Reflections on the heritage, life & work of faith communities in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario
Douglas Roche, the retired parliamentarian and senator who turned 96 this summer, wrote an essay for the Spring 2025 print edition of the Island Catholic News quarterly in which he shared memories of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s involvement at St. Joseph’s Parish, in Ottawa. We’re sharing an excerpt from this piece below. Mark Carney had…
The St. Joe’s Supper Table, the community meal programme and food bank operated by St. Joseph’s Parish in Sandy Hill, is getting some help from a passionate teenager and parishioner — the 17 year-old Louis Jacques. The determined young man is running 1,500 kilometres between Ottawa and Prince Edward Island in a campaign to raise…
The following story, written by Terry Byrne, appeared in the newly released paperback anthology 100 Stories from the History of St. Joseph’s Parish. The 438-page book is available for purchase through Amazon. We’re sharing one of the dozens of stories included in a book that explores the colourful history of this historic Ottawa church. *** I’d…
There’s one image of Fr. Jim Bleackley that – at least to me – stands out above all others from his nearly three years as Pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish. The Pastor’s office is located right down the hall from mine in the rectory. Each morning when I’d visit the bookkeeper across the hall to…
A Saturday morning walk in the neighbourhood revealed a shuttered church reflected in the condos that were developed around it. Having lived in the area for over ten years, I knew of the former heritage church, of course, but I never realized how it leaves a ghostly imprint on the upscale condos surrounding it on…