Building our Ministry: “The Artistry” Development, Toronto
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October 2, 2023Ten years ago, the Redemptorists of the Edmonton-Toronto Province began discussions with consultants towards the demolition and development of the Redemptorist property at 131 McCaul Street in Toronto, which had been home to St. Patrick’s Parish Offices, along with the great legacy of ministry with German speaking immigrants for several decades.
Through the work of Fr. Mark Miller, Provincial, Marwan Al-Turk, Comptroller, and Fr. Santo Arrigo, Pastor of St. Patrick’s, and the Provincial Council, Tribute Communities was awarded the successful bid for the sale of the land and began to see to the possibilities that this new venture would take.
Since the beginning of the project, Tribute Communities and the Redemptorists have worked side by side to not only design a structure that would not only benefit the 29-storey structure, but would become home to St. Patrick’s Parish Offices and the ministries of the Redemptorists on the site of 131 McCaul Street into our future.
In 2020, despite the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Tribute Communities, was able to move forward in the sale of condo units and continue with the plans to bring the project to fruition. By the summer of 2021, the Catholic Settlement House and Neumann Hall closed its doors permanently and demolition began to make way for the new building.
Over the past couple of years, we have been able to celebrate several milestones in the construction process, namely, demolition and excavation, shoring up a 60 foot deep concrete wall alongside our property to keep St. Patrick’s Church standing, the construction of 3 levels of parking, reaching the ground level by the beginning of Spring of 2023.
Over the summer, as the ground floor and future daycare space was built, we looked forward to the work to be done on structure that would not only benefit the 29-storey structure, but would become home to St. Patrick’s Parish Offices and the ministries of the Redemptorists on the site of 131 McCaul Street into our future.
In 2020, despite the beginning of the COVID pandemic, Tribute Communities, was able to move forward in the sale of condo units and continue with the plans to bring the project to fruition. By the summer of 2021, the Catholic Settlement House and Neumann Hall closed its doors permanently and demolition began to make way for the new building.
To mark the occasion, the Redemptorists hosted a BBQ lunch for Redemptorists, Redemptorist and Parish Staff, Tribute staff and construction workers from various trades. This was a wonderful opportunity for Redemptorists and Tribute Staff to come together to get to know one another and to mark this fine milestone.
Moving into the fall, it is anticipated that the pace of construction will increase as the remaining floors follow set patterns of construction and we will see the building reach almost half its height by Christmas.
As we start to see this building take shape and walk the floors of our future home, we are continuing to envision the work and ministry that will find its way into these new walls. As mentioned, the Parish Offices, which are currently at Redeemer House, will find it’s new home on the 1st floor and part of the 3rd floor. Parishioners will access these offices and 3rd floor space right beside the south end of the Church, with it’s new address remaining as 131 McCaul Street.
Our Ignite Ministry Canada, through ongoing school retreats and programs, along with other Redemptorist ministries will work alongside St. Patrick’s Parish and the Shrine Ministry in the gathering spaces, gift shop, catechetical room, chapel and halls to offer opportunities for evangelization, catechesis and formation, and mission.
Though there is still much physical work to be done, we continue with the Spirit guiding us to bring our common mission to life in this new building. Watch for more updates as we share the progress of our new parish and pastoral centre.
