We are God's people called to worship and serve Christ Jesus in community on the journey of faith.

Celebrating 50 years

Chronology of Major Events

1954 - The Waterloo Catholic School Board opened their second elementary school in the city of Waterloo, on Dearborn Street, across from Waterloo College and Waterloo Lutheran Seminary which are now Wilfrid Laurier University. This school was named St. Michael to recognize the contributions of Michael Paleczny, a long time Waterloo Catholic School Board member. It was built in an area of homes that had been constructed for World War II veterans. The families of the children attending St. Michael’s School belonged to St. Louis Parish on Allen Street.

1957 - On September 29th, Sunday Eucharist was celebrated in the school and shortly after St. Michael’s was named a mission of St. Louis Parish.

1962 - About 15 men from St. Michael’s led by Firm Holland, visited Bishop Ryan to request that St. Michael’s Mission be named a Parish. Shortly after Bishop Ryan announced the formation of a new parish to be called St. Michael and requested that the Holy Cross Fathers would provide the priests to serve in it. The first Pastor, Father Bernard Hogan C.S.C., arrived in September. He began on an empty lot on the corner of what is now called University Avenue and Hemlock Street with a community who were celebrating weekly Mass in St. Michael’s School. Father Hogan and his Associate, Father Joseph Ingrao, lived at Resurrection College. On November 27th, the CWL was formed. The first CWL president was Mrs. Leo Wagner.

1963 - The parish rectory was built with financial assistance from St. Louis Parish. An Open House was held January 20th. Father Joseph Doucette C.S.C. replaced Father Ingrao.

1964 - Father John Campbell C.S.C. arrived as the Associate. In April, the Fundraising Committee of Clare Esbaugh, John Fitzgerald, Joe Forwell, Syl Hauck, John Kraemer, Harry Wunder and R. Vogan and the Building Committee of Clare Esbaugh, Firm Holland, Dr. Bill Young and Walter (Chuck) Nosal began work to make this dream a reality. The estimated cost of the proposed building was $350,000. Donors were asked to donate $15 to purchase one square foot of the new building. The first sod for the new church was turned on June 7th. The first Mass in the building was celebrated in the basement on December 20th.  

1965 - Bishop Ryan blessed and officially opened the new church on February 21st. During this year St. David Catholic Secondary School was also established.

1966 - Father Paul Kingston C.S.C. replaced Father Hogan.

1967 - Father Thomas Hennessey C.S.C. was named the second Associate in the parish. When Father Hennessey left later that year, he was replaced by Father Hugh MacGillivary C.S.C.  Father Kingston initiated the first Parish Council at St. Michael’s.

1969 - Father James MacDonald C.S.C. became the third Pastor. Father MacDonald served as Pastor until 1977. Working with Parish Council, he expanded the rectory to form an office that was attached to the church, improved the lighting in the nave of the church and hired two pastoral assistants, Sister Barbara Paleczny S.S.N.D. and Sister Miriam Bruder S.S.N.D. During much of his time at St. Michael’s he was also Dean of the Waterloo County Deanery. He also held a “Retreat for a Better World” which called the parishioners to fulfil their rights and responsibilities in the Church.

1970 - From 1970 to 1978, the Associate Pastors were Father Don Layden C.S.C., Father Terry Linton C.S.C., Father John Vickers C.S.C., who had been ordained a Deacon in the parish and Father David Killen C.S.C.  Sir Edgar Bauer Elementary School was founded and in 1971 opened in north Waterloo.

1971 - Dorothy Freiburger began as the parish secretary. She remained as the parish secretary until 1995, providing 24 years of dedicated service.

1977 - Father MacDonald left St. Michael`s Parish to pursue studies at the Divine Word Institute in London. In February 1978, he was named Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton and in 1982 he was named Bishop of Charlottetown. He was later named Archbishop of St. John’s Newfoundland. Father Alphonse Bates C.S.C. was named Pastor. He was instrumental in developing a constitution for Parish Council and for hiring two Lay pastoral assistants, Laurie Hanmer (1977-1979) and Connie McKinley (1979-1985).

1979 - Father Bates left the parish late in the year due to ill health and Father Louis Kingston was named Administrator.

1981 - Father Robert O’Connell C.S.C. was named the new Pastor. Father O’Connell saw the growth of St. Michael`s Parish to over 2000 families and oversaw the successful completion of the RENEW program.

1984 - The Holy Cross Fathers were no longer able to provide priests to serve the needs of St. Michael’s Parish so Bishop Anthony Tonnos appointed Father Ronald Voisin, a diocesan priest, as the new Pastor. Father Voisin was instrumental in paying off the mortgage, improving the grounds, renovating the sanctuary, insulating the office and many other capital projects. During his time at St. Michael’s Parish, his Associates were Father Charles Jordan, Father Thomas Moisan and Father Kenneth Miskiewicz.

1995 - Father James Malone arrived as Pastor. Father Malone revitalized Parish Council and was instrumental in the formation of Small Faith Communities. Various capital projects also occurred during Father Malone’s leadership; air conditioning was added in the church and rectory and a new pipe organ was installed. In July, Veronica Voisin became the administrative assistant and remained until 2009. Father Malone’s pastoral associates between 1995 and 2000 were Father Mark Curtis, Father David Lewis and Father Peter Tuyen Nguyen.

2001 - The diocese could no longer supply pastoral associates, two pastoral assistants were hired. In April, Sister Lucy Godfrey C.S.J. with responsibility for Sacramental Preparation and The Order of Christian Funerals was hired. St. Michael’s School where the first families met for Mass was closed and the property was sold to Wilfrid Laurier University. In September, St. Nicholas School opened in the northwest boundary of the parish.

2002 - The second pastoral assistant, Mrs. Colleen Gunn was hired. Her primary responsibility was Liturgy.

2008 - In June, Father Con O’Mahony became the Pastor. The universities were designated the responsibility of the pastor of St. Michael’s Parish as such a 7pm Sunday Eucharist was added to the parish schedule.

2009 - To meet the needs of a busy parish there have been significant changes made to the building. On October 2, the James MacDonald Resource Centre was blessed by Archbishop MacDonald. It is located in space which was previously a cloakroom and storage space. Tom Millen took the newly established position of business administrator. Joanne Berlette took over the position of administrative assistant.

2010 - In January, the parish received provincial funding which facilitated the hiring of Maryellen Hahn as parish nurse. Her role, as designated by the funding, is to assist seniors. Father O’Mahony made the relationship between parish and school a priority. Charlie Van Alphen was hired as a pastoral assistant with that responsibility. In September, the new parish office space was completed in the area that was previously the Rectory Meeting Room. It provides staff offices and a boardroom that are barrier free. At the same time, the renovation of the kitchen in the Parish Centre was completed. This included the installation of a commercial dishwasher. In June, Sister Lucy departed to assume a new leadership role with the Sisters of St. Joseph. In August Deacon Philip Fernandez joined St. Michael’s Parish. A new grand piano was purchased with donations from parishioners and a committee has begun to look at refurbishing and redecorating the worship space. In November, Bishop Crosby named Father O’Mahony, Diocesan Vicar of Education. 

2011 - In January we took time to look back on our founding members of the parish and thank them. This September we gather for our “Down Memory Lane” celebration to recognize our past 50 years. In October 2012 we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the official announcement of the formation of St. Michael’s Parish with our “Embracing the Future” celebration.

Through the years there have been many support staff in the parish. Housekeepers have included Edna Crosby, Ann Steffler and Patricia Woodworth. Custodians have included Joe and Phyllis MacNeil, David Cheevers, and the staff of Muldoon’s Cleaning Service.

Catholic Women’s League

Through the years the CWL has been a real strength in the parish. They catered to funerals and parish celebrations, held annual bake sales, visited parishioners in hospital and were always ready to help when needed. Their quilter’s group has raised money for many parish and school projects.

Outreach and Community Involvement

The parishioners of St. Michael’s Parish have a long history of reaching out to those who are in need in the community and beyond.  In 2010 parishioners donated over $100,000 to local, Canadian and international charities.  Our Social Justice Committee has been involved in letter writing campaigns, sponsored 3 refugee families and sponsorship applications are in the works for more families and sold fair trade coffee and tea.  They are currently involved in the Africa Project which gives support to the School Sisters of Notre Dame and their Children’s Outreach Project in Nyalieng’a Parish, Kenya.

Since 1988 the mission of St. Michael’s Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has existed in our parish to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice and joy.

This is an extraordinary achievement and added together with the thousands of volunteer hours that parishioners give to this community, a sign that in this community, we take seriously the gospel command of justice and love.