St. Patrick's Parish has a long history and many families and individuals have experienced the joys and sorrows of life within it. There are a lot of stories that should and could be told. There are a lot of memories that will be lost forever if we do not gather them now. Therefore we appeal to you to share with us all those little anecdotes, those stories, your family histories, photos and other memorabilia.

Please!!!

In 2006 our parish celebrated  its 150th birthday. From its humble beginning in a log chapel in the forests of Toronto Township in Upper Canada, on what is now the land of Pearson International Airport, through it's sojourn at Dixie and Dundas, to it's present site at Flagship Drive and Tomken Road, the Parish and the Catholic faith have endured and grown. Grown from a congregation of a few hundred people in 1856 to today's congregation of over 4,500 families.

Yes, there are a lot of stories to be told!

Your precious mementos, photos, clippings, etc. will be treated with the greatest of care, copied, and returned to your promptly. As for your stories - you do not have to be a great writer, we will help you get it down on paper and give you a copy for your approval. And nothing will be used without your permission.

Let us remember that a Parish is People and People make Community and Community is a Parish alive and active and remembering. So the more people stories we gather, the better our proposed book will reflect the community that we are and that we have been.

Our thanks to all

In 1856, Bishop Charbonnel realigned the area of Toronto Township (Mississauga) and Etobicoke into a separate parish.

The first Baptism recorded in the new parish was of one Thomas Hickey.

In 1864, ten acres were purchased at Dundas Street and Dixie Road by Fr. Flannery.

On October 17, 1872, Archbishop Lynch blessed and officially opened St. Patrick's Church at Dundas Street and Dixie Road. The church measured 60 ft. by 36 ft.

The sanctuary and sacristy were added in 1887.

The tower and belfry were added in 1898-99.

The bell was blessed on July 11, 1899, by Bishop O'Connor.

May 1906, the Annual Forty Hours Devotion began - the forerunner of our Perpetual Adoration.

January 1913, electric lighting was installed in the church for the first time.

The church was demolished in 1972 after the new St. Patrick's was built on land donated by the McCarthy Family.

 

Construction began in 1970 with Fr. John Buckley as Pastor of St. Patrick's. On June 16, 1971, His Grace Most Rev. Philip Pocock, Archbishop of Toronto, blessed and officially opened the new church.

The new St. Patrick's was one of the first parishes in the diocese to incorporate the liturgical changes of the Second Vatican Council. The seating capacity of this new church was 750, compared to the crowded 300 in the old St. Patrick's.

First Baptism" Terisa Lee Hills, daughter of Elaine McCarthy and David Hills on June 27, 1971.
First Marriage" Marlyn Kearns and Thomas Edwards on August 14, 1971.

July 1979, bishop M. Pearce Lacey became Pastor and Fr. Henk vanden Berg became Rector of St. Patrick's Parish. June 14, 1981, the parish celebrated its 125th anniversary with the erection of the Historical Plaque at the door of the church. In 1987, major renovations led to the addition of a new building on the north side of the church to serve the growing needs of the parish. In July 1990, Fr. Joe Wasik was appointed Pastor. On Dec. 16, 1990, The Chapel of Perpetual Adoration was opened on a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week basis.

In 1995, Bishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J., was appointed to the West Pastoral Region, replacing Bishop Lacey who had retired.

In 1996, the "new" St. Patrick's Church celebrated its 25th anniversary.

In July, 1996, Fr. Rudy Volk was appointed Pastor.

In 1998, St. Patrick's embarked on a major "renovation fund" drive.

On June 25, 1999, the bell from the old Church arrived back "home".

On July 11, 1999, the bell was rededicated on the 100th anniversary of its first blessing and dedication.