Parish Groups
History: Mary, Cause of our Joy Chapter, Toronto, Canada
In June 1994, Fr. Frank Kelly S.D.B. of St. Benedict Church Toronto, was in California preaching a retreat. While at the retreat house, he came across Magnificat literature.
The spirit of Magnificat as outlined in the brochure struck a chord with Fr. Kelly who, at the time, was interested in developing at his home parish a ministry of women for women. Experience through his priesthood showed him time and again the incredible healing that is available when women come together, as they often do so naturally, to share faith, to pray, to share their story.
Returning to Toronto, excited about the possibility of Magnificat for the women of his large metropolitan parish, Fr. Kelly shared news of this with his Lay Pastoral Assistant, Antoniette Pace who, in turn met over a period of time with a representative group of women from the parish to discern the feasibility of Magnificat.
That simple brochure picked up in a distant retreat house would be the Magnificat seed that grew and continues to flourish today, more than two decades later. Following are some key events leading to the development and birth of the Mary, Cause of our Joy Chapter in Toronto.
March 21, 1996,
March 28, 1996
April 1996 – June 1999
June 10, 1996
January 13, 1997
January – March 1997
May 16, 1997 - present
May 31, 1997
August 15, 1997
May 30, 1998
December 15, 2000
Information & Prayer - Women representing various parish ministries gather for a presentation of Magnificat and to pray about the possibility of Magnificat for the Toronto archdiocese with a team based at St. Benedict Church. One week later, women regather and express support of this possibility.
Feasibility Study is done in collaboration with the bishop’s liaison to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Fr. Bill Comerford and Fr. Frank Kelly, Spiritual Advisor
Fr. Harold Cohen, addressed the group of women who were present at the first and second meetings. Decision made at this meeting to enter the Discernment Process.
Fr. Harold Cohen and Marilyn Quirk, address the ladies. The group decides to enter into a process to select five women to form the Service Team.
Selection Process. Service Team is formed. The process included a time of prayer- the novena to the Holy Spirit followed by a time to select five names of women who had been involved in the early stages of Magnificat.
Spiritual Advisor Fr. Frank Kelly Secretary Shari Kastelic
Co-ordinator Antoniette Pace Treasurer Jean Carberry
Assistant Co-ordinator Susan Furlan Historian Sandra Umbrio
Service Team meets for the first time. Team meets every other week for prayer and work. The primary work consists in laying groundwork and foundation to begin a chapter in Toronto: Chapter registration and affiliation (initial copyright/trademark license agreement granted to use name and logo) and chapter accountability (extended copyright/trademark license agreement- normally one year after registration)
Magnificat Meal at Buffalo Chapter- Eleven ladies from the parish attended this Meal.
Bishop’s Blessing - Bishop Prendergast sends blessings on this spiritual enterprise.
First Magnificat Breakfast - St. Benedict parish hall. Guest speaker Saidie Johnson.
Registered as a charitable organization- Business Number issued.