St. Leo's Roman Catholic Church, Mimico
Encyclopedia
St. Leo's Roman Catholic Church on Royal York Rd (formerly Church St) at Stanley, Mimico
in Toronto
(formerly Etobicoke), Ontario
, is the oldest Catholic church in Etobicoke and the only Catholic church in Mimico.
The first services were held at Eden Court (515 Royal York Rd) the home of Mr Edward Stock, one of only three remaining Victorian Houses on Royal York with St. Leo's Rectory, the building has recently been declared a historic building. Mr. Stock donated land for the original church in 1895 which opened as a mission of Holy Family in 1903.
In 1909 St. Leo's became a parish serving Swansea south of the College St extension (now Morningside Ave) and Mimico with its original boundaries: Lake Ontario, the Humber River, North Queen St (now Delroy Dr) and Mimico Ave (now Kipling Ave). One of ten famous races run between athletes Tom Longboat
and Alf Shrubb took place for St. Leo's parish picnic at an old Mimico park in 1912 the same year St. Leo's extensively extended the church, doubling its capacity. St. Leo's casualties for the First World War were 1 killed (Pte. Ed Doherty), 5 wounded out of 30 enlisted. In 1920 the former western portion of Mimico became the Town of New Toronto
, leading in 1924 to the building of St. Teresa's Catholic Church and the separation of this area from St. Leo's. In 1923 the Town of Mimico had opened a second Public school and in 1926 the parish built St. Leo Elementary School
across from the church on land bought from Mimico's Werner family which led to the creation of the Mimico Separate School Board which often met at the old Rectory, 48 Station Rd across from the Mimico Library. St. Leo Elementary School is the oldest Separate School in Etobicoke still open. Like the Town of Mimico and its other churches, St. Leo's went deeply into debt during the Great Depression. With much post war Italian immigration to the northern half of Mimico, in 1947 the Mimico Separate School Board opened a second Catholic school for the parish north of the QEW; St. Louis Elementary School
the name likely suggested by the name of the pastor at the time (the first Italian-speaking pastor) Fr. Louis Markle. All of St. Leo's early clergy served at the mother church of Holy Family (except Fr. Markle, whose brother Fr. Basil Markle served there). All the early pastors but the first (Fr. Doherty) taught at St. Augustine's Seminary, a tradition carried on by the current pastor.
Second church
A new church was built across the street from the old in 1953 on the site of Mimico's 1858 post office. Shortly after, the parish made a concerted effort to buy the next door Postmaster's Home, Werner House, to be the new rectory. In 1955 St. Mark's Catholic Church was built in Humber Bay
neighbourhood and in 1961 Holy Angels was built for The Queensway
neighourhood, the area having been cut off from Mimico by the building of the Queen Elizabeth Way. After liturgical changes in the Latin Rite led to the use of the vernacular (English) in place of Latin, St. Leo's began providing a separate liturgy for Italian parishioners. In 1960 a Parish Hall was built on the site of the Old Church. Both elementary schools were extensively added to throughout the 1960s as Mimico was amalgamated with Etobicoke, St. Leo's parish replacing Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, Kingsway
as the oldest Catholic parish in Etobicoke. After full funding for Catholic Schools was introduced, the Public Board of Education offered the old Mimico High School to the Separate (Catholic) School Board which declined on the grounds that demographics changes in Etobicoke meant Mimico was no longer centrally located.
Three St. Leo's parishioners have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders: Fr. Jim Passery (ordained in the church on the 50th anniversary of the parish), Deacon Ralph Yearsley, Deacon Gord Weiss. One of St. Leo's most celebrated former parishioners is NHL Hockey Player Brendan Shanahan
. St. Leo's is also home to the Fourth Lakeshore Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.
Mimico
The historic Town of Mimico is a neighbourhood in the south-western part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the south-east corner of the former Township of Etobicoke, and was an independent municipality from 1911 to 1967....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
(formerly Etobicoke), Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, is the oldest Catholic church in Etobicoke and the only Catholic church in Mimico.
History
First churchThe first services were held at Eden Court (515 Royal York Rd) the home of Mr Edward Stock, one of only three remaining Victorian Houses on Royal York with St. Leo's Rectory, the building has recently been declared a historic building. Mr. Stock donated land for the original church in 1895 which opened as a mission of Holy Family in 1903.
In 1909 St. Leo's became a parish serving Swansea south of the College St extension (now Morningside Ave) and Mimico with its original boundaries: Lake Ontario, the Humber River, North Queen St (now Delroy Dr) and Mimico Ave (now Kipling Ave). One of ten famous races run between athletes Tom Longboat
Tom Longboat
Cogwagee was an Onondaga distance runner from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation Indian reserve near Brantford, Ontario, and for much of his career the dominant long distance runner of the time...
and Alf Shrubb took place for St. Leo's parish picnic at an old Mimico park in 1912 the same year St. Leo's extensively extended the church, doubling its capacity. St. Leo's casualties for the First World War were 1 killed (Pte. Ed Doherty), 5 wounded out of 30 enlisted. In 1920 the former western portion of Mimico became the Town of New Toronto
New Toronto
The historic Town of New Toronto is a neighbourhood in the south-west end of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the south-centre of the former Township of Etobicoke and was an independent municipality from 1913 to 1967, one of the former 'Lakeshore Municipalities'...
, leading in 1924 to the building of St. Teresa's Catholic Church and the separation of this area from St. Leo's. In 1923 the Town of Mimico had opened a second Public school and in 1926 the parish built St. Leo Elementary School
St. Leo Catholic Elementary School, Mimico
St. Leo is an elementary school in the former town of Mimico, Etobicoke, now a part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is operated by the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Recently the name of the school, originally St. Leo's Separate School, has been written as St. Leo Catholic...
across from the church on land bought from Mimico's Werner family which led to the creation of the Mimico Separate School Board which often met at the old Rectory, 48 Station Rd across from the Mimico Library. St. Leo Elementary School is the oldest Separate School in Etobicoke still open. Like the Town of Mimico and its other churches, St. Leo's went deeply into debt during the Great Depression. With much post war Italian immigration to the northern half of Mimico, in 1947 the Mimico Separate School Board opened a second Catholic school for the parish north of the QEW; St. Louis Elementary School
St. Louis Catholic Elementary School, Mimico
St. Louis is an elementary school in the former town of Mimico, Etobicoke, now a part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is operated by the Toronto Catholic District School Board.- History :...
the name likely suggested by the name of the pastor at the time (the first Italian-speaking pastor) Fr. Louis Markle. All of St. Leo's early clergy served at the mother church of Holy Family (except Fr. Markle, whose brother Fr. Basil Markle served there). All the early pastors but the first (Fr. Doherty) taught at St. Augustine's Seminary, a tradition carried on by the current pastor.
Second church
A new church was built across the street from the old in 1953 on the site of Mimico's 1858 post office. Shortly after, the parish made a concerted effort to buy the next door Postmaster's Home, Werner House, to be the new rectory. In 1955 St. Mark's Catholic Church was built in Humber Bay
The Queensway-Humber Bay
The Queensway-Humber Bay, known officially as Stonegate-Queensway, is a neighbourhood in the south-west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the south-east of the former City of Etobicoke.-Neighbourhoods:...
neighbourhood and in 1961 Holy Angels was built for The Queensway
The Queensway-Humber Bay
The Queensway-Humber Bay, known officially as Stonegate-Queensway, is a neighbourhood in the south-west of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the south-east of the former City of Etobicoke.-Neighbourhoods:...
neighourhood, the area having been cut off from Mimico by the building of the Queen Elizabeth Way. After liturgical changes in the Latin Rite led to the use of the vernacular (English) in place of Latin, St. Leo's began providing a separate liturgy for Italian parishioners. In 1960 a Parish Hall was built on the site of the Old Church. Both elementary schools were extensively added to throughout the 1960s as Mimico was amalgamated with Etobicoke, St. Leo's parish replacing Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, Kingsway
Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, Kingsway
Our Lady of Sorrows is a Roman Catholic church in Toronto's western district of Etobicoke, in the exclusive the Kingsway neighbourhood. The parish includes the central section of Etobicoke where two much earlier catholic missions once served as the first Roman Catholic places of worship in...
as the oldest Catholic parish in Etobicoke. After full funding for Catholic Schools was introduced, the Public Board of Education offered the old Mimico High School to the Separate (Catholic) School Board which declined on the grounds that demographics changes in Etobicoke meant Mimico was no longer centrally located.
Three St. Leo's parishioners have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders: Fr. Jim Passery (ordained in the church on the 50th anniversary of the parish), Deacon Ralph Yearsley, Deacon Gord Weiss. One of St. Leo's most celebrated former parishioners is NHL Hockey Player Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Shanahan
Brendan Frederick "Shanny" Shanahan is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger who currently serves as the National Hockey League's Vice President of Hockey and Business Development and head disciplinarian. Originally drafted by the New Jersey Devils second overall in the 1987 NHL Entry...
. St. Leo's is also home to the Fourth Lakeshore Beavers, Cubs and Scouts.
Pastors
- Rev Msgr Jim Coyle (1903–1909) Commuted from Holy Family, Toronto (Parkdale)
- Rev. George Doherty (1909–1929) First Pastor, bought old rectory at 48 Station Rd.
- Rev. Msgr. Edward Brennan (1929–1936) Became Rector of St. Augustine's SeminarySt. Augustine's SeminarySt. Augustine's Seminary is the archdiocesan seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, in Canada. It also welcomes candidates from elsewhere.It is a member of the Toronto School of Theology. It is located by the shore of Lake Ontario in Toronto....
- Rev. Msgr. John Corrigan (1936–1946) Taught at St. Augustine's SeminarySt. Augustine's SeminarySt. Augustine's Seminary is the archdiocesan seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, in Canada. It also welcomes candidates from elsewhere.It is a member of the Toronto School of Theology. It is located by the shore of Lake Ontario in Toronto....
- Rev. Dr. Louis Markle (1946–1970) Taught at St. Augustine's SeminarySt. Augustine's SeminarySt. Augustine's Seminary is the archdiocesan seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, in Canada. It also welcomes candidates from elsewhere.It is a member of the Toronto School of Theology. It is located by the shore of Lake Ontario in Toronto....
. Built new church, Bought new Rectory, Pastor during liturgical reforms in the Latin Rite. Dr. Markle died shortly after retiring from St. Leo's. - Rev. Marshall Beriault (1970–1979) Assistant from 1967, brought CursilloCursilloCursillos in Christianity is a ministry of the Roman Catholic Church...
movement to Canada - Rev. Thomas Cullen (1979–1994) Died shortly after retiring from St. Leo's.
- Rev. Joseph Sultana (1994–2007) Became Pastor at St. Aidan's Roman Catholic Church in Agincourt, Scarborough
- Rev. Giuliano Costato (2007–2008)
- Rev. Frank Carpinelli (2008–) Teaches at St. Augustine's SeminarySt. Augustine's SeminarySt. Augustine's Seminary is the archdiocesan seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, in Canada. It also welcomes candidates from elsewhere.It is a member of the Toronto School of Theology. It is located by the shore of Lake Ontario in Toronto....
'Children' Parishes
- St. Teresa, New Toronto Founded 1924
- St. Mark, Humber Bay Founded 1955
- Holy Angels, Queensway Founded 1961
Schools
- St. Leo ElementarySt. Leo Catholic Elementary School, MimicoSt. Leo is an elementary school in the former town of Mimico, Etobicoke, now a part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is operated by the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Recently the name of the school, originally St. Leo's Separate School, has been written as St. Leo Catholic...
Founded 1926 - St. Louis ElementarySt. Louis Catholic Elementary School, MimicoSt. Louis is an elementary school in the former town of Mimico, Etobicoke, now a part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is operated by the Toronto Catholic District School Board.- History :...
Founded 1947
See also
- MimicoMimicoThe historic Town of Mimico is a neighbourhood in the south-western part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the south-east corner of the former Township of Etobicoke, and was an independent municipality from 1911 to 1967....
- Holy Family, Toronto (Parkdale)
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of TorontoRoman Catholic Archdiocese of TorontoThe Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto is a Roman Catholic archdiocese that includes part of the Province of Ontario. Its archbishop is also the eccesiatical provincial for the dioceses of Hamilton, London, Saint Catharines, and Thunder Bay. The Archbishop is Thomas Christopher Collins, with...