Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Parkdale
Encyclopedia
Holy Family is a Roman Catholic church in Toronto's
west end neighbourhood of Parkdale
and within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto
. It has been served since 1979 by clergy of the Oratory of St Philip Neri who also run a seminary from the location.
had few Catholic residents until after amalgamation with Toronto. Later, Holy Family would serve the local Catholic institutions on Queen Street (now the Queensway) that had been created in St. Helen's Parish in the 1870s during Parkdale's first period of growth as an independent village; Sacred Heart Orphanage (now St. Joseph's Health Centre) and Our Lady of Mercy Palliative Care Centre originally run by the Sisters of St. Joseph
, that first opened in Toronto Architect John Howard's 'Sunnyside' home, as well as Our Lady of Charity convent and school for wayward girls (now demolished) that was opened out of Parkdale founder Captain O'Hara's 'West Lodge' home by the Good Shepherd Sisters
.
From 1900, Holy Family existed as a mission church of St. Helen's, Brockton, with the pastor there, Fr. Walsh, travelling to Parkdale on Sundays to celebrate mass. Holy Family Roman Catholic Church was created out of St Helen's, Archbishop O'Connor
laying the cornerstone for the new church on June 22, 1902; school was constructed behind the church at the same time. When the church was built, plans were already underway for new parishes to be carved out of Holy Family; St. Leo's
(Mimico) existed as a 'mission' church of Holy Family until separating in 1909 taking the independent village of Swansea. Shortly after, in 1914, St. Vincent de Paul
parish was created to serve the growing Howard Park (Roncesvalles) neighbourhood to the north of Parkdale.
For many years the parish was led by Monsignor Coyle who oversaw the growth of the parish during a time when Parkdale was urbanising with a continuing influx of Catholic residents as the first high-density apartments were built. Also prominent in the parish was long time organist Evaleen O'Donoghue Ferguson, daughter of politician Daniel John O'Donoghue
as well as Parkdale MPP (1948–1951) Lloyd Fell (CCF
). A history of the parish was written for its 50th anniversary, also an occasion when the parish celebrated the ordination of one of the many parishioners to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders.
After the death of Msgr. Coyle, Monsignor Brennan (Rector of St. Augustine's Seminary
) was appointed pastor; he led the parish during a time of liturgical reforms in the Latin Rite. In the post war years Parkdale lost much of its affluence while it redeveloped as a high density immigrant reception neighbourhood, leading to an exodus of many older residents and the closure of many Protestant churches because of declining membership. Holy Family weathered the changes which brought a great shift in the ethnic composition of the parish as older families moved out. Today the parish has a very large Filipino community.
Recent History
In 1979, the three priests of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
in Montreal, led by Fr. Jonathan Robinson, were invited by Toronto's Archbishop to move to Holy Family parish. The fathers of the Oratory also opened a seminary, purchasing many homes along King St to create a complex of connected buildings; this seminary has provided a constant stream of new clergy for the parish. Holy Family parish also works with the needy in Parkdale, opening St. Philip's Centre in the 1980s. In 1995 the Oratorians at Holy Family were given the additional care for the declining St Vincent de Paul parish
to which some of them moved for a time. In 1997, a fire destroyed the original Holy Family church and in the following years funds were raised to build a new church on the site as the congregation worshipped at Holy Family School. The Oratorian priests of Holy Family, having maintained a tradition of the weekly celebration of the mass in Latin since their arrival, in 2007 made the parish one of a small number of churches in the Archdiocese of Toronto to begin celebrating a daily 'Tridentine' Mass
.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
west end neighbourhood of Parkdale
Parkdale, Toronto
Parkdale is a neighbourhood and former village in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, west of downtown. The neighbourhood is bounded on the west by Roncesvalles Avenue, on the north by Queen Street. It is bounded on the east by Dufferin Street from Queen Street south, and on the south by Lake Ontario...
and within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto is a Roman Catholic archdiocese that includes part of the Province of Ontario. Its archbishop is also the eccesiatical provincial for the dioceses of Hamilton, London, Saint Catharines, and Thunder Bay. The Archbishop is Thomas Christopher Collins, with...
. It has been served since 1979 by clergy of the Oratory of St Philip Neri who also run a seminary from the location.
History
Although a village since 1879 with two Anglican churches, the wealthy Toronto suburb of ParkdaleParkdale, Toronto
Parkdale is a neighbourhood and former village in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, west of downtown. The neighbourhood is bounded on the west by Roncesvalles Avenue, on the north by Queen Street. It is bounded on the east by Dufferin Street from Queen Street south, and on the south by Lake Ontario...
had few Catholic residents until after amalgamation with Toronto. Later, Holy Family would serve the local Catholic institutions on Queen Street (now the Queensway) that had been created in St. Helen's Parish in the 1870s during Parkdale's first period of growth as an independent village; Sacred Heart Orphanage (now St. Joseph's Health Centre) and Our Lady of Mercy Palliative Care Centre originally run by the Sisters of St. Joseph
Sisters of St. Joseph
The title Sisters of St. Joseph applies to several Roman Catholic religious congregations of women. The largest and oldest of these was founded in Le Puy-en-Velay, France...
, that first opened in Toronto Architect John Howard's 'Sunnyside' home, as well as Our Lady of Charity convent and school for wayward girls (now demolished) that was opened out of Parkdale founder Captain O'Hara's 'West Lodge' home by the Good Shepherd Sisters
Good Shepherd Sisters
The Good Shepherd Sisters is a Roman Catholic order of women religious. In addition to the standard vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the Good Shepherd Sisters take the following fourth vow of zeal for souls [to save souls], particularly of women and girls."I bind myself to the labor for...
.
From 1900, Holy Family existed as a mission church of St. Helen's, Brockton, with the pastor there, Fr. Walsh, travelling to Parkdale on Sundays to celebrate mass. Holy Family Roman Catholic Church was created out of St Helen's, Archbishop O'Connor
Denis T. O'Connor
Denis T. O'Connor C.S.B. was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Toronto from 1899 to 1908 and the first Canadian born Archbishop of Toronto and the first Canadian head of the diocese since Michael Power....
laying the cornerstone for the new church on June 22, 1902; school was constructed behind the church at the same time. When the church was built, plans were already underway for new parishes to be carved out of Holy Family; St. Leo's
St. Leo's Roman Catholic Church, Mimico
St. Leo's Roman Catholic Church on Royal York Rd at Stanley, Mimico in Toronto , Ontario, is the oldest Catholic church in Etobicoke and the only Catholic church in Mimico.-History:First church...
(Mimico) existed as a 'mission' church of Holy Family until separating in 1909 taking the independent village of Swansea. Shortly after, in 1914, St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church (Toronto)
St. Vincent de Paul is a Roman Catholic church in Toronto, Canada, part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. It has been served since 1995 by clergy of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri who reside at the mother parish of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Parkdale...
parish was created to serve the growing Howard Park (Roncesvalles) neighbourhood to the north of Parkdale.
For many years the parish was led by Monsignor Coyle who oversaw the growth of the parish during a time when Parkdale was urbanising with a continuing influx of Catholic residents as the first high-density apartments were built. Also prominent in the parish was long time organist Evaleen O'Donoghue Ferguson, daughter of politician Daniel John O'Donoghue
Daniel John O'Donoghue
Daniel John O'Donoghue was a printer, labour leader and political figure in Ontario. O'Donoghue is recognized as one of the original founders of organized labour in Canada and in 1874 he became the first labour candidate election to a Canadian legislature.-Labour activism:He was born near...
as well as Parkdale MPP (1948–1951) Lloyd Fell (CCF
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
). A history of the parish was written for its 50th anniversary, also an occasion when the parish celebrated the ordination of one of the many parishioners to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders.
After the death of Msgr. Coyle, Monsignor Brennan (Rector of St. Augustine's Seminary
St. Augustine's Seminary
St. Augustine's Seminary is the archdiocesan seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, in Canada. It also welcomes candidates from elsewhere.It is a member of the Toronto School of Theology. It is located by the shore of Lake Ontario in Toronto....
) was appointed pastor; he led the parish during a time of liturgical reforms in the Latin Rite. In the post war years Parkdale lost much of its affluence while it redeveloped as a high density immigrant reception neighbourhood, leading to an exodus of many older residents and the closure of many Protestant churches because of declining membership. Holy Family weathered the changes which brought a great shift in the ethnic composition of the parish as older families moved out. Today the parish has a very large Filipino community.
Recent History
In 1979, the three priests of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
Oratory of Saint Philip Neri
The Oratory of Saint Philip Neri is a congregation of Catholic priests and lay-brothers who live together in a community bound together by no formal vows but only with the bond of charity. They are commonly referred to as Oratorians...
in Montreal, led by Fr. Jonathan Robinson, were invited by Toronto's Archbishop to move to Holy Family parish. The fathers of the Oratory also opened a seminary, purchasing many homes along King St to create a complex of connected buildings; this seminary has provided a constant stream of new clergy for the parish. Holy Family parish also works with the needy in Parkdale, opening St. Philip's Centre in the 1980s. In 1995 the Oratorians at Holy Family were given the additional care for the declining St Vincent de Paul parish
St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church (Toronto)
St. Vincent de Paul is a Roman Catholic church in Toronto, Canada, part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. It has been served since 1995 by clergy of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri who reside at the mother parish of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Parkdale...
to which some of them moved for a time. In 1997, a fire destroyed the original Holy Family church and in the following years funds were raised to build a new church on the site as the congregation worshipped at Holy Family School. The Oratorian priests of Holy Family, having maintained a tradition of the weekly celebration of the mass in Latin since their arrival, in 2007 made the parish one of a small number of churches in the Archdiocese of Toronto to begin celebrating a daily 'Tridentine' Mass
Tridentine Mass
The Tridentine Mass is the form of the Roman Rite Mass contained in the typical editions of the Roman Missal that were published from 1570 to 1962. It was the most widely celebrated Mass liturgy in the world until the introduction of the Mass of Paul VI in December 1969...
.
Pastors
- Rev. James Walsh (1900 - 1903) commuted from St Helen's, Brockton
- Rev. Msgr. Patrick Coyle (1903–1945)
- Rev. Msgr. Edward Brennan (1946–1978)
- Rev. David Roche, C.O. (1979 - 2011)
- Rev. Martin Hilbert (2011- )
'Children' Parishes
- St. Leo'sSt. Leo's Roman Catholic Church, MimicoSt. Leo's Roman Catholic Church on Royal York Rd at Stanley, Mimico in Toronto , Ontario, is the oldest Catholic church in Etobicoke and the only Catholic church in Mimico.-History:First church...
- St. Vincent de PaulSt. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church (Toronto)St. Vincent de Paul is a Roman Catholic church in Toronto, Canada, part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. It has been served since 1995 by clergy of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri who reside at the mother parish of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Parkdale...
School
- Holy Family Elementary School and Community Centre Founded 1902