By Shelley Cooke
This year marks the 170th anniversary of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Highland Creek. As part of the Archdiocese of Toronto, it was the first Catholic church built in Scarborough, and it is the fourth oldest church in the city of Toronto.
St. Joseph’s church was founded by a priest named Jean Baptiste Proulx, who was transferred from Manitoulin Island to the Toronto region in 1846. Aside from ministering at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Oshawa, where he eventually settled, Proulx would travel to the township of Scarborough, which had an approximate population of 4,000, to say Mass and hear confessions in private houses of Catholic families.
Over the next five years, as more people were emigrating from Ireland after the Great Potato Famine in 1847, Proulx felt that there were enough Catholics in the area for a church to be built. In 1852, he wrote a letter to Bishop de Charbonnel (2nd Bishop of Toronto) requesting permission to purchase land for a church, which was soon granted. Two years later, in 1854, with volunteer labour, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Highland Creek was built!
Fast forward to 1971, when the Spiritans took charge of St. Joseph’s parish, the area had evolved into a small suburb of Toronto. Since then, the population has exploded with an influx of new residents. Currently, 5,000 households comprising more than 15,000 individuals are registered as parishioners of St Joseph’s with five Catholic schools falling within its boundaries.
To celebrate St. Joseph’s 170th anniversary, a committee of dedicated volunteers was formed to plan and orchestrate events throughout the year. So far, a couple of special events have already happened. On March 10, a celebratory Mass was held that was led by Archbishop Francis Leo; and a Parish Community Extravaganza took place on June 23, where local bands Port United and Fossil Fire performed.
There are three more events to come! On October 19, a Thanksgiving retreat is being held where Dr. Josephine Lombardi, award-winning author, educator and film-maker, will speak on “Living with the Lord’s Prayer in preparation for the Jubilee year of Hope.” On October 26, the committee is organizing a Parish Community event called the St. Joseph and Bible Quiz where teams of four can sign up to compete. Finally, on November 16, a 170th anniversary Gala Dinner Dance has been planned, which is open to parishioners of St. Joseph’s.
When entering St. Joseph’s Church, one can’t help noticing the majestic stained glass cross that adorns the back wall. Its captivating composure is made up of a vibrancy of colours and shapes. Paul Mascarenas, the committee’s communications liaison, said, “I like to think that this cross represents the wonderful tapestry of culture that exists in our parish.” That is why it has been appropriately chosen to inspire the 170th anniversary logo, which includes a picture of a stained glass cross.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church has a rich history. What started out as a place of worship to serve the spiritual needs of Irish immigrants in 1854 has evolved into a vibrant parish that embodies a mosaic of cultures from many continents around the world. With all of the changes and growth that St. Joseph’s has witnessed over the years, it has much to celebrate as it turns 170 years old!