St. John the Baptist Parish in Burlington, Ont., has been feeding souls for the past 175 years.

It has a history that dates back to a time before Canada’s Confederation. One of the oldest churches in the Diocese of Hamilton, it celebrates its milestone anniversary this year.  

Since the exact day of the parish’s beginnings are unknown, other than it was founded in 1849, the parish is celebrating its anniversary throughout the year, said Theresa Arbour, a parishioner for the past 40 years and part of the anniversary planning committee. Celebrations kicked off June 2 with a 175th anniversary Mass. Several priests concelebrated the Mass including Hamilton Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, pastor Msgr. Pierre-Philippe Jean-Pierre, priest-in-residence Fr. Archange Kébé and Msgr. Murray Kroetsch, Hamilton’s Vicar General and Chancellor. A number of former pastors were also in attendance.

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More celebrations are to follow, including a barbecue set for September, in addition to plans for a new parish directory and a “parish history wall” to be installed in the church hall at a later date, she said.

Arbour noted that generational families aren’t uncommon at St. John’s, her family included. Her own daughter was baptized and raised in the parish and her grandson was also baptized there.

Claire D’Addario has been a parishioner, along with her husband John, for some 30 years. The D'Addarios help with its bread sharing ministry that helps feed families in need. The couple said they are thankful to be able to help their neighbours through this ministry and be a part of the parish’s long-time generosity and outreach in the Burlington community.

“It’s amazing that (St. John the Baptist Church) has been there that long and it’s well known and it’s a constant. The church has been giving to our community for a long time and it’s there for them when they need it,” D'Addario said.

Like its patron saint, this parish has been making way for the Lord from its humble beginnings. It began as a mission parish in 1849 on the lakefront in the Wellington Square community, the predecessor of the city of Burlington. St. John’s Mission’s first priest was Fr. John Cassidy who travelled monthly by horseback or horse and buggy from Dundas, Ont. 

The first church building was built at the corner of Pearl and Pine Street after the Ogg family donated land in 1861. It became the responsibility of St. Andrew’s Parish in Oakville at that time. In 1925, St. John’s became its own parish under the direction of Fr. Daniel A. Ford who served as pastor for 20 years. 

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St. John’s was described as a “small rough church” made of “bare ground, a wood stove and rough pews.” 

“Numbers were higher in the summer making the church crowded,” noted a book on St. John’s history. 

Ford saw the need for a larger space due to the community expansion. A basement and furnace were added to the downtown Burlington church. Electrical lamps replaced oil lamps and Ford also brought in running water to make the furnace maintenance easier.

St. John’s next pastor was Fr. J. Corbett Warren who served from 1945 to 1964. During this period, there was rapid post-war population expansion in the area.

A devastating fire in 1945, noticed by a passing milkman, severely damaged the sanctuary. However, the church was repaired and a new rectory was built by the time of the church’s 100th anniversary Mass on June 11, 1950.

In 1951, plans began for a new church building to handle the rapid population growth in Burlington after the Second World War.  

The new building was relocated to Brant Street and Blairholm Avenue, its present location. It was consecrated on May 17, 1953 during a Mass presided over by then Hamilton Bishop Joseph Francis Ryan. Kingston Archbishop J.A. O’Sullivan gave the homily. Cardinal James McGuigan, the Archbishop of Toronto, joined more than 1,000 people at the Mass, with more than half having to stand outside given the 450-person seating capacity in the church.

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The original church building was later sold to the Ukrainian Catholics of the Byzantine Rite. St. John’s was demolished in 1976 and the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built on the property, adjacent to the original church.

St. Theresa’s Church on Hamilton Beach, also known as the Chapel of the Little Flower, was a mission of St. John the Baptist when Fr. George Cleary retired from his pastorate at Caledonia and moved to Hamilton Beach. Some parishioners of St. Theresa’s joined more than 300 people at a 175th gathering last month.