St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church (Toronto)

St Vincent de Paul is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in the Archdiocese of Toronto. It has been served since 1995 by clergy of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri and St. Philip's Seminary who reside at their primary parish of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Parkdale. The parish church is located on Roncesvalles Avenue west of downtown Toronto, and also serves the Catholic Parish of St Thomas More, a congregation in the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter.

St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church
St. Vincent de Paul Church on Roncesvalles Ave.
LocationToronto, Ontario
CountryCanada
DenominationRoman Catholic
WebsiteOratory-Toronto.org
History
Founded1914
DedicationSt. Vincent de Paul
Administration
DioceseArchdiocese of Toronto
Clergy
Pastor(s)Fr Daniel Utrecht, C.O.

History
Interior (during Passiontide)

In 1900, Holy Family Church was created in the Parkdale neighbourhood, out of Toronto's original west end parish of St. Helen's, Brockton at a time when development was already spreading north from Parkdale to the new 'Howard Park' residential district. By 1914, at the end of the first large wave of non-British immigration to Toronto, many Catholics had arrived in the city and the population was considered sufficient for a second parish near Parkdale on Roncesvalles Ave[1] which was developing as a commercial heart of the Howard Park neighbourhood.

The parish was initially intended to be called the Church of the Immaculate Conception, however another parish in Toronto St Mary's on Bathurst Street. was already under that patronage. It was then decided that the parish would be named after the Apostle of Charity, St Vincent de Paul.[2] The parish was established under Fr Launcelot Minehan in 1914 with the first Mass being celebrated on September 27, 1914. In the early days, the parish operated out of a store front on Roncesvalles Avenue, which operated as a church, school, and parish hall as needed. In early 1915, plans were drawn up for the new church building. Designed by Mr James Michael Cowan, the plans adopted elements from the Madeleine in Paris, France, but adapted to local circumstances and financial resources. The sod was turned by Fr Minehan on April 28 of 15 with Archbishop McNeil blessing the cornerstone on August 15 and dedicating the original basement church on October 24 of the same year. Due to the First World War and the accompanying financial hardships, the basement church would serve the social and religious needs of the parish for the next seven years.[3]

In 1921, a committee was formed to discuss completion of the church and after consideration decided to begin construction the next year.[3]

On Friday, September 14, 1923, the finished building would be opened to the neighbourhood. On the following Sunday, Archbishop McNeil would arrive to perform the dedication of the church.[4]

During the first sixteen years, the parish had no rectory and Father Minehan lived first in the large apartment next door; later, he took an apartment at 266 Roncesvalles Avenue. The present location of the rectory was a tennis court which was the center of much of the social life of the parish. The tennis club which formed in 1923 not only organized tennis but also parish outings and drama productions. The tennis club was later moved to part of the present site of the St. Joseph's Health Centre.[5]

In February 1931, Father G. Kirby, at the time rector of St. Michael’s Cathedral, was appointed Pastor of St. Vincent de Paul parish, He brought to the parish superb administrative ability and soon built a rectory, installed a Casavant organ in the Church, and began to retire the $100,000 debt of the parish. During the 38 years that Monsignor Kirby was pastor, the parish became one of the strong centres for the church in Toronto. The societies of the parish flourished, the school grew, the sports programmes sponsored by the parish involved many people; and from this vibrant community came many religious vocations and vocations to the priesthood. As a sign of gratitude to the great leadership of Monsignor Kirby, the newly renovated hall below the church was dedicated to him.[5]

While St, Vincent’s was flourishing the Second World War, which disrupted the lives of so many, was destined to have a particular effect on the parish. Following the war, many displaced persons came from Europe to Canada and many came to the large cities. A new Polish parish, St. Casimir’s was formed in 1948 and built a Church also on Roncesvalles in 1952. As the children of the families who had lived in the neighbourhood grew, they moved to the suburbs and gradually the family homes were sold to new immigrants and refugees. The majority of the Catholics in the area were Polish and belonged to St. Casimir’s parish. It would be another thirty-five years before this would again begin to change.[5]

While the number of parishioners was decreasing, there were still many needs to which response was given particularly to the poor and needy. Father Peter Vallely was pastor from 1968 to 1971 and inspired an active young peoples group. Father Chris Bennett succeeded him until 1979 and in that time updated the exterior of the church. Father Joe Driscoll was pastor until the Oblates of Mary Immaculate were asked to take the parish in 1985 and at the same time use the facilities to minister to the Native Peoples in Toronto. Father Driscoll was a person of great hospitality and during his pastorate welcomed the Maronite Catholics and priests into the parish from 1979 to 1983.[5]

By the 1990s, the parish had become a centre for the Oblates' work with Toronto's native Canadian community. The site was poorly chosen for this as few native Canadians lived in the area and this work is now carried out at St. Anne's Parish in the Riverdale neighbourhood. In 1995, responsibility for the parish was given to the Toronto Oratory of Saint Philip Neri in addition to their running Holy Family, a parish they have been running since 1979 and at which they still live.[6] With the extension of a general permission to celebrate the Extraordinary Form of the Mass through Quattuor abhinc annos and Ecclesia Dei and with the approval of Archbishop Aloysius Ambrozic,one weekly Sunday Mass in the Extraordinary Form started June 1, 1997.

Mass Times

The current Mass times are:

Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation

5:00pm Saturday (English)

8:30am (English)

9:30am (Extraordinary Form Low Mass)

11:00am (Sung English)

12:30pm (Mass according to Divine Worship: The Missal. Celebrated by The Catholic Parish of St Thomas More)

Weekdays

8:00am

Saturdays and Holidays

10:00am

Other Sacraments and Devotions

Confession

15 minutes before each Mass and 4-5pm on Saturdays

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

First Fridays of the month, after morning Mass until noon.

Stations of the Cross

Fridays in Lent at 8:00pm

Pastors and Assistants
  • Fr Launcelot Minehan, September 1914 - December 30, 1930[5]
  • (Assistant) Fr J. T. Warnock, July 20, 1919 - October 19, 1919[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr W. P. Smith, August 1921 - December 1924[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr E. J. Ryan, February 1925 - May 1927[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr C. J. Kehoe, July 1927 - April 1931[3]
  • Monsignor Gerald Kirby, February 1, 1931 - 1968[5]
  • (Assistant) Fr Leo G. Smyth, January 1932 - September 1934[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr M. J. Bolan, October 1934 - September 1939[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr K. P. McDonnell, December 1934 - May 1936[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr J. A. Crothers, August 1936 - January 1937[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr W. Ray Morrison, January 1940 - August 1942[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr John G. Brennan, August 1940 - July 1941[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Leo J. Murray, October 1941 - May 1947[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Thomas B. Fulton, September 1942 - September 1945[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Joseph H. O'Neill, October 1945 - January 1946[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Carlo J. Cerrone, July 1946 - September 1951[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr M. T. Griffin, June 1947 - June 1948[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr P. J. Cahill, July 1948 - September 1951[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr A. Belanger, August 1948[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr E. J. Mahoney, September 1951 - August 1952[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Harry E. Ives, September 1951 - June 1954[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr James Hayes, September 1952 - October 1957[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Kenneth M. Robitaille, June 1954 - September 1954[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Thomas G. Davies, September 1954 - September 1961[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Joseph A. Nolan, September 1957 - September 1960[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr W. B. Stock, September 1960 - June 1961[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Paul Lennon, June 1961 - July 1963[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr R. A. Krafchick, October 1961 - June 1962[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Peter Phelan, July 1962 - January 1964[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Gregory M. Teskey, July 1963 - ?[3]
  • (Assistant) Fr Ambrose J. McCabe, January 1964 - ?[3]
  • Fr Peter Vallely, 1968 - 1971[5]
  • Fr Christopher J. Bennett, 1971 - 1979[5]
  • Fr Joseph D. Driscoll, 1979 - 1985[5]
  • Fr Don Brennan O.M.I., 1985 - 1986[5]
  • Fr William T. Burns, August 1986 - 1991[5]
  • Fr Carl Kelly, O.M.I, 1991 - June 30, 1995[7]
  • Fr Jonathan Robinson, C.O., September 1, 1995 - July 6, 1996
  • Fr David Roche, C.O., July 6, 1996 - July 1, 1999
  • Fr Martin Hilbert, C.O., July 1, 1999 - June 1, 2001
  • Fr Daniel Utrecht, C.O., June 1, 2001 - 2006?
  • Fr Martin Hilbert, C.O,. 2006? - July 2011
  • Fr Thomas Trottier, C.O., July 2011 - July 3, 2014
  • Fr Daniel Utrecht, C.O., July 3, 2014 – Present

Parishioners in Holy Orders
Title Name Ordained

yyyy/mm/dd

 Monsignor

yyyy/mm/dd

 Consecrated

yyyy/mm/dd

 Laicised

yyyy/mm/dd

 Diocese/ Order Died

yyyy/mm/dd

Fr Annett, George Frederick[3] 1953/05/30 No No Yes[8] Archdiocese of Toronto 2012/06/09[8]
Fr Annett, James Edward Paul[3] 1955/06/04 No No 1971~[9] Archdiocese of Toronto 2016/11/07[9]
Fr Bowie, James, C.S.B.[10] 1951/06/29[10] No No No Congregation of St Basil[10] 1987/08/12[10]
Mons. Breen, Gerald Basil[11] 1941/06/07[12] 1992/09/29

Prelate of His Holiness

 No No Archdiocese of Toronto[12] 2012/11/14[12]
Fr Breen, J. Basil[11] 1951/06/01[13] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[13] 2014/05/18[13]
Fr Breen, William Ford[11] 1947/05/31[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 1994/01/13[11]
Fr Brennon, John Gaylord 1940/06/09[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 2005/10/17[11]
Mons. Cartwright, John J.[3] 1953/05/30 Yes[14] No No Diocese of St Catharines[14] 2009/01/03[14]
Bp Clune, Robert Bell[11] 1945/05/26[11] No 1979/06/21[11] No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 2007/09/06[11]
Fr Conway, William Joseph, C.S.B.[10] 1951/06/29[10] No No No Congregation of St Basil[10] 1961/09/07[10]
Fr Cummins, Charles, S.F.M.[15] 1947/06/29[15] No No No Scarboro Foreign Missions[15] 1979/01/04[15]
Fr Cunerty, Francis A., C.Ss.R.[3] 1949/06/29 No No No Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer 1968/06/09
Fr Downs, Charles James[11] 1947/05/31[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 1978/08/19[11]
Fr Frenette, Norman, C.S.B.[10] Congregation of St Basil
Fr Harding, Thomas Robert[11] 1942/05/30[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 2005/02/26[11]
Fr Harding, William Frederick[11] 1948/06/05[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 1994/09/12[11]
Mons. Hymus, Robert S.F.M.[15] 1939/12/17[15] 1990/06 No No Scarboro Foreign Missions[15] 1998/04/22[15]
Fr Keeler, John Louis, S.F.M. 1949/06/27 Scarboro Foreign Missions
Fr Keelor, James Edgar[11] 1934/06/09[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 1972/11/27[11]
Fr Kelly, Gregory Francis 1923/05/26[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 1952/03/13[11]
Fr Kidd, Kevin J., O.F.M.[3] Order of Friars Minor 2008[16]
Fr Koster, Gerald, C.Ss.R. 1921/07/02 Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
Fr Launtrie, Francis Joseph, C.S.B.[10] 1956/06/29[17] No No No Congregation of St Basil[17] 2005/12/31[17]
Fr Lavery, Charles Joseph, C.S.B.[10] 1942/08/15[10] No No No Congregation of St Basil[10] 1985/12/03[10]
Fr Leah, James[3] 1952/06/08 No No No Diocese of Lafayette 1973/03/15
Fr Leah, Philip Joseph, S.J.[3] No No Yes Society of Jesus[18] 2012/02/07[18]
Fr Lewis, William J., C.S.B.[10] Congregation of St Basil
Fr McCormack, Edmund Murray 1936/06/06[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 1951/10/12[11]
Fr McDonnell, Kenneth Patrick 1934/06/09[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 1958/08/26[11]
Fr McGoey, Francis James[11] 1931/06/12[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 1975/06/18[11]
Fr McGovern, Patrick Joseph[3] 1955/06/04 Yes Archdiocese of Toronto
Fr McKey, John E., S.J. 1942/06/17 No No No Society of Jesus[19] 2000/01/01[19]
Dcn McPhee, Donald[5] 1976 (Diaconate) No No No Archdiocese of Toronto Yes
Fr O'Brien, Francis Joseph, S.J.[3] No No No Society of Jesus 2001/05/01
Fr O'Brien, George William Joseph[11] 1946/06/08[11] 1987/06/08[11] No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 2008/06/30[11]
Fr O'Brien, John D., S.J.[3] No No No Society of Jesus 1983/11/13
Fr O'Driscoll, Kevin David[3] 1964/05/23 Archdiocese of Toronto
Fr O'Grady, Francis James, C.S.B.[3] 1954[10] No No No Congregation of St Basil[10] 2006/06/13[10]
Fr O'Grady, John Basil, S.F.M.[15] 1958/12/20[15] No No No Scarboro Foreign Missions[15] 1971/05/16[15]
Fr O'Grady, Martin Eugene[11] 1946/06/09[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 1976/02/09[11]
Fr O'Toole, Thomas, S.F.M.[3] 1954/12/15 Scarboro Foreign Missions
Fr Petitpas, Lawrence Andrew[3] 1953/05/30 No No Yes Archdiocese of Toronto
Fr Prance, Charles Joseph[11] 1959/05/31[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 2000/01/11[11]
Fr Quealey, Brian, C.S.B.[10] 1964/12/13[10] No No 1969[10] Congregation of St Basil[10] 2000/12/17[10]
Fr Quealey, Francis Michael, C.S.B[3] 1961 No No 1967[20] Congregation of St Basil[20] 2013/09/13[20]
Fr Scanlan, William J.[3] 1956/05/26 No No No Archdiocese of Toronto No
Mons. Sheehy, Ambrose[21] 1967/06/04 2004/05/31

Chaplain of His Holiness

 No No Archdiocese of Toronto No
Fr Stokes, Thomas John, C.S.B.[22] 1952/06/29[23] No No No Congregation of St Basil[23] 2009/02/16[23]
Fr Tipping, Alan James[3] No No 1980s Archdiocese of Toronto 2018/06/23[24]
Fr Tipping, Clair Joseph[11] 1953/05/30[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 1980/07/20[11]
Fr Wilson, Bernard Joseph 1980/04/26[11] No No No Archdiocese of Toronto[11] 1998/07/31[11]
Fr Young, William J., C.S.B[3] 1951/06/29[25] No No No Congregation of St Basil[25] 2006/08/08[25]

Parishioners in Religious Life
Title Religious Name Original Name Religious Order Final Vows Died

yyyy/mm/dd

Mother Alexandrine Hortense, White, I.B.V.M.[3] The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1965/08/15
Mother Sacred Heart Launtrie, Marie[3]
Mother Mary Gabriel O'Grady, Kathleen, O.C.S.O.[3] The Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance
Sister Mary Josephine Anderson, Alice[3]
Sister Mary Damien Bowie, Margaret, G.S.I.C.[3] Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception 1957/08/01 2012/06/02
Sister Mary Grace Barreca, Theresa[3]
Sister Mary Clotilde Brunelle, Dorothy[3]
Sister St Omer Greenwood, Anne Christine, C.S.J.[3] Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph 1997/03/23
Sister Mary Daniel Greenwood, Theresa, O.P.[3] Order of Preachers 1993
Sister Mary Thomas Ford, Mary Elizabeth, C.S.J.[3] Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph 1948 2010/02/17
Sister Mary Susan Gayhart, Helen, C.S.J.[3] Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph
Sister Mary Robert Graham, Leona Kathryn, C.S.J.[3] Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph 2013/10/10
Sister Mary Emmanuel Hickey, Theresa, R.P.B.[3] Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood
Sister Mary Cecile Koster, Kathleen Cecile[3] Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul 1938 1972/04/17
Sister Rose Anne Marrin, Mary Rose, C.S.J.[3] Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph
Sister John Patrick Marrin, Anne Marie, C.S.J.[3] Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph No
Sister Mary Reginald Creamer, Margaret, C.S.J.[3] Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph 1942/08/15
Sister Marina Marotta, Isabel, C.S.J.[3] Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph 1941/08/15 2008/10/19
Sister Mary Theresa Scanlon, Ann Beck, O.S.S.R.[3] Order of the Most Holy Redeemer 1951/06/24 2016/04/27
Sister Mary Louise Scanlon, Mary Ellen, I.B.V.M.[3] The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Sister Mary Regis Nelson, Muriel, C.S.J.[3] Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph 2005/03/21
Sister Carmel Marie Nelson, Virginia, C.S.J.[3] Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph 2003/01/05
Sister Mary Freda Watson, Elva, C.S.J.[3] Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph 2007/03/13
Sister Mary Imelda Carney, Mary[3]
Sister Annunciata O' Neil, Coleen[3]
Sister M. Cabrini Gryb, G.S.I.C.[3] Grey Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
Sister Mary Teresina Grace, Mary Catherine[3]
Sister Trinitata Duke, Ann Marie[3]
Sister Janice Marie Hill, Loretto[3]
Sister Mary Veronica Anderson, Susan[3]
Brother Hugh Colgan[3]

Groups and Societies

School
  • Exterior.
  • Interior in Passiontide
  • Interior, 2013.
  • Exterior. 2009.
  • Interior at a wedding. 1949.
  • Interior at a First Mass, 1946.

See also

Notes
  1. Fifty Golden Years : Holy Family Parish TORONTO, ONTARIO 1902 - 1952
  2. Minehan, Lancelot (October 1, 1914). "Correspondence". Catholic Register and Canadian Extension.
  3. St. Vincent de Paul Parish Golden Jubilee. Toronto: St Vincent de Paul Parish. 1965.
  4. Minehan, Lancelot. The Story of a Toronto Church. Toronto.
  5. St Vincent de Paul Parish 75th Anniversary Celebration Commemorative Brochure. Toronto: St Vincent de Paul Parish. 1989.
  6. http://www.oratory-toronto.org/spn_st__vincent_de_paul_church.html
  7. St Vincent de Paul Parish Bulletin. 1995.
  8. "George Annett Obituary".
  9. "James Annett Obituary".
  10. "Dictionary of Basilian Biography" (PDF).
  11. Servants of the Vineyard of the Lord. Toronto: Archdiocese of Toronto. 2018.
  12. "Rev. Monsignor Gerard Basil Breen - Wednesday, November 14th, 2012". newediukfuneralhome.com. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  13. "Reverend J. Basil Breen - Obituaries - Collingwood, ON - Your Life Moments". yourlifemoments.ca. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
  14. "Obituary of Msgr. John J. Cartwright | George Darte Funeral Chapel Inc". dartefuneralhome.com. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  15. In Memory (PDF). 2019.
  16. "Kevin Kidd Obituary".
  17. "Francis Launtrie Obituary".
  18. "Philip Leah Obituary".
  19. "John McKey Obituary".
  20. "Francis Quealey - Friday, September 13th, 2013". druryfuneralcentre.com. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  21. Ko Din, Jean (2017-06-04). "Msgr. Ambrose Sheehy's 50 years of memories include helping Mother Teresa". Catholic Register. Retrieved 2020-04-28.
  22. "Thomas John Stokes".
  23. "Thomas Stokes Obituary".
  24. "Reverend Alan Tipping - Saturday, June 23rd, 2018". jackandthompsonfuneralhome.com. Retrieved 2020-05-26.
  25. "William Young Obituary".
  26. http://www.tcdsb.org/schools/stvincentdepaul/Pages/default.aspx
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