Built in the same year as Expo 67 and mere months after Star Trek first beamed into living rooms across North America, the futuristic St Ignatius of Loyola Parish in Montreal’s west-end is among the most architecturally striking mid-century churches in Canada. I attended the Easter Vigil on April 4 at 8:00 PM, alongside 200 parishioners. I found a youthful, vibrant Catholic community that incorporates charismatic elements in both music and worship. St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish at 4455 West Broadway Street is merely steps away, yet architecturally a world apart from Loyola Chapel — the Parish’s original Collegiate Gothic church. The chapel, completed in 1933, is at the heart of Concordia University’s Loyola campus. Today, the chapel a multi-purpose and ecumenical space where Mass is still celebrated. The heart of the local Catholic faith community, however, is around the corner at the larger, mid-century modern church designed by Robert Fleming, and completed in 1967.
The Parish’s history stretches back to 1917, one year after the opening of what was then Loyola College. Both the College and the Parish were staffed by Jesuits. In 1969, the order built a mid-rise residence directly behind the newly inaugurated modern church. The building was converted into a student residence in 2006, after the last Jesuits had vacated the property. While Jesuits priests are no longer in pastoral ministry at St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, the church is among the most robust and well-attended parishes in Montreal.
Complete darkness fell over the church as the Easter Vigil began. The lights were turned off and the Presider’s Assistant warmly welcomed the faithful from the sanctuary. The Pastor, Fr. Mike Leclerc, concelebrated with Fr. Tim and Fr. Roger. We were reminded that this is the pinnacle of the liturgical year; the Church takes us to the resurrection step-by-step. The faithful were invited to gather in the entrance area and the front steps of the church for the blessing of the Easter fire. As we returned to our pews, a sea of lit tapers gradually illuminated the nave.
Taking us through salvation history, the Vigil included readings from Genesis, Exodus, Isaiah and Ezekiel. The lectors were excellent and the music ministry elevated the liturgy by leading the congregation in sung refrains and prayers.
Fr. Mike offered the homily and proved to be an engaging, conversational homilist. He spoke of attending the Chrism Mass earlier in the week at Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral, in downtown Montreal. Over 200 priests of the Archdiocese gathered to renew their promises and the Archbishop blessed the oils used in baptisms and confirmations. After Mass, Fr. Mike went for a drink with a couple of priests, one of whom told him that he celebrates a hundred funerals in his parish every year, all by himself. “That is an awful lot of death to deal with,” Fr. Mike said. “That can take a toll on you.” Fr. Mike added that death and dying has been a big part of his ministry, too. “I’ve been there when my father died, and I’ve been there with people I hardly knew at all. It never gets easier. I’ve been the Mary Magdalene who we read about today, going to visit the tomb of a loved one. I’ve accompanied the Marys as they go to mourn. And I’ve been Peter and the other apostles trying to run away and hide from death, from its finality, from its consequence,” Fr. Mike shared.
“My priest friend told me that the key in all of this is to always keep front of mind that death is not the end. Jesus’ triumph means that death isn’t actually the end, Fr. Mike said. He spoke of his father’s sudden death — there was no time for goodbyes. “Because of the faith that in many ways my mother handed on to me, I got to say those things even after he passed away. I feel his love and his care for me to this day,” Fr. Mike said. In some cases, children have difficult relationships with their father and Fr. Mike spoke about some of these situations over the course of his pastoral ministry. Prayers for healing at the grave, for repairing that relationship is possible even after our loved one has died. These prayers may not be easy, but they can lead to healing. Prayer is better than trying to simply forget and move on. Fr. Mike noted that this is the Good News of our faith and it’s why the empty tomb means so much.
Fr. Mike shared, with passion:
The empty tomb means that death, even the incredibly tragic death of Jesus Christ the Messiah whom we put to death, is not the end. Death doesn’t get the final word. God does. Cancer, dementia, strokes — none of it has the final word. In Jesus’ time the cross was the symbol of death, oppression and fear. The Romans wanted that to be a symbol of their power. But Christians began to appropriate it and use it as a symbol that Christ conquers all, even sin and death. Christ is still with us through the cancer, the dementia, the stroke and through whatever else. He’s with us through our addictions and when we hurt others. Not only did Jesus rise from the dead, but he threw off those burial wrappings. He’s no longer bound by them, nor by death. God, the loving Father, saw all the things that poison relationships, the things we do or don’t do, as well as the things that other people do to us. God the Father saw all of that and He wants to remove these barriers and all the things that bind his children up. None of us are perfect. The Church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints. I know that I can still fall into some of those patterns of sin, but it doesn’t have to be the end. I can ask for forgiveness, and I can forgive others. I can ask for Christ’s mercy and courage.
The music ministry included an ensemble of 8 choristers and accompanists on guitar, violin, keyboard and drums. The repertoire can mostly be described as contemporary praise and worship. The Parish’s music ministry is robust, high-energy and charismatic. The songs at the Easter Vigil Mass included “Lord Send Revival” and “What a Beautiful Name” by Hillsong, as well as “Living Hope” by Phil Wickham. A highlight of the Vigil was the Easter Exsultet, proclaimed magnificently by one of the concelebrating priests.
The Vigil included the reception into the Catholic Church of five catechumens. Fr. Mike expressed gratitude for the opportunity to baptize not just one, but five new members of the faithful. This, along with the high attendance and the presence of many young families and youth, are all signs of a vibrant, healthy parish community.
Christopher Adam