroskovits, the parish was administered  temporarily by Fr. Eugene Grzesko.  Father spent from March 9, 1979 to July 1979  with us.  He was appointed to St. Michael's Parish in Gimli.  Fr. Michael Moore, now Monsignor, was welcomed as our new pastor on July  8, 1979.  This was a time of liturgical change.  Father encouraged greater  participation in the liturgy and the interior of the church took on a new look.  The  communion rail was removed, the altar elevated and the choir was relocated from  the choir loft to a position near the main altar.  An alcove altar was completed as a  special place for the Blessed Sacrament.  Fr. Michael also brought life and vitality to the parish.  Many new programs were started, for example a Bible Study.  The  Knights of Columbus Council, which received its charter in 1980, meets regularly at  Our Lady of Perpetual Help.  Although not a parish society, many of the members  are active in parish programs. Religious Education part-time coordinator, Sister Kathleen-Anne Tomenko of  Our Lady of the Missions, was with us for a short time.  Sister Pauline Greschner of  the Ursuline Order came to our parish on August 22, 1981.  The talents and  ingenuity of Sister and her many lay assistants were greatly appreciated.  A dinner  was held in the parish hall in honour of Sister's 25th anniversary on September 18,  1983.  Fr. Michael's administrative ability was recognized by the Chancery Office. On  January 18, 1983, he was asked to serve as Chancellor of the Archdiocese of  Winnipeg.  A farewell wine and cheese party was held.  A large number of  parishioners attended to wish Father well in his new post. An interim appointment was announced in the person of Fr. Sean Cahill.  Fr.  Cahill was with us from January to August of the same year, when he was  appointed to St. Jude's Parish in Erickson.   On Sunday, August 28, 1983 Fr. Terry McGrath celebrated his first Mass as our  pastor.  A steady growth in Charleswood had increased the parish to 700 families.  The church had become a very busy place.  Programs had been expanded and new  ones introduced. Due to the additional numbers the facilities were then inadequate  and church expansion had to be considered.  A Feasibility Committee of five  members was established to study two options: (1) expand the current facility, (2)  build a new structure.  After an extensive study, the committee recommended to  parish council that expansion was the better choice. The estimated cost was over  $1.3 million and would increase the seating capacity to over six hundred.  The  expansion would also allow for much needed space for religious education, youth  and senior programs and social events. The new facilities would also house the  church's administration offices.   His Grace Archbishop Adam Exner turned the first sod on April 30th, 1989.  During the time of expansion, Sunday Masses were celebrated in the auditorium of  St. Paul's High School.  His Grace blessed the church on April 29, 1990.  In memory  of two former pastors the main hall was named the Fr. Manning Hall and the smaller  hall was named the Fr. Oroskovits Hall.   After nine years as our pastor, Fr. Terry was appointed to Notre Dame Parish  in Selkirk, Manitoba.  Fr. Stan Jaworski celebrated his first Mass on August 16,  1992.  Father brought years of dedication and experience to our parish. We were fortunate to have Sr. Pauline as Pastoral Assistant and Religious  Education Coordinator from 1981 to 1996.  Sister was indeed an asset and an  example.  Sister accepted a position as Associate Chaplain at St. Paul's College on  the University Campus.   For a brief period, Marie Florian served as Religious Education Coordinator. In 1997 Sherry Matteotti was hired for this position.  Sherry has been very  instrumental in bringing to the parish the Catechism of the Good Shepherd. In 2001, after 45 year in the priesthood and 9 years at OLPH, Fr. Stan  submitted to the Archbishop his request for retirement.  It was accepted, and in  June of that year a celebration dinner was held in his honour at the church.   On August 1st, 2001 we welcomed Fr. Barry Schoonbaert as our new parish  priest.  Fr. Barry has brought a fresh new approach in parish ministry, and has  introduced such philosophies and programs as stewardship and adult faith  enrichment sessions. For many years, the parish had several volunteers leading a variety of youth  group events.  In 1997, OLPH along with Blessed John XXIII^rd and St. Paul the  Apostle hired Tracey Spelay to work as the Youth Ministry Coordinator for all three  parishes.  After one year, she accepted a teaching position and was no longer with  any of the parishes.  Shortly after, Kent Whiteside worked for a brief period as the  parish Youth Coordinator.  Then in 2001, at the recommendation of the Pastoral  Council, Nicole Hoard was added to the parish staff as Coordinator of Youth  Ministries.  Nicole has adopted the comprehensive model of youth ministry.  To  date, the largest undertaking of the parish Youth Ministry has been promoting,  planning and preparing 19 parish 'pilgrims' to meet with the Holy Father and  350,000+ other youth (ages 16-35) from around the world, at World Youth Day 2002  in Toronto.  Being only 60 years young we remain a relatively new parish.  Inspired by God's Spirit we are sure to look forward to many more fulfilling years as  God's family giving praise to God and building His Kingdom!