First Salesian Presence in Canada

The First Salesian Presence in Canada

by Fr. Dominic Tran, SDB

St. Agnes Church, Toronto

(New Rochelle – September 19, 2024) – In 1898, Abp. John Walsh wrote to Fr. Michael Rua, inviting the Salesians to the archdiocese of Toronto to administer St. John’s Industrial School, a center of rehabilitation for boys coming out of prison. Most probably because of lack of personnel, Fr. Rua answered that the Salesians could not meet the request.

Later, Abp. Neil McNeil repeated the request for the Salesians to come to his archdiocese. In 1924, Fr. Rinaldi agreed to accept an Italian parish.

St. Agnes was located in the Trinity Bellwoods neighborhood of Toronto. It was founded in 1914, with diocesan pastors up to that time. It was a large parish, with 100 baptisms in 1923, but it was poor.

In September 1924, Fr. Emmanuel Manassero, then the provincial in New Rochelle, assigned Fr. Peter Truffa, Fr. James Mellica, and Bro. John Chiabai to this first Canadian presence. Fr. Truffa was the director in New Rochelle prior to going to St. Agnes. Fr. Mellica came to the province from Chieri, Italy. Bro. Chiabai came from his assignment in Goshen.

Fr. Truffa would be the pastor for the 10 years of the Salesian presence at St. Agnes. Bro. Chiabai seems to have stayed in Toronto for only one year. Fr. Carlo Simona took Fr. Mellica’s place in 1926. Fr. Alfonso Volonté came in 1927 and remained at St. Agnes until 1934.

The Salesians “took advantage of every occasion for making the parish a typically Salesian center: music, theater, spectacles, Italian foods, feasts, etc.” The parish sponsored a window in the new chapel at Don Bosco College in Newton, N.J. In those 10 years, 2 young men from the parish explored the Salesian vocation and spent some time in Salesian formation.

According to the Canadian summary of those years, the ministries of the Salesians at St. Agnes were well appreciated.

Fr. Ambrose Rossi came from Italy as the new provincial in 1933 with instructions from the Rector Major, Fr. Peter Ricaldone, to consolidate works, particularly by withdrawing from parishes. Thus in 1934, the Salesians withdrew from St. Agnes and some parishes in the U.S.

This article was based on an article written by Fr. Romeo Trottier, SDB, who quoted a conference given in Italian by Mr. Luigi Pautasso “I Salesiani a Toronto – 1924-1934” at the Ninth Annual Symposium of Italian Canadiana, Department of Italian Studies, University of Toronto, May 14, 1992, with references from Histoire des débuts de l’œuvre salésienne au Canada, the Salesian elenchi 1923-1935, and province personnel ledgers.