Description

Short history

The region of Peel, which saw a faster development at the end of the sixties and beginning of the seventies of the twentieth century, attracted an increasing number of Croats. Their spiritual needs were originally met by priests of Our Lady Queen of Croats Parish in Toronto. However, this way of pastoral service appeared to be inadequate, so awareness grew about the need for one more Croatian parish west of Toronto. The considerations about the pastoral needs of the Croatian faithful were expressed to the competent church authority. After hearing the considerations and reasons, archbishop Philip Pocock, Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Toronto at the time, gave a Decree for canonical establishment of an ethnic parish for Croats, with a head office in Mississauga, on December 6, 1977. The newly-established Croatian Martyrs Parish covers the entire region of Peel (the cities of Mississauga, Brampton, Bramalea and Malton). Three days after the canonical establishment of the parish, the Ordinary appointed Rev. Ivica Kecerin as its first pastor. At the beginning of the following year, Kecerin settled in Mississauga, enabling him to more easily organize community gatherings and the construction of the church and pastoral centre. Holy masses were first held at the church of St. Francis of Assisi, and after that mass services moved to the gymnasium of Mary Fix Catholic School. The same year was used for preparation of the construction of the church and pastoral centre. Construction began in June of 1979 and was completed by the end of the year. On July 6, 1980, the church was blessed by Cardinal Franjo Seper, who was the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at the time.

Contacts

Your location: 4605 Mississauga Rd, Mississauga, Ontario, Kanada

Web Address: http://www.croatianmartyrs.ca/