Historic Sites of Manitoba: St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church and Rectory / Bruxelles Cemetery (Bruxelles, Municipality of Lorne)

Link to:
Clerics | Photos & Coordinates | Sources

From 1892 to 1906, the church was situated in the southwest quarter of 32-5-11 west of the Principal Meridian, in what is now the Municipality of Lorne. From 1906 to 1918, it was replaced by a church at Bruxelles. Finally, in 1918, the present church was constructed at the same site as its predecessor.

A plaque commemorating the 100th anniversary of the St. Gerard Parish (1892-1992) was installed in recognition of Archbishop Tache of St. Boniface whose colonization efforts attracted homesteaders to this area of “La Montagne Pembina” prior to and following the establishment of Bruxelles in 1892. The Parish was so named because its first priest, Father Gustave Willems, came from the capital of Belgium and the settlers, who were mostly of Belgian origin, would be reminded of their homelead. The plaque also commemorates the 61 members of the Ursuline Order of nuns who served at Bruxelles from 1914 to 1989, providing education to local children. Their convent school was also home to students from across Manitoba.

The former church rectory next door, furnished in period decor, is used as a Bed & Breakfast.

Clerics

Period	Cleric
1892-1899	Father G. Willems
1899-1947	Monseigneur H. Heynen
1947-1957	Monseigneur H. LaPointe
1957-1981	Father Gerard De Ruyck
1982-1985	Father J. P. Gagné
1985-?	Father M. Jeanneau

Photos & Coordinates

St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church (no date) Source: St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church (2010) Source: Ed Grassick St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church and Cemetery (May 2018) Source: George Penner Interior of St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church (October 2019) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Interior of St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church (October 2019) Source: Gordon Goldsborough The former St. Gerard Roman Catholic Rectory (May 2018) Source: George Penner St. Gerard Parish commemorative monument (August 2010) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.48660, W98.91837 denoted by symbol on the map above

Sources:

A list of burials in this cemetery is available from the Manitoba Genealogical Society, including a searchable online database available to members at the MGS Manitoba Name Index (MANI). Some additional information is contained in the 1996 MGS publication Carved in Stone: Manitoba Cemeteries and Burial Sites, revised edition, Special Projects Publication, 106 pages.

We thank Louise Carels for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough, George Penner, and Ed Grassick.

Page revised: 24 June 2023

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