Oraison funèbre de Mgr Grandin par le père Leduc

Mgr Vital Grandin, the first Catholic bishop of Saint-Albert, passed away on June 3rd 1902. The funeral was held on June 10th and the funeral oration was presented by the Reverend Father Hippolyte Leduc, a well-known Oblate priest and a great defender of Francophone and Catholic education in the North-West Territories.

In 1868, Mgr Grandin was named the first Apostolic Vicar of the new Saint-Albert Vicariate. On September 22 1891, Saint-Albert became the first Apostolic See of the Catholic Church in Alberta and the seat of the new Saint-Albert Diocese which at the time included Saskatchewan, Alberta and the North-West Territories. Mgr Grandin will officially be installed in his new diocese on April 7 1872. Upon his death, he will be succeeded by Mgr Legal. (Archives CSJ, Duro PEO74)