| Project Information |
| History |
| Mainstreeter |
| Churches |
| Scholasticate |
| Schools |
| Railways |
| Notables |
| After 1907 |
| 1901 Snapshot |
| Air Photo Study |
| Image Library |
| Databases |
| Search |
| The parish too, in a sincere effort to keep abreast with the call of the Church to spiritual renewal, and responding to the changing needs of our Christian community, has had to change and adapt. During the 50's and 60's, the parish community was made up of many who came from outside the actual parish boundaries, calling for certain types of service. For example, there were three or four priests and a brother stationed in the parish and five or six masses on Sunday were needed. With the escalated immigration to the city and rapid development of suburbs during the late '50's and 60's, several new parishes were formed in the south end of the city (Immaculate Heart of Mary and Resurrection of our Lord). This diminished the numbers attending our parish and decreased the need for as many priests and the frequency of religious services. The number of priests resident in the parish was decreased to two, and then to one, the pastor. |
| At the same time as there was a decrease in the number of priests attached to the parish, there developed an increased awareness of the need for the laity to take a more active leadership role in the activities of the parish. |
| Some years ago, the parish was seen as the centre of the spiritual and social life of the community. In more recent times, with many social activities initiated by other organizations and groups, the parish has been called upon to promote the development of a deeper spiritual community, a profoundly conscious Christian community, which manifests the reality of the living Christ in the world in which we live. And making Christ present means that His vision of being redeemed is consciously celebrated within the comforting and supportive context of Christian brotherhood and friendship. We are attempting to develop more fully that sense of Christian community through more participated liturgies, through study groups such as Genesis 11, and Christian community building workshops, through a more active participation of parents, relatives and friends in the preparation of children for the sacraments. On a number of occasions, our parish has joined with other Churches, Catholic and neighbouring ones of other denominations, in the conduct of religious services for the community. In the spirit of ecumenism, there is a cooperative attitude of neighbourliness and assistance among churches and citizens in the district. |
| All see the parish as having changed over the years, and of having changed
even quite profoundly. This change has not always been easy to accept. But,
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, perhaps there is recovered in our
day an important understanding of the word "catholic" which means
"universal". Ours is a church with a broad expanse. The essentials
remain the same for all who profess the faith. Non-essentials can be changed
to reflect the differences universality brings. We are one church with one
profession of faith. But that one faith is immersed in situations and circumstances
according to different times and cultures and peoples, which demand adaptation and change. |
| On this, the occasion of our 60th Anniversary, we the people of Canadian Martyrs Parish reiterate the words of Cardinal Newman "to live is to change; to be perfect is to have changed often". We acknowledge that we are not as yet perfect as a parish but we are changing and are willing to continue to change toward sanctity and we look with confidence to the future. |
