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MARYLAKE
Our Lay of Grace Monastery, King City, Ontario,
also known as “Marylake”, was established on the
1st day of October, 1942. Archbishop McGuigan of
the Archdiocese of Toronto and the Vicar
Provincial of the Augustinians, Rev. Athanasius
Pape, O.S.A. agreed to build a religious centre
on the property that was formerly owned by Sir
Henry Pellat. At the centre of the Pellat estate
was a 35 acre lake which Sir Henry had named
“Lac Marie” in honor of his wife. The name was
changed to ‘Marylake’ in honor of Mary, Our Lady
of Grace. Since its foundation, Marylake has
served as a place for retreats and pilgrimages.
With the help of the Augustinian Sisters of St.
Rita who came from Germany in the 1950’s, the
number of people who came for retreat grew
rapidly. The Sisters of St. Rita moved to the
United States in 1975, and the Mexican
Augustinian Sisters of Good Counsel came to
continue their work.
Besides retreat work, the Augustinians were
asked by the diocese to take on parish ministry
in King City. On the 11th day of November 1961,
Archbishop Pocock officially established Sacred
Heart Parish under the direction of the
Augustinians. |
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DELTA
In his own words, Fr. Cajetan Riedmeier, O.S.A.,
narrated: “On my return trip the train stopped
at Campbellton, New Brunswick, for almost an
hour. I walked up and down along the train when
someone tapped me on the shoulder and addressed
me in French. My reply: “I’m sorry, I do not
speak
French.” “Where are you from?”… I noticed that
the questioner was a bishop… He told me a few
things about himself, viz., that he was the
Archbishop of Vancouver on the west coast. Hi
name: Archbishop Duke. I was glad that he
mentioned this because to my shame I had to
admit that I did not know where Vancouver was.
He took out his notebook and jotted down his
address. He tore out the page and gave it to me,
adding: ‘I think I can do something for you.’”
This is how the story of the Augustinian in
Vancouver started. On the 1st day of May, 1943,
Archbishop Duke officially gave the former
diocesan seminary building together with a small
mission church on the Indian Reservation to the
Order. Retreat work was their main apostolate.
At present, the Augustinians provide sacramental
services to Sacred Heart Parish. They also
oversee the administration of Sacred Heart
School. |
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ST. BRIGID'S
In the spring of 1996, our Provincial Council
indicated a willingness to accept the pastoral
care of a parish in the city of Toronto.
Archbishop Aloysius Ambrozic asked us to
minister to the faithful of Saint Brigid Parish
in what was then East York. Three friars
inaugurated the Augustinian presence on
September 1, 1996. Ministry includes part-time
pastoral care of a hospital and a large
inter-parochial school, service to an aging
Italian-speaking population, and participation
in a program for the homeless, in addition to
the normal parish responsibilities.
The Province of St. Joseph has welcomed friars
from other provinces who are pursuing graduate
studies. Over the past six years, four young
priests from Nigeria and the Philippines have
been able to assist in the parish while studying
at local universities.
In 200?, the archbishop asked this community to
assume the pastoral care of neighboring St.
Catherine of Siena Parish, predominantly
Italian, with an aging and dwindling
congregation. The parish is served by the
Augustinians resident at St. Brigid’s, several
of whom are fluent in Italian. |
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The Augustinians
Province of St. Joseph
Canada
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