Article A54 · Book 1 · Loose insert
Now Caribbean Catholics feel at home in Toronto
[Piece 1 of 1 — full page, rotated upright]
Now Caribbean Catholics feel at home in Toronto
THE IDEA of a Caribbean Catholic Church in Toronto, where the Caribbean experience could be fully expressed, first saw the light of day in 1975.
At that time, the Archdiocese of Toronto sought the assistance of the Holy Ghost Fathers in Toronto (Spiritans), whose Irish Fathers work in the West Indies, in bringing a West Indian priest to Toronto.
The aim was to care for the over 80,000 souls from all the English-speaking Caribbean Islands who were known to be in Toronto but who at the same time were conspicuous by their absence in the churches.
The Rev. Michael Pascall, a Spiritan, came to Toronto from Trinidad in 1975 to start the project, and was given a building at 862 College Street by the Archdiocese of Toronto for this work.
This energetic priest did invaluable work in the Toronto West Indian community during his period of office, and laid the foundation for a strong Caribbean Catholic Church.
The Rev. Philip Forde, also a Spiritan, took over from Father Pascall in December 1977. He brought with him the idea of having a strong, dynamic and worshipping Catholic community, which could meet the needs of the West Indian people — people binding themselves together to help one another.
Since this idea was taken up in 1977, the Caribbean Church in Toronto has grown swiftly. Hundreds have begun to discover, in this church community and centre in the midst of a multicultural society, a sense of their own dignity and a new sense of purpose.
It is interesting that, as the church and centre provide a long-sought-after fellowship that to many was non-existent in Toronto, it offered a new reason for making Canada a permanent home.
In October of 1981, the Archdiocese provided a new building for the community, because it is keenly aware of the community's religious, social and cultural needs.
This new centre is located at 867 College Street — only steps away from the original location — and is known as the Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel. It seeks to provide the members of the Caribbean Catholic community with their own way of worshipping, with a liturgy in their own tradition.
The centre is a source of information and referral for immigrants from the Caribbean. It provides guidance and counselling services, and assists individuals to develop their potential to the best of their ability.
Father Forde has been involved in both teaching and the ministry for a number of years. Before succeeding Father Pascal [as printed, one l] at the church, he had served as a teacher at St. Joseph's College School on Wellesley Street in Toronto, and prior to that time had served for 13 years as a missionary in Nigeria.
A Dominican Sister from Trinidad and Tobago, Kathleen Jackman works with Father Forde, assisting him in providing guidance and counselling to the congregation, which has grown considerably over the years, and continues to grow in the new location.
Now in her third year at the centre, Sr. Kathleen has developed a wider knowledge of Caribbean people in Toronto and of their living conditions. As a result, a holiday camp is being prepared for the first time with financial assistance from the the federal government [as printed] and the educational skills of university students.