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A Good Choice
Churches and streets, like persons and ships, have their own characteristics. Their architecture and general conformation invest them with an individuality little short of identity. HolyNameChurch and Danforth Avenue are no exception. They both meet in a common affinity of distinctiveness. As a specimen of classic architecture HolyNameChurch is hardly less than conspicuous; while Danforth Avenue is Toronto’s greatest highway in point of length and breadth, volume of traffic, location, not to mention the enterprise and intelligence of its residents.
People are mysteriously attracted by the unique and outstanding. Churches and streets command their notice as easily as certain individuals or particular monuments invite or escape special attention. They gain the public eye because they possess that arresting quality of interest which, to use a naval term, may be called “high visibility”. They protrude themselves upon the public and cannot long remain obscure.
If Holy Name, which is still in its teens, holds a secure place in the Catholic life of Toronto, it is without show or spectacle. There has been little publicity beyond acquainting the parishioners of their financial obligations. Ordinary self-respect suggested putting the best foot forward regardless of any special appeal. In an age of noisy speech, which delights to dramatize, itself by means of modern propaganda there is a too great tendency to advertise. There are, however, certainmatters, which suffer from notoriety as for instance, when an air raid is announced, or when a physician in search of more patients, adds a brass band to the attractions of his consulting-room. Too much advertising destroys the surprises of life and makes a parish as shop-worn and uninteresting as a lady who has sought a husband through the medium of the daily press. A silent label is oftenmore convincing than high-pressure salesmanship.
Though at first a pioneer adventure, the erection of HolyNameChurch, has in great measure succeeded because apart from the enterprise of its people and the distinction and resonance of the title it bears, it is favorably placed on a highway which is as prominent as it is attractive.
Formally Established
Holy Name Parish was established by His Grace Archbishop McNeil, September 11, 1913. Father Cline, the Parish Priest of Oshawa, was on this date made Superintendent of Catholic Charities and given charge of the newly erected parish of the Holy Name. The first parish Mass was celebrated by the Reverend Gregory Kernahan, Chancellor of the Diocese, in the school on Carlaw Ave., which has since reverted from St. Ann’s to Holy Name Parish.
The following is Father Kernahan’s note in the Announcement-book: - “The first Mass was held in Danforth Chapel today, October 5, 1913, which afforded seating accommodation for two hundred and fifty. About two hundred and seventy-five people were present. Mass was celebrated by Rev. G. Kernahan. Thirty people received Communion.” Father Kernahan continued to administer the affairs of the parish till the following February.
Father Cline became resident pastor of Holy Name, February 2nd, 1914. He resigned the Catholic Charities, September 1st, 1914, in order to enter more fully into the work of parochial organization and construction.
The plans and specifications of the church which had for some time been in course of preparation by A.W. Holmes were submitted to His Grace the Archbishop the latter part of July, 1914. With is approval of the basement plan the work of excavation was commence in July and was completed in August, 1914. Because of the outbreak of the world war building operations were suspended for one year.
In the meantime the need of a presbytery became urgent, as no residence in the vicinity afforded the necessary accommodation. Accordingly, the building of Holy Name Presbytery was considered and approved of by the ladies of the parish under the auspices of the “Valiant Woman Club”. By the self-sacrificing efforts of this Club, close on three thousand dollars had been collected. With this financial start, a committee of the gentlemen of the parish decided that, as soon as plans and specifications were prepared by Mr. Thatcher and approved of by His Grace the Archbishop, building should commence. The necessary sanction being obtained the first sod was turned April 7th, 1915. After being under course of erection for a half-year Holy Name Presbytery was formally opened and occupied October 26th, 1915. The congregation having outgrown the limits of the school auditorium, which served as a temporary chapel during the second year of its existence, it became a matter of necessity to proceed with the building of the basement of the church. With the approval of His Grace the Archbishop a loan of $30,000 was secured in July 1915. Towards the middle of the next month the contract was let. The ceremony of the lying of the cornerstone of HolyNameChurch was performed by His Lordship Bishop Power, of St. George’s, Newfoundland, Sunday, November 14th, at 3 .m. in the presence of a congregation of three thousand people and thirty-five priests. Being the PatronalChurch of the Holy Name Society, the different branches of the Holy Name throughout the City marched in procession from the school on Carlaw Avenue to the basement of the church. The Knights of St. John acted as a guard of honor for His Lordship, and the Holy Name Choir greeted his advent by singing “Vivat Pastor Bonus” Rev. Father Trayling, of the Cathedral, acted as Master of Ceremonies, and the Rev. Dr. Kehoe, of St. Augustine’s Seminary, preached the sermon. The preacher took for his theme the realism of the Church. The ceremonies of the Church, he said, were so many object lessons by which she taught her children to rise step by step from externals into the conception of the spiritual life. The interior of the Church he added can always enlist the senses of the worshipper by reason of its symbolism. Some of the clergy who took part in the ceremony were: - Rt. Rev. Mons. Kidd and Whelan, Dean Harris, Dean Hand, Dean Moyna, Fathers Doherty, McCann, Dollard, Carr, Dumichel Hayes, Coughin, Burke, McCabe, Carey, Coyle, Hayden, Cleary, Castex, Malouf, Pracne, Healy, Flanigan, Boylan, Williams. Drs. O’Leary and Kissane. After the ceremony the pastor, Father Cline, entertained the Bishop and the clergy at his new residence.
Reprinted from “Holy Name Parish 1913 – 1927” a parish history published 1927. |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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