St. Michel's Cathedral of Toronto

St.Michael’s Cathedral of Toronto

St. Michael’s Cathedral is the Roman Catholic cathedral of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, one of the oldest churches in the city. Itwas built by William Thomas from 1845–1848 and at the time was primarily financed by Irish immigrants.

On May 8, 1845, Bishop Power laid the cathedral’s cornerstone, and dedicated his cathedral and city to St. Michael. In the cornerstone, some fragments of a stone pillar of the old Norman York Minster Cathedral in England and some small pieces of the oak roof of that same cathedral were sealed. St. Michael’s is a 19th century interpretation of the Minster’s 14th century English Gothic style. The connection with York Minster is appropriate, since Toronto’s English name had been York.

The cathedral is home to Canada’s largest English Catholic diocese. The current archbishop is Thomas Christopher Collins, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on 16 December 2006, replacing Aloysius Matthew Cardinal Ambrozic. Cardinal Ambrozic retired after 16 years as Archbishop of Toronto.

St.Michael’s Cathedral of Toronto. Photo: Megan (Elena)

St. Michael’s Cathedral, situated in the heart of Toronto’s MegaCity, stands at the corners of Bond and Shuter streets, just two blocks east of Yonge Street, one north of Queen and one south of Dundas. Today’s Cathedral feeds the hungry, gives shelter to the homeless and continues to nourish the spiritual life and well being of the many who enter through its gates. Through such outreach programs as St. Vincent de Paul, Out-of-the-Cold, the CWL, Legion of Mary and through spiritual growth and renewal programs like RCIA, Bible Study, The Eucharistic Vigil of Adoration, Jubilee Study and Prayer evenings, and daily exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, St. Michael’s Cathedral ministers both to a burgeoning downtown population and to the whole of the Archdiocese who come throughout the year to celebrate and worship.

As Mother Church of the Archdiocese, St. Michael’s Cathedral hosts a number of celebrations each year presided over by our Archbishop, Thomas Collins. During Advent, Christmas, New Year’s, Lent and particularly during Holy Week and Easter, the Cathedral draws many thousands to worship. Diocesan ordinations take place at the Cathedral in May and in September there is a splendid Mass for the opening of the Court called The Red Mass; while the traditional Irish feast of St. Patrick continues to be celebrated with music, dignitaries and the blessing of the shamrock. The world renowned St. Michael’s Choir School has its home at the Cathedral providing glorious music and attracting international visitors and acclaim. The Cathedral serves a multicultural City. Its parishioners come from diverse cultural, linguistic, political and financial situations. Both the very poor and the very rich find a home at the Cathedral. In some ways, this is much as it was at the start.

St. Michael’s Cathedral was consecrated on September 19, 1848, more than 150 years ago. The cornerstone had been laid on May 8, 1845 by Bishop Michael Power, the first Bishop of Toronto, who contracted Typhus and died on October 1, 1847 having ministered to the sick and dying among the great influx of Irish famine immigrants. Bishop Power’s own financial resources together with the Sunday penny collections of the Irish immigrants, a clerical tax, donations from across the diocese, generous contributions from Europe, especially France and Vienna, as well as the benefices of financial benefactors such as The Hon. John Elmsley and Samuel G. Lynn Esq., both Anglican converts, all contributed to purchasing the land and seeing the Cathedral through to a debt free consecration.

The building, designed by the architect William Thomas, is patterned on that of the fourteenth century gothic York Minster in England. The great stained glass “crucifixion” over the sanctuary, a masterpiece of the noted French artist Thevenot, was donated by the Most Reverend Armand-Francois-Marie Count de Charbonnel, second Bishop of Toronto and was installed in 1858. To this day the Cathedral houses splendid art, stained glass windows and magnificent gold chalices. High above the main altar hangs the Red Hat of His Eminence James C. Cardinal MacGuigan, who served as the first Cardinal of Toronto from 1946 to 1974. Within the Rectory of the Cathedral is kept the throne used by Pope John Paul II who celebrated Mass in the Cathedral in 1984 during the episcopate of Gerald Emmett Cardinal Carter.

What is most important however, is that from its founding until today, St. Michael’s Cathedral has stood in the heart of Toronto serving the people of God, poor and rich alike, English, Irish and multicultural. The fundamental mission of the Cathedral is to be a place of prayer and worship with a special commitment to the preaching of the Word and service to and with poor persons. Today, the Cathedral serves as a heart of worship to the nation.

(Source: Wikipedia)