The Toronto Oratory, a Catholic community of priests and lay brothers, have indeed come a long way since its founding a half century ago, having spent the last 46 years living together in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood.  

There, after an invitation from Cardinal Gerald Emmett Carter in 1979 (four years after its founding in Montreal), men over the years, inspired by St. Philip Neri’s focus on prayer, preaching and the sacraments, have served the Catholic Church and other local communities. Through various parishes, education and outreach, the community has served the Parkdale and Roncesvalles neighbourhoods through hospital and nursing home visits, bringing communion, celebrating Mass and supporting food banks. 

The Oratory is also notable for running two parishes — Holy Family and St. Vincent de Paul as of 1995 — both of which are known to feature vibrant liturgical music as a reflection of the community’s commitment to beautiful and dignified liturgy. The community’s lasting resilience was shown when Holy Family Church was destroyed by fire in 1997, but was re-constructed and consecrated in 2001.

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With a mission and services that touch many areas of Catholic life and faith development through liturgy, priestly formation, education and outreach, it can be difficult to pinpoint one standout achievement. Yet, for Fr. Daniel Utrecht, vicar of the Toronto Oratory and  pastor of Holy Family Church, one aspect of the Oratory’s mission did come to mind. 

“ From the start of the fathers' coming to Toronto, when there were only two priests, Fr. (Jonathon) Robinson made sure someone was always available to hear confessions before every Mass. That's a big part of what we think we're supposed to be doing, because St. Philip used to say his goal was to help people become saints in their own homes through the sacraments and spiritual direction,” he said. 

“We've tried to keep that going. That's some quiet work, but important work nonetheless.” 

In addition to its unique availability in its community, the Oratory is also known for St. Philip’s Seminary, formed in 1984 to mould its own members in philosophy and theology. Two years later, Carter asked that the seminary expand to undertake the intellectual and spiritual formation of archdiocesan students. 

Since then, over 250 alumni have been ordained to the priesthood through St. Philip’s Seminary, serving dioceses, religious communities and other oratories across Ontario and Canada. Having played an integral role in the Toronto Oratory’s expansion and development, Utrecht praises the venture as one of the best changes to the community over its 50 years. 

“(St. Philip's) is  probably the biggest step that helped this community become what it has.  When this community came to Toronto, there were only six members and two priests, and that was really tricky. Fr. Robinson again understood the need for philosophical education for the men in Serra House and that we had men who were capable of supplying that need,” he said. 

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“That also gave us a task we could do that would not be centripetal or require us to be everywhere, but something that we'd actually be doing at home. That was really great for the community in many ways, and I think a great service that we've provided over the years.” 

Still, as much as expansions have allowed even the best of changes for the Oratory, the more its core principles of following St. Philip's model of a priestly life have stayed the same. 

“Prayer, preaching and the sacraments are always the key.  We've tried to keep that and then, as a community, keep the bond of the Oratory and vocation being a bond of mutual charity. It won’t last without these,” Utrecht said. 

The Toronto Oratory celebrated in style earlier this month, with a commemorative gala on Oct. 5 kicking off celebrations for the community's half century of prosperous growth, prayer, preaching and service to much of Toronto’s Catholic community.

The gala, held at the Governor’s Room at the Liberty Grand in Toronto, was attended by members of the Oratory, St. Phillip’s Seminary alumni and current students and Toronto's Cardinal Francis Leo. A time of fellowship, reflection and celebration among the many attendees, the gala was the first of a few commemorations of this year’s anniversary of the Toronto Oratory since its founding in Montreal back in 1975. 

Celebrations are planned to continue through November, with a solemn Mass on Nov. 1 marking the Oratory’s official founding, coinciding with English Oratorian St. John Henry Newman’s declaration as a Doctor of the Church. A concert at Holy Family Parish, led by music director Dr. Aaron James, is also slated for Nov. 14. 

Through all of the celebrations and reminiscing over the past 50 years, the Toronto Oratory remains faithful in service while looking ahead to the future as its founder would — with enduring gratitude and hope. 

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“ I would say the overwhelming feeling is a sense of gratitude to God, to St. Philip, to Fr. Robinson and all the people who have supported us over the half-century,” Utrecht said. 

“It’s a sense of satisfaction, fulfillment and hope for the next half century, too.”