Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Celebrates Centenary of First Italian Catholic Parish in Toronto

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in downtown Toronto celebrated a special Mass Wednesday July 16, 2008, on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of being the first Italian Catholic Church in Toronto.

Organized by the Italian Pastoral Commission a series of events and festivities have been planned throughout the year to mark this Centenary culminating with a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Collins of the Archdiocese of Toronto on Sunday November 9, 2008, at 3:PM at Immaculate Conception Parish in Woodbridge followed by a dinner at Riviera Banquet Hall at 5:PM.

Prior to the Mass I had the opportunity to interview Rev. Monsignor John Iverinci of the Archdiocese of Toronto who said, "The Church was already in existence having been established in 1861 serving the Irish and German communities known as St. Patrick's Catholic Church."

Monsignor Iverinci adds, "In 1908 the Archbishop Fergus McVey donated the Church to the Italian community changing the name from St. Patrick's Church to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church because the Redemptorists had built another Church on McCaul Street keeping the name St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church."

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church is the 5th oldest Roman Catholic Church in the City of Toronto and has been home to various ethnocultural communities throughout its over 140 year history reflecting not only the vast cultural diversity of Toronto but of the Catholic Church in the City. Monsignor Iverinci explains, "Right now the Archdiocese of Toronto celebrates the Sunday Mass in about forty languages in Toronto."

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church remained the first Italian family of faith till 1967 followed by the Portuguese community between 1965-1969 sharing the Church. Then the Archdiocese of Toronto named Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church the first Chinese Roman Catholic Church also sharing with the Korean and Vietnamese communities during the 1970's.

During the many persecutions raised against the Order of Mont Carmel newly arrived in Europe, Saint Simon Stock General of the Order, turned to the Blessed Mother of God. As he knelt in prayer in July 16, 1251, the Blessed Mother appeared to him with a brown scapular, given as an assurance for all who died wearing it of her heavenly protection from eternal death. This extraordinary promise from the Blessed Mother Mary also requires a life of prayer and sacrifice.

The Italian Pastoral Commission, IPC, an ecclesial association representing priests who currently provide service in over forty parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto are also organizing a classical music concert by the Coro San Marco with orchestra and soloist on Sunday October 26, at 3:PM at St. David Church in Maple.

The final week of the special Centenary celebrations begins with a discussion organized by the IPC dedicated to the Year of St. Paul and the 2000th Anniversary of his birth on Monday November 3, 2008, at St. Jane Frances Church from 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

For more information about the Centenary celebration of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church contact Immaculate Conception Church in Woodbridge (905-856-2205); or St. Jane Frances Church (416-741-1463).

Special to www.italiani.ca By Frank Ruffolo
dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel in gratitude