Interlude at St. Michael's Cathedral

The four-hour gap between the wedding service and the reception gave us the opportunity to check into our hotel and compose ourselves. Marilyn headed off to the Aquarium and I decided  to  attend the vigil Mass at St. Michael’sCathedral. I hadn't quite realized that a half-hour walk would take such a chunk out of the limited time available. I ambled a little on my way to church and didn't arrive until about 15 minutes before 5:00 o’clock Mass.

I was a little dismayed when I saw the scaffolding surrounding the church, and surprised to note that the interior is a construction zone, with virtually all seating impeded by scaffolds. Caution tape everywhere. I really wondered how Sunday Mass could possibly be held in such an environment.

The cantor began the opening hymn, and the most glorious music wafted toward me from the rear. The men's choir processed down the center aisle, elegantly robed and solemnly reverent. Behind them, the boys from St. Michael's Choir School sang sweetly. I felt much as I did when I accidentally walked into Vespers at Sacré Coeur in Paris, transported to heaven. I closed my eyes and forgot the scaffolding as Gregorian chant and Palestrina filled the worship space.

A couple of unrelated thoughts distracted me during the homily. I reflected that if I hadn't know where I was, I would have identified the choir sound as Anglican, not Catholic. Perfect diction; almost British. And, being me, I wondered about the cost of this massive work of renovation.

Someday, when the work is completed, I'll return to St. Michael's for a concert.

St. John's Church




Church of St. John

Church of Saint John

I don’t know Toronto very well (make that “at all”), but I always wondered about "The Beaches" neighborhood so I was happy to finally drive through the pretty streets along Lake Ontario. The Its history as a resort area for Torontonians reminds me a little of White Bear Lake, where people would ride the streetcar to spend the day in the park and on the beach. The Beaches neighborhood looks very gentrified now, with no outward sign of concessions or carnival rides.

St. John’s is a parish built during that great church construction era of the early twentieth century. The stained glass windows seem to have been added over time, many during the period following WWII as memorials to servicemen killed in the war.




I suspect that the St. Pius X window the rear portico preceded the rest. Pius X was a great promoter of good liturgical music and I’ve seen many a tribute to him in churches of the era. Other windows depict saints like the ever popular St. Catherine of Siena and St. Bernadette.





Saint Pius X

Saint Catherine of Siena

The parish seems prosperous and the priest was pleasantly indulgent, in the manner of Catholic clergy who have presided over many weddings attended by an unchurched congregation.

The only surprise was the presence of a single restroom at the rear of the church. I encouraged some uncomfortable looking wedding guests to try the basement, but the only one who ventured down the stairs said it was "too dark and scary".


Carol & Jeff's Wedding

Carol and Jeff

Marilyn took be along as her guest for Saturday’s wedding. Jeff is a friend from Harry’s years as an undergraduate at Western and he played in a band with both Carol and Jeff in med school – or something like that. Yesterday’s guests included the couples from Friday’s celebratory grad dinner, so I felt connected, even though I didn’t know Carol and Jeff myself. Harry and Laura picked us up in Stratford on Saturday morning and we drove directly to the church, St. John’s in Toronto’s Beaches neighborhood.

I was surprised to hear German spoken by a group waiting for the restroom in the rear of the church. Turns out they were Jeff’s relatives, in town for the occasion. The music was provided by an excellent little string ensemble and a superb soloist. The tiny flower girl, the bride’s niece, was carried down the aisle during the processional, but she got the picture during Mass and walked out on her own, to audible “awws”.

It was a cold afternoon and the female members of the wedding party must have been chilly in their lovely yellow dresses. Both families and all guests beamed on this happy day, missing only a little warmth and sun. More wedding pictures here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10203372940660641.1073741851.1125181306&type=1&l=2be6555931.