Veritas Catholic Books and Gifts will close its doors Sept. 30 after 31 years as a spiritual anchor in Halifax, leaving the local Catholic community without a cherished refuge for prayer, conversation and sacred supplies. 

The heavy-hearted announcement from the board of directors said Veritas would suspend operations permanently at its year-end. Since then, the news has rippled through parishes across the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth and greater Halifax Regional Municipality, prompting an outpouring of appreciation from longtime customers, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, who have come to regard the store as far more than a mere retail outlet. 

In its final months, Veritas is encouraging the faith community to support the apostolate by purchasing its remaining inventory, with special pricing details to be posted in the coming weeks.

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John Moore is the chair of the Veritas Society and has served on the board in different capacities for a decade. He reflected on what the store has meant over its long-standing history.

“Forget about money, financial power or anything else like that — I would say Veritas is one of the most significant apostolates certainly in Nova Scotia, and maybe even one of the most important in the country,” he said. 

“It is much more than just a store. We call it ‘God’s store,' because His hand and influence is what has kept us going for 31 years.”

Run solely by volunteers, nearly all in their 70s, the team has offered not only countless inventory of Catholic books, rosaries, candles and church supplies, but also listening ears and compassionate support for those who enter. 

Despite remaining financially viable and continuing to support other local charitable causes, Veritas has made the decision to close after the successful all-volunteer model became unsustainable. Manager Debbie Richard, after eight years, is retiring at age 75 this June, and the board has been unable to find a replacement manager willing to take on the demanding role on a volunteer basis. 

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Compounding the challenge is the persistently high commercial rent in its current location. After careful review alongside new bookkeeper Dorothy Fenn, the board concluded that continuing operations posed too great a risk to the organization. 

“We had an emergency meeting, and together we made the decision on her recommendation to do this sooner rather than later because the clock is ticking,” Moore said. “It’s unfortunate, but there really was nothing we could do.” 

Unfortunately, the struggle is not unique to Halifax. In Toronto, Joseph’s Inspirational Inc., a religious goods store that has also served the community for over three decades, has faced its own pressures. Owners Joseph and Susanne Rizza expressed to the Register in April their desire to retire and find a buyer after 35 years of service, citing a combination of economic challenges like evolving tariffs on imported goods and the difficulties of succession.

While succession remains the most troubling aspect for Moore and the Veritas team, he believes the decline or outright loss of Catholic book and gift stores in general is a far greater loss than simply a vanishing brick-and-mortar location. 

“ It is something I find frustrating, because we are all part of the Catholic and Christian family. In this world, especially now more than ever, people need somebody, they need Veritas. We need more (places like) Veritas, not less,” he said. 

Even with a heavy heart, Moore isn’t giving up on Catholic retail, least of all Veritas. He believes if the board is able to receive a donation large enough to pay for a new full-time manager and a full-time bookkeeper, and if it could find a standalone space, it would be enough to survive.

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“Something bigger is happening and is going to evolve out of this. I keep hearing a figure of $5 million. I don't know why, but I know it’s in God’s hands,” he said.

“ I believe in miracles, and I've seen them happen. I believe that God is in control and is very much involved in Veritas and the family.”