Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, recalls society's local impact
VANCOUVER—The Society of Jesus is celebrating not only 400 years in Canada, but also a history stretching back to 1921 in the Archdiocese of Vancouver.
"We are blessed to have four Jesuits assigned to this archdiocese," Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, said in his homily during Mass in Holy Name of Jesus Church Feb. 26. Jesuit is the common name for members of the society.
The four Jesuits: Fathers Robert Allore, John W. McCarthy, Elton Fernandes, and Robert K.L. Wong, concelebrated with the archbishop, who was joining them to celebrate the milestone. Famous Jesuit astronomer Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ, was there as a special guest.
Jesuits have had a positive impact on the Vancouver archdiocese; they have worked at establishing schools, parishes, and building up the Slovak community. The order left Vancouver for six years before starting to re-establish itself in 2006.
"It was really in 1921 that Archbishop Timothy Casey and Jesuit provincial Father John Fillian agreed that the society would open a mission here," Archbishop Miller explained.
In 1923 Father John Knox was asked to establish a Jesuit parish and a classical college in the Dunbar area. Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parishes were established, but unfortunately the plans for the classical college did not go ahead. Archbishop Casey instead entered into an agreement with the Christian Brothers to set up what became Vancouver College.
With secondary education seemingly off the table, the Jesuits worked to establish post-secondary institutions in the archdiocese.
Archbishop William Mark Duke, Archbishop Casey's successor, made an agreement in 1932 with the Jesuits of Upper Canada to establish a Catholic college, but again plans fell apart because of a lack of manpower.
"At this point Archbishop Duke sought out Father Henry Carr, a Basilian," said Archbishop Miller, himself a Basilian.
Father Carr had negotiated the affiliation of St. Thomas Moore College with the University of Saskatchewan. Archbishop Duke thought this type of relationship would work in Vancouver.
"This led to the establishment of St. Mark's College."
The Jesuits tried again to establish a high school but again it failed. However, during this time the Jesuits established a mission among the Slovak community that led to the founding of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish in New Westminster, which the Jesuits led from 1960 to 1999. They also staffed Our Lady of Hungary Parish from 1964 to 1996 in East Vancouver.
Vancouver-area Jesuits, like their brothers in other parts of Canada, ministered to the native people. The archbishop also noted the Jesuits continued giving retreats, a Jesuit specialty, during these years.
After many years building up Immaculate Conception Parish, the Jesuits withdrew from the parish in 1984. In 2000 they completely left Vancouver, until Father Wong came to Holy Name of Jesus Parish in 2006.
"Now, of course, the famous four are concentrated at St. Mark's Parish," the archbishop said. He was referring to pastor Father Allore; assistant pastor Father McCarthy; Father Fernandes, chaplain to Corpus Christi College, the undergraduate college affiliated with St. Mark's; and Father Wong, chaplain to St. Mark's College.
"Although there are fewer Jesuits in Vancouver than there once were, they continue to make an invaluable contribution to building up our local church."
The archbishop hopes that the Jesuit influence will become even stronger. "We are grateful to them and above all to the Lord, and for what they will accomplish in the future we wait with joyful hope."