Fort Simpson CatholicsSA国际影视传媒� decades-long journey to building a new church has finally come to fruition.

On Sunday, Sept. 17, Bishop Mark Hagemoen knocked on the wooden doors of the new, $1.3 million Sacred Heart Church and entered to lead the congregation in the dedication of the new building, and a celebration.

SA国际影视传媒淲hat I observed was first of all a great excitement,SA国际影视传媒� said Father Joe Daley, SA国际影视传媒渁nd also years and years and years of hoping and looking forward, and they couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 quite believe itSA国际影视传媒檚 here, our new church that weSA国际影视传媒檝e talked about and dreamed about and worked for. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 here.SA国际影视传媒�

Daley served as pastor for Sacred Heart from 1996 to 2002, then returned in 2014. He remembers the original church, built in the early 1900s, getting classified as unrepairable in a report from 1992. By the early 2000s, the building had been condemned.

Since then, the congregation has met in the gym at Bompas Elementary School SA国际影视传媒� named, funnily enough, for Anglican bishop William Bompas. There were no ill feelings in staying there, said Daley. In fact, itSA国际影视传媒檚 just one of multiple examples of how the villageSA国际影视传媒檚 churches support each other in times of need.

When Daley moved back to Fort Simpson, he had nowhere to stay. The Pentacostal ChurchSA国际影视传媒檚 parsonage was empty because the minister had gone off to continue his studies, and the church let Daley stay there for a year, until they got a new minister.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 the kind of friendship that exists among the churches in Fort Simpson,SA国际影视传媒� said Daley.

This community spirit helped build the new church, said Daley. People with no relation to the church would offer to help, giving hours of their time to the cause.

The initiative was made a reality, though, by Bishop Mark Hagemoen. He had heard people talk about their dream of a new church on his first visit to Fort Simpson four years ago. He asserted that now was the time to build it, even though theySA国际影视传媒檇 only collected about $300,000 dollars by that point and didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know what they could accomplish with that much.

Hagemoen visited a few of his friends within the Catholic community and came back with some plans. SA国际影视传媒淥ur jaws dropped and he said, SA国际影视传媒業 think we can do it,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� said Daley. SA国际影视传媒淎nd within months we were putting out tenders. It was just incredible.SA国际影视传媒�

They chose RoweSA国际影视传媒檚 Construction, based in Hay River, but with a secondary office in Fort Simpson, as a contractor. RoweSA国际影视传媒檚 planned to employ local people to build the church, and had a competitive bid. SA国际影视传媒淭he bid from RoweSA国际影视传媒檚 was worth $1.3 million,SA国际影视传媒� said Daley. SA国际影视传媒淪o we were short $1 million.SA国际影视传媒�

Then major donors from down south came through in big ways. The Archdiocese of Edmonton, the diocese in Hamilton, Ont. and Catholic Missions in Canada all provided major support and fundraised.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think we have a very well-built building,SA国际影视传媒� said Daley. SA国际影视传媒淭he bishop keeps saying, SA国际影视传媒楾his will last 100 years.SA国际影视传媒� And I have no doubt.SA国际影视传媒�

But, it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 just the big donors that made it happen, said Daley. He cited an envelope from an elder containing $10, and a coin dropped into a blanket set out for collections by an old lady, walking with a cane.

SA国际影视传媒淪he came and she dropped it and she bowed. And I thought, SA国际影视传媒楾hatSA国际影视传媒檚 what made this church,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� said Daley.

Another member of the congregation, Billy Villeneuve, went around the village collecting cans and bottles on a three-wheeled bicycle for years, every day of the year, and donating the proceeds to the church. Even in the worst days of winter. SA国际影视传媒淲hen ISA国际影视传媒檓 shivering in my truck, heSA国际影视传媒檚 biking along,SA国际影视传媒� said Daley.

In the end, Villeneuve contributed more than $80,000 from what he collected.

The churchSA国际影视传媒檚 legacy is complicated. While people are deeply enveloped in their faith, it was also the churches that administered residential schools. Both Daley and Norwegian were optimistic about the symbolism of the new building.

SA国际影视传媒淲e could say itSA国际影视传媒檚 a new beginning,SA国际影视传媒� said Norwegian, SA国际影视传媒渂ut I would say we were always working to this new beginning. So now that itSA国际影视传媒檚 come to fruition, with a new building, we can continue working on it moreso in a positive direction.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淓specially post-Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the healing is just starting,SA国际影视传媒� said Daley.

But, the will for the new church came from the community, and it will be the community that buoys it forward.

Norwegian said it was really the people, their prayers and their hopes, that made this dream come true.

SA国际影视传媒淎nd not only us here today but the many people who died, who prayed and hoped with us. From the bottom of my heart I just want to continue to say thank you and mahsi.SA国际影视传媒�