Parish Centennial

2023-10-01

October is a month of special celebrations for our parish as we observe our 100th anniversary. It was in October 1923 that the first Mass was celebrated in the original church on this site. Our new Archbishop, Francis Leo, will celebrate the 12:00 noon Mass here on Sunday, October 15 with a reception to follow. The following Saturday, October 21, we will have our Centennial Dinner and Dance at:

Qssis Banquet Hall
3474 Kingston Road @ Markham Road

Join fellow parishioners, past pastors & priests, for an evening of good food, dance and socializing. Enjoy a Three Course Dinner, DJ Dancing & Cash Bar.

Adult tickets: $60.00 each
Child (under 11 years): $20.00 each

Tickets are on sale after all Sunday Masses or through the parish office. If you are planning to attend please get your tickets soon as the banquet hall will need to know the number of attendees.

2023-06-25

Both Archbishop Leo and Aixiliary Bishop Kasun have recently sent the parish letters of congratulations on our 100th Anniversary. Bishop Kasun has been with us twice this year, for our opening celebrations on New Year's Eve and for the Feast of St. Dunstan on May 19. His Grace the Archbishop is scheduled to visit St. Dunstan's on Sunday, October 15 to celebrate the 12:00 noon Mass with us in honour of our Centennial. (It was in October 1923 that the first Mass was celebrated in the original church, and the church was blessed by Archbishop Neil McNeil.) In his letter, Archbishop Leo writes:

In the past one hundred years, the parish community has changed a great deal. Yet the welcome and sharing of faith remain constant as an attribute of your life together. Be assured of my esteem for the parish community of St. Dunstan's, its pastoral leadership, staff, volunteers and faithful parishioners.

May God bless the parish of St. Dunstan's and your ministry in building up the Kingdom of Christ.

2023-06-18

GROUP PHOTOS

IPC will be at the parish to take group photographs for our 100th Anniversary Parish Directory on Saturday, July 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Members of our various parish ministries and associations should keep this date and time open to be available.

11:00 a.m. Altar Servers
11:10 a.m. Eucharistic Ministers
11:20 a.m. Lectors
11:30 a.m. Ushers
11:40 a.m. Catholic Women’s League
11:50 a.m. St. Vincent de Paul Society
12:00 noon Legion of Mary
12:10 p.m. Prayer Group
12:20 p.m. Senior Residence Volunteers
12:30 p.m. Children’s/Youth Choir
12:40 p.m. Adult Choir + 5:00 p.m. Mass
12:50 p.m. Parish Council +Centennial Committee
1:00 p.m. Finance Council

Please arrive at least ten minutes before your allotted time.

2023-06-11

PARISH 100th ANNIVERSARY PICNIC

A good number of parishioners enjoyed our Anniversary Picnic at Madelaine Park last Sunday, June 4 on a beautiful sunny day with delicious food, fun games and good company. Many expressed the hope that the picnic be an annual event. Special thanks to Theresa Kellen and her husband Charles for organizing this event so competently, thanks too to the other members of our Centennial Committee. We appreciate our neighbour Asfal and friends with the grill who generously offered to take care of the barbequing for us, and parishioner Patrica Singh who was instrumental in obtaining their help.

Thanks also to Beaches Council of the Knights of Columbus for their help and the many volunteers who gave their time and assistance. Especially after the Covid restrictions, it was good to see people enjoying just being together with family, friends and fellow parishioners.

2023-05-28

SOLEMNITY OF SAINT DUNSTAN

Last Friday, 19 May, our parish celebrated the Solemnity of our patron, Saint Dunstan of Canterbury. To mark the 100th Anniversary of our parish, Most Reverend Robert Kasun, CSB celebrated the Solemn Mass with our pastor and preached. A good number of parishioners and friends attended and also enjoyed the reception which followed the liturgy. In his homily, Bishop Kasun encourgaed St. Dunstan’s parishioners to be proud of their parish and patron and urged them to be faithful to the spiritual legacy which they have inherited. The Bishop complemented our choir and told our altar boys they were the best in Toronto. He stayed quite some time at the reception and was happy to meet our parishioners. Bishop Kasun has been very generous with his time to celebrate our anniversary with us. He was also the principal celebrant at the opening celebration for our Centennial Year this past New Year’s Eve. He also was kind enough to bless the new statue of Our Lady which we recently acquired especially for our annual Marian Celebration which had been delivered that morning. Many thanks to all who attended our patronal celebration, and especially our altar servers, lectors, eucharistic ministers and choir. Special thanks to Inez Fernandes, president and members of the CWL, members of the Legion of Mary, and the choir and all who brought food and refreshments for the reception which everyone enjoyed.

2023-05-14

PARISH ANNIVERSARY PICNIC

Our Centennial Committee is planning a picnic in Madelaine Park to celebrate our 100th anniversary on Sunday, June 4 rain or shine, following the 12:00 noon Mass until 3:30 p.m. The picnic will feature a barbeque and games. Those planning to attend are encouraged to purchase their meal tickets, available after Sunday Mass in the vestible.

$5.00 Burger Meal ~ Burger, Drink and Chips
$4.00 Hot Dog Meal ~ Hot Dog, Drink and Chips
$15.00 Family Meal ~ 2 Burgers, 2 Hot Dogs, 4 Drinks, 4 Chips

Come and join the fun.

2023-05-07

FEAST OF SAINT DUNSTAN

On Friday, May 19, our parish will celebrate our patron saint and titular of our church, Saint Dunstan (910-988). This Solemnity takes on special meaning this year as our parish celebrates its 100th Anniversary. Everyone is invited to celebrate our Patron at the Solemn Mass on May 19, at 7:00 p.m. which will be celebrated by the Most Reverend Robert Kasun CSB, Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto. A reception in the Parish Lounge will follow the Mass.

Saint Dunstan is considered the most famous of all the Anglo-Saxon saints. Born in Glastonbury, England, he became a Benedictine monk and did much to promote monastic life in England. Appointed Abbot of Glastonbury, he made the Abbey an important centre of culture and learning. Later he was successively Bishop of Worcester, then London and finally Archbishop of the primatial See of Canterbury. He was counsellor to several Kings of England. He was a teacher, an artisan and musician. He is buried beneath the pavement of the sanctuary of Canterbury Cathedral in England.

2023-04-26

ST. MICHAEL’S CHOIR SCHOOL

Last weekend, St. Dunstan’s welcomed the Junior Choir (Grades 5 & 6) from the renowned St. Michael’s Choir School under the director of Maria Conkey, to celebrate our parish’s 100th Anniversary. The choir sang the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday, April 15th and gave a 30-minute concert following the Mass.

Due to the generosity of parishioners who demonstrated their appreciation for the choir with their donations, we were able to forward a cheque for $1,000 to support St. Michael’s Choir School. This past week the Junior Choir left for a tour of England and Wales where they will give performances at various churches and cathedrals. We wish them all well and hope the choirsters will have a wonderful adventure with thanks for their visit to St. Dunstan to help us mark our Centennial Year.

2023-01-01

2023 ushers in our Centennial Year marking 100 years since our parish was established by Archbishop Neil McNeil. The first Mass was celebrated on October 17, 1923 in the original church (the present church is the third on this site) and on October 28, 1923 the church was solemnly blessed by His Grace the Archbishop.

Our centennial celebration was opened with a Mass on New Year's Eve, presided by Bishop Robert Kasun, with a guest choir and musicians providing the music, and followed by a reception in the parish lounge.

This is the first of a number of special Centennial events planned throughout the year. Other celebrations include the following:

• The Junior Choir from the renowned St. Michael's Choir School will sing at the 5:00 p.m. Mass on 15 April, the Saturday after Easter, and give a 30 minute concert following the Mass.
• Bishop Kasun will celebrate the Solemnity of our Patron, Saint Dunstan of Canterbury on Friday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m.
• A parish picnic is planned for the Victoria Day weekend.
• In July, we are planning a parish trip to London, England where we plan to take a day trip to Canterbury to vist the tomb of Saint Dunstan (more information to follow soon).
• The Cardinal Archbishop will celebrate the 12:00 noon Mass on October 15.
  A Dinner Dance will be held on Saturday, October 21.

All parishioners are invited to these special events. If you have friends or relatives who have attended our parish in the past, let them know about our 100th Anniversary and invite them to join in our celebrations.