Denzil - St. Clement's Convent

In the fall of 1937 the call for Sisters at Denzil was answered by the Ursulines of St. Angela's Convent, Prelate. A little mission band of six took up their abode in a private room. Later, better accommodation was found in a larger home and plans were made to purchase land. When it became possible , the house on the lots was also bought, but soon it was discovered unfit to live in. Until a new home could be built the Sisters lived in the church hall by day and went to private rooms for the night. As weeks slipped by, a fine St. Clement's Convent home arose; the men worked late into the night and soon it was ready for us to move in. A spacious yard enabled us to plant a garden and to have farmyard animals.

At school, the Sisters operatd four classrooms and were in complete charge of the school.

In 1942, provision was made for five classrooms still wholly in the charge of the Sisters. In 1953, Mr. J.A. Volk joined the staff and the following year he became principal of the school.

The surrounding schools began to take advantage of the Unit School buses in the famill of 1956. Three more teachers were now on staff and temporary teaching quarters were made in the two basement rooms and office of the school. Before winter set in, the new four-room school was ready to be occupied. At the official opening, His Excellency, Bishop Klein, blessed the new school.

The same year the worst storm ever experienced in this area almost claimed lives of the Sisters in their attempt to go home from school.

God saw fit to send a big cross to St. Clement's Convent on March 28, 1960. Providentially the Sisters awoke just in time to rescue the Blessed Sacrement and leave the burning house. They welcomed the generosity and charity of all around. Father Otterbach gave them a temporary home at the rectory while the teacherage was prepared to serve as a convent. "Des Gratias" for having saved them from worst.

An addition of two classrooms to the new school made room for two teachers on the staff. The last of the district rural schools closed and another Sister joined the staff. She taught in St. Peter's school which was placed beside the old brick school.

A beautiful convent was slowly taking shape west of the church, and eagerly did the Sisters await moving day, October 28, 1961. Shortly after it was blessed and the Stations of the Cross were erected.

"Jubilee Year" - 1937-1962 meant 25 years of service at Denzil. It was grateful recalled by the people in the erection fo a picket fence and cement sidewalk around the new convent. A lawn and trees were also planted.

A truly "Ecumencial Spirit" in the matter of different Orders of Religious visiting St. Clement's, marked the year 1963; first the Notre Dame Sisters spent the night here when they staged their play prepared with the students from Leipzig; the White Sisters found their haven here during the time they spent telling mission work; the Grey Nuns from St. Albert, propagandizing for vocations enjoyed St. Clement's hospitality and Sister M. Monica OLM spent a week here doing Holy Childhood work.

Canada's Centennial, 1967, was ushered in with the erection of a new altar in St. Clement's Chapel. This made it possible for the pastor to offer Mass facing the congregation.

In 1969, the Sisters purchased a new car and had a garbage built in the fall of the same year.

In 1971, the exterior of the Sister's Residence was repainted. In the fall of 1981, new siding was installed which gave the Residence a complete new look.

Within the last few years, due to a shortage of vocations, the Sisters have had to withdraw from all their classroom positions except one. Presently, there are just two Sisters residing at Denzil.

A list of the Sisters who have held teaching positions in the Denzil School:

Sister Benedicta, Sister Dominica, Sister Rose, Sister Louise, Sister Margaret (Anne Fetsch), Sister Ambrosia, Sister Clara, Sister Mechtildes, Sister Pascal, Sister Benigna, Sister Dorothy, Sister Laurentia, Sister Irene (Shirley Christopher), Sister Geralda, Sister Beatrice, Sister Josephine, Sister Geraldine, Sister Philomena, Sister Wilhelmine, Sister Albina, Sister Bernadette, Sister Celine, Sister Romana (Regina Jochim), Sister Alfreda, Sister Jerome, Sister Frances, Sister Rosalyn, Sister Gemma, Sister Aquina, Sister Victoria (Jean Elder), Sister Eleanore, Sister Rosamund (Pauline Feist), Sister Michael (Mary Lauer), Sister Cynthia, Sister Grace (Gertrude Sopracolle), Sister Barbara (Emily Kosolofski), Sister DeSales (Rosemarie Hepfner), Sister Brigetta, Sister Audrey Doetzel, Sister Kathy Brost, Sister Mary Zerr, Sister Margaret Ann Feist.

The following Sisters were also stationed at Denzil, but served in other capacities, such as cooks, housekeepers, music teachers, organists, sacristans, etc.

Sister Anne, Sister Georgine, Sister Celestine, Sister Agatha, Sister Winfreda, Sister Agnes, Sister Gabriel, Sister Claudia, Sister Anselma, Sister Elizabeth, Sister Lorraine, Sister Cornelia (Emily Hittel), Sister Raphael (Florentine Busholl), Sister Alice, Sister Clotilde, Sister Elaine, Sister Priscilla, Sister Marie Abt.





Last Updated: Saturday, February 9, 2002