Father Larry Pederson led construction of new church in his home city of Camrose

09 January 2023

Appears in: Archdiocesan News

Father Larry Pederson, who was instrumental in leading the construction of the new St. Francis Xavier church as pastor in his home city of Camrose, has died. He was 78.

Pederson died on Jan. 8, 2023. Vigil Prayers will be on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial will be on Jan. 12 10 a.m. Both will be at St. Francis Xavier Parish.

Pederson was born Feb. 14, 1944 in Camrose, and ordained May 25, 1968 at St. Francis Xavier church.

Pederson served as associate pastor of St. Joseph’s Basilica and St. Matthew’s parish in Edmonton. After a year of theological studies St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, he taught systematic theology at Newman Theological College from 1973-1974.

From 1974 to 2009, Pederson was pastor in Thorsby (including Warburg, Breton and Sandholm), St. Michael-Resurrection parish in Edmonton, St. Gregory’s parish in Holden, Holy Heart of Mary parish in Viking and St. Joseph’s parish in Killam.

Rev. Larry Pederson, pastor of St. Francis Xavier in Camrose, and construction superintendent Eric Nickerson stand in the new church building.

After a sabbatical leave, he was pastor at St. Francis Xavier parish in Camrose from 2010 until his retirement in 2019.

Pederson worked with the St. Francis Xavier parish committee to see the completion of the new, $14.5-million, 35,000 square-foot church building project. It marked a milestone for Pederson, who was born in Camrose and ordained in the old church in 1968.

In an interview, Pederson said coming back to Camrose as pastor and shepherding the construction of the new church was special.

“Not too many priests have that opportunity, and to do it in your home parish was quite exciting.”