On September 27, I joined more than 120 parishioners of the Good Shepherd Parish at 3092 Innes Road for 9:00 AM Mass. The fall morning was as bright as could be, and the architecture of this late twentieth century church let in the resplendent autumn sunlight from every direction. Built in 1998, the church incorporates the colours of each season through large windows. The natural world outside is an authentic part of the decor. But so is the burst of colour on the stained glass that greets the visitor upon arriving in the welcome area — a bright, modern narthex that includes the immersion baptismal font. The immersion font was considered an architectural innovation and among the first in the archdiocese. It aims to symbolize being fully immersed in the life of Jesus.
On July 18, 1998, the Ottawa Citizen reported on how the Good Shepherd Catholic Parish finally ended 28 years of “gym floor worship,” with the opening of a crisp, new church in what was then the City of Gloucester. The Parish’s history stretches back to 1968, when Christians of different denominations began exploring the possibility of building a new church in Gloucester’s Blackburn Hamlet community. While it took three decades for the dream of a new church to come to fruition, Roman Catholics in the area began celebrating Mass at Glen Ogilvie Public School beginning in 1970. This community was a mission of St. Ignatius the Martyr Parish on Donald Street. Ben Ho of the Blackburn Area News and Reports, a community newsletter published under the acronym BANAR, reported on the opening of the new church in its September 1998 issue. On July 19, 1998, the laity and clergy present for the opening of the church numbered around 800, and they processed from the Gloucester Fire Hall over to 3092 Innes Road, while singing the hymn “Gather Us In.”
Archbishop Marcel Gervais presided at the opening and dedication of the church. The doors of the new place of worship were opened for the first time by the pastor, Fr. Tom Blunger. Archbishop Gervais invited the faithful to enter their new spiritual home with the words: “Go within His gates giving thanks, enter His courts with songs and praise.” In the words of Ben Ho and BANAR: “The faithful followed the archbishop into the church as the Choir thundered their musical instruments, the sound of a trumpet echoed under the high cedar ceiling and people pridefully sang ‘Let the King of Glory Come.’…Most parishioners were emotionally touched by the auspicious event and eventual accomplishments so much so that there were even some tears of joy.”
The 9:00 AM Mass is one of two Sunday morning liturgies, the second celebrated at 11:15 AM. Some of the youngest parishioners served as lectors and the youth were also responsible for sharing the announcements. Young families comprised a large proportion of the faithful at this Mass. A cantor singing a cappella led the congregation in hymns that are well-known to practicing Catholics, taken mostly from the Glory & Praise hymnal, as well as from the Catholic Book of Worship III. Some of the hymns included “Sing a New Song,” “We are Children of the Light,” “For the Beauty of the Earth,” and “Lord, You Have Come to the Seashore.”
Fr. Virgil Amirthakumar serves as Pastor of Good Shepherd Parish. Speaking to the first reading, Ezekiel 18:25-28, Fr. Virgil noted that it’s easy to blame God when we experience hardship. Yet the prophet calls the people to realize that it is not God’s ways that are unfair, but their own. “It is not God who punishes or condemns, but punishment is the consequence or the result of a person’s wrongdoing. Those who persist in their evil way condemn themselves,” Fr. Virgil said. He added that Ezekiel portrays a generous and forgiving God who wants everyone to come back to Him. Anyone who turns back to God will find acceptance and forgiveness. The Gospel reading from Matthew 21 affirms this theme of acceptance. Forgiveness comes when we turn to God — not merely in words, but in our deeds. Fr. Virgil spoke about a priest serving in an area of severe flooding. He had asked his parishioners who could step up to help the community in its hour of need. Nearly seventy percent of the congregation raised its hands, but when the time came to assist, only a third offered assistance.
“Jesus himself is the model of the truly obedient son, who says yes to his Father in the most radical and action-oriented way…the repentance that today’s text calls for is a radical change of heart, mind, and vision that is seen in denying self and reaching out to everyone in need,” Fr. Virgil shared.
Following the Mass, the faithful were invited to a breakfast in the Parish Hall hosted by Good Shepherd Council 9005 of the Knights of Columbus. The meal included scrambled eggs, sausages, ham, baked beans, breakfast pastries, fruit, as well as coffee, tea and juice. The Knights consider charity to be “the crowning glory of a Christian life.” At just $7 per person or $20 for an entire family, hosting such an affordable community breakfast in a time when many are struggling to cope with high inflation is a genuine act of service.
Christopher Adam
Born in Montreal, Christopher Adam has called Ottawa home for the past twenty years. He received his MA from Carleton University, with a thesis focusing on twentieth century European church history, and a PhD in History from the University of Ottawa. Over the years, he has published widely and works in the faith-based charitable sector in Ottawa.