The Year of Consecrated Life: The Order of St. Augustine at Marylake

February brings the season of Lent, which is a time of prayer and reflection before Easter. What better time to feature a religious order who have provided a place for those things in the Archdiocese of Toronto for seven decades?

The Order of St. Augustine traces its origins to 1244, when several Tuscan hermits were asked by Pope Innocent IV to unite as an order under St. Augustine's Rule, which is the oldest known guide to living in a religious community.

Fast forward to the 1940s, when Archbishop McGuigan heard about the work a group of Augustinians were doing in Nova Scotia. He had been interested in opening a spiritual center within the archdiocese, and so he invited the order to start a foundation in King City.

MG DS 44.66b

"Your Excellency, I beg to inform Your Excellency that the Sacred Congregation of Religious, favourably complying with the request presented by the Augustinian Fathers and approved by Your Excellency, has granted the "Beneplacitum Apostolicum" for a new foundation of their Order in your Archdiocese, in the place known as "Marylake".

"While making to Your Excellency this communication, with best regards and wishes, I remain Yours sincerely in Christ, + Ildebrando Antoniutti"

The Augustinians took over an 814 acre estate located on Keele Street north of King City that was originally developed by Sir Henry Pellat (of Casa Loma fame). The lake on the site, known as Lake Marie, was renamed as Marylake, and the property was dedicated to Our Lady of Grace. The buildings were converted to become a monastery and retreat center. In addition, the order operated a dairy farm.

On August 15, 1943, 12,000 people attended the dedication of the chapel and blessing of the statue of Our Lady of Grace. On November 11, 1961, the Augustinians were given the care of Sacred Heart Parish in King City. In 1964, a new monastery and shrine were dedicated. The organ in the new chapel was constructed from combination of two organs: one from the Seagram House in Toronto, and the other from the Eaton Estate. In 1999, Villanova College was opened on the property.

Over the years, Marylake has been an important spiritual haven in the Archdiocese of Toronto. Tens of thousands have taken part in the retreat programs offered by the Augustinians.

For more information about the Augustinians at Marylake, check www.augustinians.ca.

For more information about the Order of St. Augustine, check www.augustinians.net.

PH27A-04PC: Main Gate

PH27A-07PC: Monastery with Outside Altar

PH27A-10PC: Main Barn, Blessed Frederic Hall and Dairy

Newer shrine and monastery with view of the lake

Holstein herd

Record of the Week: "Church and State"

The relationship between Church and State has been in flux for centuries.

Canadian politicians and clergy did not shy away from the contentious issue, especially when this nation was still young. In 1876, Archbishop of Toronto John Lynch delivered a lecture, entitled "Church and State" to a packed audience in St. Michael's Cathedral. Text of the lecture was published in The Irish Canadian, June 28, 1876.

Archbishop Lynch fonds, LAA12.41

"...it is not the duty of the Government to decide which is the true religion; but must protect all subjects in their civil rights, and maintain peace and liberty of conscience in things which do not interfere  with public morality. Liberty of conscience does not mean licence to propagate erroneous, false and pernicious doctrine...Liberty of conscience means the liberty to follow a rightly-formed and prudent conscience, and not a conscience that dictates false principles."

In January of the same year, Archbishop Lynch had written to Prime Minister Alexander Mackenzie to inform him that the Catholic clergy of his Archdiocese had been strictly forbidden from using the pulpit to express partisan views. The letter and Mackenzie's reply were published in The Sun:

Archbishop Lynch fonds, LAE12.53

Abp. Lynch to PM Mackenzie: "I might here remark that when in a free country, religious and sacred rights are brought into the arena of politics, then the Catholics have to follow them to the polls and contend there for their right as in the case of education."

PM Mackenzie to Abp. Lynch: "It is a fortunate circumstance that the form of the Canadian constitution  renders it difficult, if not impossible, to bring questions of religion into our political arena, where the subjects proper for debate are purely secular, and where, consequently, men of opposite religious views find no difficulty whatever in uniting in the conduct of public affairs."

Catholic Church teaching on religious freedom as it relates to separation of Church and State was defined in the Second Vatican Council's Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis Humanae (1965).

The question of religious freedom and its role in civic life has dominated media headlines lately, following the Supreme Court of Canada's decision on assisted suicide earlier this month. Read Cardinal Collin's public statement on the issue.

What's your opinion on the role of Church and State?  To hear two luminaries debate "Religion’s Role in Political Life," sign up to attend the next Chesterton Debate on February 27th.

Learn more about the Chesterton Debate Series and the guy it was named after.

Happy (Bishop Francis) Valentine (Allen)'s Day

It should be easy to write a blog post about a feast day named for a saint. However, St. Valentine is one of those early Christian martyrs whose hagiography is so vague that the Catholic Church removed his name from the General Roman Calendar in 1969 (although he is still recognized on February 14th in the Roman Martyrology).

Disclosure: We have absolutely no archival records remotely alluding to St. Valentine’s Day.

Instead, we are taking this opportunity to highlight our own Most. Rev. Francis Valentine Allen, Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto from 1954-1977.  His middle name, from the Latin valens (meaning "strong, vigorous, healthy") honours his father, Valentine James Allen.

Interesting facts about Bishop Francis Valentine Allen: 

• Bishop Francis Valentine Allen (Frank to his friends) was a true Torontonian. He was born in Toronto on June 25th, 1909.  He attended Toronto schools, was ordained at St. Michael's Cathedral and served in Toronto his whole life.
  
• Francis was brought up in a devout household; of the seven children in his family, the four girls became religious sisters, and two of the three boys became priests. 

Photographs Collection PH 11/07P and PH 11/13P

Left: Studio family portrait shows two-year-old Francis V. Allen held by his mother Martha, with older brother Edward and maternal aunt Annie Malcolm, ca. 1911.  Edward was the only sibling who did not enter religious life.

Right: All seven Allen siblings, including Edward (in the suit), Murray (centre) and Francis (right).  Three of the four sisters were members of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph. 

• Father Allen served as pastor at a few parishes, but he quickly gained more responsibility. He was named Secretary of St. Augustine’s Seminary in 1935, Vice-Chancellor in Temporalibus in 1936 and Chancellor in Spiritualibus in 1942.
  
• Father Allen accompanied Cardinal McGuigan to Rome for the Cardinal's reception of the Red Hat and while there was named a Domestic Prelate (Monsignor) by Pope Pius XII in 1946.

Photographs Collection PH 09C/11P

In 1946, Archbishop McGuigan was elevated to the Sacred College of Cardinals and Rev. Allen accompanied him to the consistory. Pictured on the tarmac, departing for Rome are: Msgr. John V. Harris, Rev. Francis V. Allen, Most Rev. James McGuigan and Catholic journalist Henry Somerville.

• In 1954, Monsignor Allen was appointed titular Bishop of Avensa (in North Africa) and Auxiliary Bishop to Cardinal McGuigan. As well as assisting Cardinal McGuigan, Bishop Allen continued as Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. He was Toronto’s third Auxiliary Bishop.

Photographs Collection PH11/04P

This official portrait of Francis V. Allen shows him wearing a pectoral cross, which is a sign of a bishop’s office. Bishop Allen wrote, “The Pectoral Cross, worn on the breast, is a sign of episcopal dignity. It signifies the love which should burn in the breast of the Bishop for the Cross and his Crucified Lord. Usually this cross contains relics of the True Cross or of the Martyrs.”  (AL SR15.04)

Interesting fact about this pectoral cross: the images are actually inlaid micro-mosaics, which are made of many tiny, tiny pieces of opaque glass.

Bishop Allen fonds, Stationery sets

Bishop Allen's motto: Ad Jesum Per Mariam (To Jesus Through Mary) - particularly appropriate as he was named bishop during a Marian Year.

Bishop Allen's coat of arms:

• Green Galero (hat) with six tassels representing the office of Bishop. 
• Top half of shield: arm holding a cross representing St. Francis of Assisi, the bishop's patron saint
• Bottom left of shield: pierced heart representing Our Lady of Sorrows. He was a long time pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Etobicoke.
• Bottom right of shield: a cross from the Allen coat of arms.

• Bishop Allen was also involved in various other activities. He was a Council Father at the Second Vatican Council. He was Chairman of the Archdiocesan High School Board, the Archdiocesan Moderator of Religious Congregations, Moderator of the Holy Name Society of Canada and was on the board of the Catholic Church Extension Society.
  
• Francis Valentine Allen died on October 7, 1977, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and the anniversary of his episcopal consecration. More than 1200 people attended his funeral. He was interred in the family plot in Mount Hope Cemetery, Toronto. Allen was 68 years old, a priest for 44 years and a bishop for 23 years.
  
• His eponymous Toronto high school, Bishop Allen Academy, celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. Bishop Allen wrote extensively on Catholic education in high schools: 

“Education of the whole man necessarily includes a fourfold development: physical, mental, moral and spiritual. Not only must the body and mind be educated, but the soul also must grow and develop along the lines determined by its Creator, if the child’s development is to be entire and his education complete.”

Read a full biography here.

Marriage Sunday: Using Marriage Records to Find Your Ancestors

Cardinal McGuigan at the 1947 wedding of his sister Alice
at St. Michael's Cathedral.
PH 09F.18P

This weekend, February 7th -8th 2015, the Archdiocese of Toronto will celebrate Marriage Sunday.

Here in the archives, one of our jobs is to help people find their Catholic ancestors, so when we think of marriage we think of genealogy. In Ontario, civil marriage records before 1869 were kept by county governments. Before 1858, they were kept by district. Since Catholics are traditionally great record keepers, one way for genealogists to complement civil records is to search Church marriage registers.





One of the earliest marriage records held by ARCAT is from 1830:

"1830 M.1. John S. Kelly to Catherine Shaughnessy - September 27th were married, after three publications of Banns, John S Kelly and Catherine Shaughnessy residing in the township of Toronto. Witnesses: Charles Doherty, Thomas Shaughnessy, David Baites, By me Edward Gordon."  From the register entitled A Register of the Baptisms performed by The Revd. Edward Gordon, in the Townships above York, now Toronto, during his mission of three years and five months.

The earliest records vary in the amount of detail that was recorded, but here we are able to learn the names of the bride and groom, the date they were married, who the witnesses to their marriage were, and where they were living.

Starting in 1858, after An Act to Amend the Laws relating to the Solemnization of Matrimony in Upper Canada,  clergy were required to send marriage records to their local county officials.   Marriage registers started looking like this:

St. Michael's Cathedral Marriage Register starting 1858

In the above register, the couples' names, ages, place of residence, place of birth, names of parents (including the mother's maiden name) and witnesses and date of marriage are recorded. All very valuable information to genealogists!

St. Basil's Marriage Register starting 1858

While many registers just list the country of birth, this St. Basil's register goes so far as to list the town where each registered person is born. In this case, the groom was born in Goresbridge, County Kilkenny, Ireland.

ARCAT holds a few original registers, but most are held by individual parishes. Originals are not available to researchers, but there are a few ways to access copies. Check the ARCAT page on the archdiocesan website to find the option that is best for you. We are always available to guide you in your search.

Check here for a history of marriage records and practices in Ontario.

Record of the Week: "Dom Bosco est mort"

Tomorrow is the the feast day of St. John Bosco and the anniversary of his death. This year marks 200 years since his birth in northern Italy, in a hamlet outside of Turin.

As a priest, Don (Father) Bosco founded the Congregation of St. Francis de Sales (the Salesian Fathers), and co-founded the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (the Salesian Sisters). He was canonized in 1934 by Pope Pius XI and given the title "Father and Teacher of Youth."  Youth ministry is the primary vocation of the Salesian orders.

Archbishop of Toronto John Lynch was sent the announcement of Don Bosco's death, issued from the Oratory of Saint Francis de Sales in Turin, 31 January 1888: 

Archbishop Lynch fonds, LAH33.78

"It is with a breaking heart, eyes full of tears and a trembling hand, that I convey to you the painful news, the most painful news I have ever announced or will ever have to announce: our good loving father in Jesus Christ, our founder, friend, advisor, guide of our lives, Dom Bosco, is dead." [translated from French]

Archbishop Lynch fonds, LAH33.78

"...With the support and advice of my confreres, I am certain the Pious Society of Saint Francis de Sales, supported by the arm of God, strong with the protection of Mary Help of Christians and the generous charity of Salesian cooperators, will continue the works created by its revered and lamented founder, in particular the Christian education of the poor and dispossessed youth and foreign Missions...

"...we no longer have our good Father among us, but we will meet him again in Heaven if we apply his advice, and if we walk faithfully in his footsteps.

"Believe me, even in pain and in sorrow..."  [translated from French]

To the modern reader, the announcement may seem overly sentimental. However, the heartfelt language is indicative of the steadfast devotion of Don Bosco's followers and his reputation as an inspirational, holy man.

The author, Rev. Michel Rua, states, "I am certain the Pious Society of Saint Francis de Sales...will continue the works created by its revered and lamented founder."  In this archdiocese, Don Bosco's legacy continues to guide the Salesian Fathers at the parish of St. Benedict in Etobicoke. Read more in this article from The Catholic Register.

Join His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins at he celebrates the Solemn Mass for the Feast of St. John Bosco at St. Paul's Basilica (83 Power St., Toronto), Saturday, January 31 at 10 a.m.

The Evolution of Ecumenism

This week we celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which runs from January 18 - 25. Events during this week bring together people from different Christian denominations to talk and pray together to foster mutual understanding.

Today, the idea that Christians should respect each other and find common ground is accepted as a given, but it's no secret that different denominations didn't always get along. Differences in belief were exacerbated by political and social pressures, and the will to understand one another was lacking.

The archival record reflects how attitudes towards ecumenism (practices promoting Christian unity and cooperation) have changed over time. Consider the following examples from the ARCAT stacks:

In 1835 a Catholic who signed as "A Friend to the Good Cause" wrote to Bishop Macdonell regarding Catholic marriages. The writer was very scandalized that Protestants and Catholics were allowed to marry, and that Catholics were being married by Protestant clergy.

"You are aware that the laws of Canada allow and enjoin a magistrate of any denomination to perform that Sacrament or that the same is performed by Roman Catholic Magistrates or Squires throughout the Province. They not only marry Protestants but they also unite Catholics or rather in the eyes of Holy mother Church they tell their deluded victims that the Law sanctions their living in open fornication. It has also unfortunately been but too often the case that Catholics of the highest respectability in this country have been united by Protestant Clergymen without ever having recourse." (M AD01.01) 

The feeling seems to have been mutual. In 1849 Bishop Power received a letter from a Protestant regarding Catholic devotion to Mary: "... Consequently such service must be ten degrees worse than heathenish superstition. Oh alas! without all doubt the Great God, who will not give his worship or glory to any other, must be greatly offended at such idolatry. In the name of common sense abandon such damnable, forbidden and unscriptural worship before the Lord sweep off the earth as he is at present doing, with a sudden disease all Priests in Christendom together with their deluded victims." (P AB13.02)

However around this time there was some desire for Christian unity. Bishop Power had in his possession a published "Prayer for the Unity of the Holy Church" written by a "Priest of the English Church:"

P AA03.03

In the 1880s Archbishop Lynch wrote "Being appointed by your saintly predecessor over twenty years ago to the See of Toronto, one of the most Protestant and bigoted cities in America, where everything Catholic is assailed ... with the utmost malignity, we undertook our task by striking at the root of their intolerance, which was principally pride and ignorance." (L RC63.17) Lynch had to deal with a city in which the antagonism that existed between Irish Catholics and British Protestants was very much a reality. The lack of desire for dialogue would have gone both ways.

In 1897 Archbishop Walsh gave a lecture regarding the differences between Catholics and Protestants. The title was less than diplomatic:

"Some Things Which Catholics Do Not Believe or Protestant Fictions and Catholic Facts."
W AA04.01

In 1908, the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity, the precursor to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was established by Father Paul Wattson, SA. There was more and more interest in ecumenism, but there was still some hesitance.

By mid century, the Church's position was beginning to soften. In a 1949 letter, bishops were encouraged to continue to pray for Christian unity, but to be careful to make sure that their Parishioners were not participating in "initiatives" that did not rest upon "correct principles"  (MG RC295.02).

In the early 1960s, big changes were in store for the Church. The Second Vatican Council produced a document called Unitatis Redintegratio, or Decree on Ecumenism. This document explains, "We must get to know the outlook of our separated brethren." It calls upon Catholics to work towards unity "according to his talent."

Ecumenical services were held:

PO EC01.08

As Archbishop Pocock put it in 1965: "With regard to ecumenism, we can rejoice together at the great progress that has been made during the past two years. Members of different communions are now meeting together quite frequently to pray for Christian unity and for the solution of other serious problems. In a spirit of true charity Protestants and Catholics, Anglicans and Orthodox, are coming to regard one another with trust rather than with suspicion and to associate in a spirit of Christian love. Through theological discussion at many levels, we are beginning to understand and respect one another, and are thereby taking the first steps toward unity in faith" (PO CO05.04).

In 1984, Pope John Paul II celebrated an Ecumenical service at St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral in Toronto:

PH 65 Photograph courtesy of Concacan Inc, 1984.

In 1995 he wrote a Pastoral Letter, Ut Unum Sint or On Commitment to Ecumenism. He explained, "Christians cannot underestimate the burden of long-standing misgivings inherited from the past, and of mutual misunderstandings and prejudices. Complacency, indifference and insufficient knowledge of one another often make this situation worse. Consequently, the commitment to ecumenism must be based upon the conversion of hearts and upon prayer, which will also lead to the necessary purification of past memories. With the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Lord's disciples, inspired by love, by the power of the truth and by a sincere desire for mutual forgiveness and reconciliation, are called to re-examine together their painful past and the hurt which that past regrettably continues to provoke even today."

Today, the Archdiocese of Toronto maintains an Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs. This office is very involved in ecumenical activities throughout the diocese, and has been involved in the planning of this year's Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which culminates in an ecumenical prayer service on Sunday January 25th.

As Pope Francis said, " The Holy Spirit creates diversity in the Church ... and this diversity is very rich and very beautiful. But then, the Holy Spirit also brings unity, and in that way, the church is one in its diversity."

The Year of Consecrated Life: Celebrating the Loretto Sisters

The Year of Consecrated Life began at the end of November 2014 and will conclude on February 2, 2016.  The objectives for the Year of Consecrated Life are: gratefully remembering; and embracing the future with hope. To support these objectives we will post one blog per month featuring a religious order currently present in the Archdiocese of Toronto throughout the Year of Consecrated Life.

We begin the celebration by focusing on the first female religious order to establish itself in Toronto, the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (I.B.V.M.), commonly known as the Loretto Sisters.

In 1847, Bishop Michael Power, the first bishop of the still new Diocese of Toronto used an ad limina visit to Rome to conduct a recruitment drive for priests and religious in Europe. On June 1, 1847 he visited Mother Teresa Ball at Rathfarnham, Ireland and the two agreed that sisters would be sent to establish schools in Toronto.

Five sisters arrived in Toronto on September 16, 1847 amid the typhus epidemic. No one greeted them upon their arrival as Bishop Power had not yet received the letter (below) detailing their travel plans. Despite the circumstances, they had set up their first residence on what is now Adelaide Street within a week and opened a school.

Religious Orders fonds: Sisters of Loretto (I.B.V.M.): General Correspondence, 1816-1849, July 20, 1847.

"Loretto AbbeyRathfarnhamDublin20th July 1847

Most Honored Lord,

"I was gratified with your Lordship's letter, dated from Toronto, 25th of last June.  I wrote today to inform Dr. O'Connell P.P. of Sts. Michael and John's Chapel that five of our Nuns will be prepared to sail from Kingstown to Liverpool 2nd August to proceed by the Packet, which will sail 3rd August for Boston U.S.

"The sixth Religious selected to complete the number desired by your Lordship exchanged this life, we trust, for heaven 5th of last July: possibly a candidate for Religious life may offer at Toronto and be trained to supply the place of one, who we hope, will intercede for the little colony, who go to propagate the holy faith under the auspices of the sacred hearts of Jesus and Mary and under the patronage of our glorious protector St. Michael. 

"No Titles[?] can be more appropriate for the numbers of our Institute, than that of the Diocese.It will not be easy to supply the places vacated by our Sisters, who volunteer for Canada we wish to send steady persons, who will be creditable abroad, as they have been edifying in their native country.

"Since writing the above Dr. O'Connell P.P. called and will be ready for our five to sail from Kingstown 10th August and from Liverpool to New York U.S. 11th August by the "Garrick". Passages for each from Liverpool to New York 25 pounds[?]."...

Religious Orders fonds: Sisters of Loretto (I.B.V.M.): General Correspondence, 1816-1849, July 20, 1847.

..."We have chosen Mrs. Anne Hutchinson for Reverend Mother she is 30 years of age; her religious appellation is Mary Joseph Loyola.

"Her assistant will be Mrs. Fleming, called Mary Gertrude she is aged 27 years.Mrs. Dease in religion Mary Teresa is well educated and intimate with Mrs. Phelan known to us, by the name of Mary Bonaventura and prized.

"The fifth is Sister to Reverend Mother, we style her Mary Valentina, she was educated in our school.All enjoy health and are are amiably disposed.If it meet your Lordship's wishes I can have a person with a religious vocation trained in the model school Dublin who can forward free schools in Canada by introducing the most approved plans for conveying knowledge.

"Two were already benefited, a third is to join a class in the Model School next month.

This is the 14th anniversary of our first filiation from this Abbey. Toronto will be the 10th Foundation from Loretto, Dublin. May it be equally prosperous with the preceding establishments.

"Since I received the honor of your Lordship's visit, a very beautiful demesne superior to Rathfarnham has been added to our acquisitions: a fine house too on it.

"All our Sisters enjoy their usual health.Soliciting the benefit of your Lordship's prayers,

"With esteem and respect,

Your humble servant in Jesus Christ

Frances Teresa Ball

"To Right Rev. Dr. Power"

Within a month Bishop Power had died of typhus. By March 1851, three of the five original sisters had died and were buried in St. Michael’s Cathedral crypt. Another had returned to Ireland. This left Teresa Dease as superior.  She took up the mantle of leadership and spent nearly four decades shaping the growth of the I.B.V.M. in North America.

First page of the entry entitled, "Sisters of Loretto"
 PH 31P/228AL, Religious Orders of the Archdiocese of Toronto Album believed to have been created in the 1960s.

In 2009, the Lorettos celebrated 400 years since their foundation by Mary Ward. A display celebrating this milestone was erected in the Pastoral Centre lobby:

ARCAT staff photo.

The Loretto Sisters currently work in education, the promotion of justice, and ministries of spirituality and pastoral care. They are truly contemplatives in action responding to the needs of the time.  For further information on the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (I.B.V.M.) please see their website.

For further historical information please contact the Institute Archives of the Canadian Province.

For information on vocations please contact: Sr. Lynn Cira, IBVM, Loretto College, 70 St. Mary Street, Toronto, ON Canada M58 1J3; Phone: 416-925-2833 ext. 5231; E-mail: lorettovocations@bell.net

For general information on vocations please contact the Archdiocese of Toronto's Office of Vocations.

For further information on The Year of Consecrated Life, please see the November 28, 2014 post on the Archdiocese of Toronto blog.