The formative years of the new parish coincided with the great depression
of the thirties  when
many of the families experienced difficult times. However, the hard times
seemed to draw the parish family closer together. Weekly card parties held
in the basement of the church were well attended and the annual bazaars
and teas were always successful. Two important organizations were active
during this period, the Catholic Women's League and the Holy Name Society.
Both have played a vital role in the spiritual and social development of
the parish. . |
Father Killian continued as parish priest until 1937 when he was replaced
by Father William Doran O.M.I. whose family had been for years members of
St. Joseph's Parish. During Father Doran's seven years as pastor, the parish
grew and prospered. New  housing
developments in the southern part of Ottawa East resulted in a large increase
in the parish family. Due to ill health, Father Doran was forced to retire
from the parish in 1944. From that time until mid 1945, Father Joseph Scannell
O.M.I., a gifted speaker and highly respected priest, served the parish.
Father Scannell was very popular among the religious and lay communities
alike, resulting in his services being sought for the conducting of missions
and retreats. |
Father Scannell's assistant during this time was a young Irish priest,
Father Cornelius  Herlihy
O.M.I. who had come to Canada a few years earlier, and had been teaching
novices at Holy Rosary Scholasticate, Orleans, ant. In 1945 Father Herlihy
became pastor and continued in that capacity until 1959. His charming personality
soon endeared him to all of his parishioners. But he was soon faced with
a new challenge. |
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By 1950 it had become apparent that the little church at the corner of
Main and Lees could no longer accommodate the growing congregation. Standing
room had become the lot of any latecomers at Sunday mass. On special occasions,
such as midnight mass at Christmas, a second service would have to be held
in the basement of the church. A move to a larger church became an urgent
priority, and a parcel ofland adjoining St. Patrick's  College
was obtained from the Oblate Order. This would be used as the site for a
new and larger church. On November 17, 1952, the first sod was turned. The
cornerstone was laid on May 18, 1953, and was blessed by Bishop Lajeunesse
O.M.I., Vicar Apostolic of Keewatin. Later that year, the first mass in
the new church was celebrated at midnight on Christmas Eve, and a few weeks
later, the 24th anniversary of the founding of the parish, the new church
was blessed by Archbishop Lemieux, O.P. |
 The
stained-glass window over the main altar was donated by the Doran family,
and was designed and made by Theo Lubbers, a Dutch artist living in Montreal.
He also designed the side windows depicting the Way of the Cross: The large
stained-glass window over the altar symbolizes a wealth of Canadian religious
history. It shows the missionary martyrs grouped about Mary, Queen of the
World, who is holding her Divine Son. St. John de Brebeuf holds a sacred
book on which is inscribed the Jesuit motto "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam"(To
the greater glory of God), while below the Oblate Cross is the Canadian
motto "A Mari Usque Ad Mare" (From Sea to Sea). Canadian Martyrs
was Father Herlihy's first parish and he was the key priest in the development
of the parish in its young, vibrant years. |
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when
many of the families experienced difficult times. However, the hard times
seemed to draw the parish family closer together. Weekly card parties held
in the basement of the church were well attended and the annual bazaars
and teas were always successful. Two important organizations were active
during this period, the Catholic Women's League and the Holy Name Society.
Both have played a vital role in the spiritual and social development of
the parish. .
housing
developments in the southern part of Ottawa East resulted in a large increase
in the parish family. Due to ill health, Father Doran was forced to retire
from the parish in 1944. From that time until mid 1945, Father Joseph Scannell
O.M.I., a gifted speaker and highly respected priest, served the parish.
Father Scannell was very popular among the religious and lay communities
alike, resulting in his services being sought for the conducting of missions
and retreats.
Herlihy
O.M.I. who had come to Canada a few years earlier, and had been teaching
novices at Holy Rosary Scholasticate, Orleans, ant. In 1945 Father Herlihy
became pastor and continued in that capacity until 1959. His charming personality
soon endeared him to all of his parishioners. But he was soon faced with
a new challenge.
College
was obtained from the Oblate Order. This would be used as the site for a
new and larger church. On November 17, 1952, the first sod was turned. The
cornerstone was laid on May 18, 1953, and was blessed by Bishop Lajeunesse
O.M.I., Vicar Apostolic of Keewatin. Later that year, the first mass in
the new church was celebrated at midnight on Christmas Eve, and a few weeks
later, the 24th anniversary of the founding of the parish, the new church
was blessed by Archbishop Lemieux, O.P.
The
stained-glass window over the main altar was donated by the Doran family,
and was designed and made by Theo Lubbers, a Dutch artist living in Montreal.
He also designed the side windows depicting the Way of the Cross: The large
stained-glass window over the altar symbolizes a wealth of Canadian religious
history. It shows the missionary martyrs grouped about Mary, Queen of the
World, who is holding her Divine Son. St. John de Brebeuf holds a sacred
book on which is inscribed the Jesuit motto "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam"(To
the greater glory of God), while below the Oblate Cross is the Canadian
motto "A Mari Usque Ad Mare" (From Sea to Sea). Canadian Martyrs
was Father Herlihy's first parish and he was the key priest in the development
of the parish in its young, vibrant years.