For about 26 years [1910-1936] the Oblate Missionaries served the Catholics in the district of Petersfield [aka as "Peter's field"*]. From their Mission House in Selkirk, i.e., St. Michael's Mission,** the Oblate Fathers would navigate the Red River and through Netley Creek to reach out and minister to the spiritual needs of the people of Petersfield and surrounding areas.

In 1936 a parcel of land was bought and the first church was built. Archbishop Arthur Alfred Sinnot blessed the "little gem" St. Anne's Church in the autumn of that year. The first recorded baptism was Peter Edward Bidinost on 25 October 1936 [date of birth: 2 April 1936]. The first recorded burial was Jennie Masters, 45 years old, on 18 August 1937 [date of death: 16 August 1937].

The Oblate Fathers from St. Margaret's Church, Little Britain, ministered to St. Anne's Parish for many years. Since 1999 the priests of Notre Dame Church, Selkirk serve the congregation of St. Anne's.

(Source: Notre Dame Church website [2023/12; Adapted])

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The cemetery was established in 1937. The Roman Catholic parish of Ste. Anne had its beginnings when a group met at the home of Mrs. O'Connor with a visiting priest for Mass prior to 1936. Land was purchased in 1936 from Mr. Foord and a small church was erected by volunteers. A new church now replaces the original and the lot has been enlarged.

The first burial in Ste. Anne's Cemetery was Jennie Masters who died in 1937 and undoubtedly is one of the many graves marked only by a white wooden cross.

(Source: Manitoba Genealogical Society [Adapted])

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Dominion Land Survey coordinates: LSD06-27-15-04-E1

In the Rural Municipality of St Andrews

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A part of the town's story, and those of its inhabitants, from the early days of European settlement through roughly 1999 is told in the volume "Beyond the Gates of Lower Fort Garry 1880-1981", especially starting on page 58. A free digital version of this and many other Manitoba local history books can be found online in the University of Manitoba Digital Collections. There is also a list of such books organized by district and town name on the Manitoba Historical Society's website on their page entitled "Finding Aid: Manitoba Local History Books".

A list of burials in this cemetery is available from the Manitoba Genealogical Society (reference #0195), transcribed by a member or members in 1986 and updated in 1994. Also available to MGS members is a searchable online database named the "MGS Manitoba Name Index" (or 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).