The
parish was founded in the mid-fifties. Slovenian families began to move from the
area around the parish church of Our Lady Help of Christians to the western end
of the city of Toronto, into the municipality of Etobicoke. As the number of the
families grew, the wish to have their own priest and parish grew with it.
Rev.
Janez Kopac, C.M. started saying Sunday Masses in the local parish church of
Christ the King on the Lake Shore. In January, 1959, the group around Rev. Kopac
started serious discussions to found a new parish. In February of the same year,
the Slovenian Saturday School began classes in the Hall of Christ the King
Parish. Rev. Kopac resided at Our Lady Help of Christians on Manning Avenue.
A
house was purchased on Browns Line in August of 1960, which served as Rev.
Kopac’s residence and as a base for the parish
they had in mind. Today that house is occupied by J.E. Krek’s Credit Union.
Behind
that house a lot was soon acquired for the center. On September 1, 1960, by the
Archbishop’s decree the Parish of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal was
founded, although there was only an empty lot.
The
plan for the church and parish hall were commissioned from and made by the
architect Peter Dimitroff but were not accepted by the municipality of Etobicoke.
Another architect, Alson Fisher, was hired. His plans were approved and on
November 2, 1960, the ground breaking took place. Rev. Franc Sodja, C.M.,
assistant to Rev. Kopac, broke the ground, assisted by Rev. Andrej Prebil, C.M.
and Tone Zrnec, C.M., both from Our
Lady Help of Christians Parish. The general contractor was parishioner, Tine
Tekavcic.
The
construction of the new center proceeded quickly. On February 5, 1961, the Hall
was completed and, from that day, until the completion of the church, it served
as a chapel for Sunday Masses.
The
Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto, Most Rev. Francis V. Allen, blessed the new church
on May 28, 1961. That same day, the corner stone was also blessed. A document,
that was immured, reads: “…the construction of this church coincided with
the 130th anniversary of Our Lady’s appearance and her revelation
of the Miraculous Medal… and with the 300th anniversary of the
death of St. Vincent de Paul…, the church was blessed by Toronto Auxiliary
Bishop Francis V. Allen May 28, 1961 at 3:30 in the afternoon…”
On
May 31, 1980, Rev. Valentin Batic was ordained a priest by Toronto Auxiliary
Bishop Alojzij Ambrozic. The next day, June 1, Rev. Batic celebrated his first
Mass.
To
better serve the parish community spiritually, the Vincentian Fathers introduced
spiritual renewals before Christmas and Easter, parish mission and retreats.
On
the camp ground at Bolton, in cooperation of both Slovenian Parishes, the feast
of Corpus Christi is celebrated with a procession. For cultural and national
revival Catholic Days (Katoliški dnevi), were also celebrated with special
attention given to Friderik Baraga, Anton M. Slomsek, Janez F. Gnidovec…
Pastors:
1.
Rev. Janez Kopac, C.M.: from 1960 until 1988;
3. Valentin Batič, from 2005
Assistants:
Rev.
Franc Sodja, Stanko Boljka, Ivan Jan, Ivan Plazar, Janez Jeretina, Joze Mejac,
Franc Letonja, Tone Zrnec, Valentin Batic, Tomaz Mavric, Pavle Novak, Tone Ovtar,
Roman Travar and Tony Burja – all Vincentian Fathers.