St. Francis Xavier called to 90 more years of evangelization

St. Francis Xavier pastor Father Joseph Ly had 90 years of history to draw from as he spoke to parishioners taking part in the Vancouver parish’s anniversary celebrations last year.

While he expressed gratitude for God’s providence and the countless graces received over the past nine decades, he also urged parishioners to reflect on the significance of the moment and to continue following in the footsteps of their missionary patron saint by making the church a centre of evangelization.

“May our parish continue to be a beacon of faith, illuminating the hearts of all and leading them towards eternal redemption,” he said.

Archbishop Savio Hon, SDB, the Apostolic Nuncio of Malta and Tunisia, joined Archbishop J. Michael Miller and the St. Francis Xavier Church community on the feast of its patron, Dec., 3, to celebrate the milestone.

“On this 90th anniversary,” wrote Archbishop Hon in a congratulatory letter, “I sincerely pray for everyone’s blessings and extend my warmest congratulations: all the faithful can follow the determination of St. Francis Xaivier’s ‘way of making friends’ to spread the true love of Christ.”

St. Francis Xavier Parish was founded on Dec. 4, 1933, by Father Hugh Sharkey and the Scarboro Foreign Mission Society Fathers. Father Peter Chow became the parish’s first Chinese priest in 1962.

In 1975, Father Aloysius Lou opened Happy Manor for seniors and a parish daycare. He also invited the Sisters of The Immaculate Heart of Mary from Hong Kong. Sister Veronica Tang, SIHM, and Sister Agatha Poon, SIHM, became the first Chinese sisters to join the community. Sister Tang died just over a week later, on Dec. 12. She was 83. 

In 1984, the parish opened St. Francis Xavier School. In 2008, the community celebrated the opening of its current church building on Great Northern Way.

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