New Trilingual Faith Community

On Sunday, January 4, 2026, the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, there was a historic merger of two Catholic faith communities in downtown Toronto.  

San Juan Bautista, a Hispanic immigrant parish consisting of members from Mexico, Central America, and South American countries, merged with St Francis of Assisi, an older, established English and Italian parish community. The result is a single, integrated parish now consisting of one united community of faith celebrating Mass in three different languages on a regular basis, becoming one of the few trilingual parishes of Spanish, Italian and English in the Archdiocese of Toronto.  

Both communities, facing changing demographics, lower income and rising maintenance costs, together with high renovation costs of the historic St. Francis Church, recognized that a new stewardship of resources would be a positive way to face the challenges of the future.

Following the last Mass at San Juan Bautista on January 4, a procession of over 100 Spanish-speaking parishioners formed into a walking pilgrimage toward St Francis of Assisi Church, a single long block away. Carrying the Blessed Sacrament from San Juan Baustista, Fr. Joao Veras Ferreira, pastoral leader of the Hispanic community, led the Procession of Hope, a journey of faith and life. Accompanying him was the Hispanic community, carrying liturgical symbols, including the statue of Our Blessed Mother, Nuestra Señora de la Nube, and the statue of St. John the Baptist.

As they processed, they were warmly welcomed, and the joy was evident on the faces of those who received them. It was a unique and deeply moving moment for all: the parishioners who joyfully welcomed the new community, and the Hispanic faithful who, with visible happiness, arrived at St. Francis Church and were warmly received into their new spiritual home by a large number of their parishioners, and Fr. Ricardo Mendoza, F.M., the pastor of St Francis of Assisi and the new combined parish.  

A brief Liturgy of the Word was celebrated, during which Bishop Robert Kasun CSB, auxiliary bishop for the Central Region, acknowledged the sadness and sorrow of the occasion as well as the joyful hope for the future. A celebration of thanksgiving followed in the parish hall.  

We give thanks for the diverse contributions of our Spanish, Italian and English parishioners and pray that the trilingual community at St. Francis of Assisi will thrive and prosper for years to come.