History of Our Parish

In 1908, a group of local homeowners approached Archbishop Fergus McEvay regarding the need to establish a new parish to serve the area along what was then the northwest border of the city of Toronto, known as Earlscourt District. After a door-to-door survey was conducted of the area, a formal letter was sent through a law firm to the Archbishop along with the report, making a strong case for their cause. Within seven years, "Earlscourt Mission" was transformed into St. Clare's Parish, complete with a grand church, a rectory and a small school at the corner of St. Clair Avenue West and Ravensden Avenue (now Westmount Avenue). 

At the turn of the century, Earlscourt District was a rural area that consisted chiefly of market garden properties serviced by dirt roads. By 1908 the land had started to develop into a residential subdivision with storefronts along St. Clair Avenue and rows of single-family homes along the side streets. As the population grew, a need for a Roman Catholic church became apparent. There was at that period no Catholic church or separate school near at hand, and that meant travelling a long distance on rough roads to attend Mass or to receive a Catholic education. The original parish community consisted of 33 Catholic families, mostly Irish immigrants, who helped raise some of the necessary funds through summer garden parties. In June of 1909 a tract of land (nine lots) was purchased by the Archdiocese for $6,400. 

At first the mission was under the auspices of the priests of St. Basil's Novitiate (located at St. Clair Avenue and Bathurst Street), who were also in charge of nearby Holy Rosary Parish. Father James Player oversaw the erection of a four-room brick schoolhouse because providing a Catholic education to the local children was a priority. Sunday Mass was celebrated in the school chapel every week. The first Mass was on Sunday, August 14, 1910. The Basilian Fathers remained in charge of the steadily growing Mission until Father Edward McCabe was appointed pastor in January of 1913. 

The new pastor oversaw every facet of the church's construction, which progressed rapidly. By summertime the project was well underway. The cornerstone was laid by His Excellency Archbishop Neil McNeil on Sunday, August 17, 1913. Until the church was completed, services were held in its basement. The church was consecrated on November 7, 1915. It is remarkable that construction was finished in such a short period of time, especially since this was all taking place during the "Great War" (World War I), when manpower and funds were hard to come by.

Our Parish Community Today

Over the years, the congregation has grown and changed substantially, along with the city of Toronto. In the post-World War II era, new waves of immigrants came to the area, the vast majority of them from Italy, which led to the establishment of Italian masses and a long-standing Italian choir, which are still an integral part of parish life today. With succeeding decades, various other immigrant groups have added their own richness to our community.

Pastors of St. Clare's Parish

​ Father Edward McCabe       1913 - 1930 Father Edward Kelly       1930 - 1937 Father John Kehoe       1938 - 1957 Father Francis McGoey       1957 - 1972 Monsignor Mariano Polito       1974 - 1976 (but worked in parish since 1958) Father Giuseppe Dal Ferro       1976 - 1986 Father Emidio Cremona       1986 - 1993 Father Francis Aresi       1993 - 1994 Father Jules Wong       1994 - 1998 Father Ernesto De Ciccio       1998 - 2009 Father Vito Marziliano       2009 - 2014 Father Xavier de Pinto       2014 - 2016 Father Francesco Marrone       2016 - 2021 Father Giuseppe Scollo   2021 - 2023 Father Jomon George   2023 - present

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An Urban Treasure

Romanesque design elements predominate in St. Clare's Church: from its symmetrical edifice with rounded portals to the church's cruciform (in the shape of a cross) shape. St. Clare's also contains an abundance of stained-glass windows. Our patron saint is depicted in the two windows directly over the main altar as well as in a semi-circular one above the main entrance. The large windows in the clerestory (upper level) have been dedicated to the memory of former pastors and parishioners. Four of the clerestory windows in the sanctuary are by Guido Nincheri, a talented and prolific artist whose masterful work can be found in many churches in Quebec and Ontario. The smaller windows on the lower level depict the joyful and sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary. There are several styles of stained-glass windows because they were installed at different times. They were purchased over many decades as funds became available, often through generous donations of individual parishioners or parish organizations.