Our History
For over 125 years, St. Mary's has strived to be a welcoming place where people’s lives can be transformed by the love of God. We aren't a perfect people, but we continue in our efforts to build a rich history of serving and supporting Catholic faith in Cochrane. Take a moment to learn about our cherished parish history in the documentation below.
The text below recounts the history of St. Mary's Parish in Cochrane in a shortened version as gleaned from Bev Pamenter's book along with insights from Norman Knowles who wrote about the history of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary in 2004. Old photos (many borrowed from the Glenbow Museum) have been included to enhance the story. Read and enjoy!