HISTORY


THE CATHOLIC DEAF ESTABLISHED IN TORONTO – 1918




Back in the year 1914, not a large number of Catholic Deaf were in the Archdiocese of Toronto.  Yet there was a large circulation of Protestant Deaf in Toronto.  A Church was secured for them to attend their Religious Service but, this type was not for the Catholic Deaf to attend.


A number of Catholic Deaf attended there, and  a number of Catholic Deaf got married there.


In 1918 Mr. Frank Crough of Peterborough, being a Catholic was guided to attend the Mass by guidance of his Catholic Parents.

It happened that Frank met a non-Catholic girl, they loved each other.  She accepted to learn about the Catholic Faith.  By coincidence, Frank remembered a Catholic Teacher in his former school.  She had become a member of the Loretto Sisters.  He looked for her and finally found his ex-Teacher who had taken final vows as Rev. Mother Columbiere.  She worked in the office as a Bursar.  She was very happy to meet Frank, and after their conversations she said she was worried about the Catholic Deaf who have left school. She lost no time in asking Frank to find and bring the Catholic Deaf to Loretto Building.  Rev. Mother Columbiere contacted the Archdiocese of Toronto, Neil McNeil.  He was delighted she found the Catholic Deaf, and Blessed he with the charge of Religious Services for the Catholic Deaf.  Then she got in contact with the Paulist Fathers at St. Peters Church (Paulist order)  near Loretto College to conduct a sermon each Sunday afternoon.  Rev. Mother Columbiere kept her action by asking Rev. Fr. Page of Montreal, and he travelled to Toronto to conduct the First Lenten Mission here in Toronto a fair attendance of the Catholic Deaf.

Later, she heard about a Missionary Father by name of Father Higgins of St. Louis, MO. He hastened to come and discussed with Rev. Mother Columbiere, and he went to see Archbishop Neil McNeil, Fr. Higgins was granted permission to visit St. Augustine’s Seminary where many Priesthood Students took interest in Fr.Higgins trip and suggestions were blessed with success.

Until 1923, a Mr. Frank Radbone, being a new convert was elected President. He did not lose any time asking Rev. Mother Columbiere for a change in the name of the Toronto Catholic Association of the Deaf.  Because he thought “Association”- looked like a business name and offered a suggestion that a change would be would be changed to any saint name.  Rev Mother Columbiere, without hesitation agreed with Mr. Radbone and would ask the Pastor of St. St. Peter’s Church, to suggest a name.


The Pastor recommended the name of St. Francis De Sales, because St. Francis De Sales was honoured as Patron Saint of the Deaf by a Pope. .  Mother Columbiere offered the Saints’ name to Mr. Radbone. The new name of St. Francis De Sales Catholic Deaf Society was accepted by acclamation in  1924.


In the St. Augustine Seminary, a lot of the students volunteered to learn sign language almost each year for many years until Father Basil Ellard was appointed as the first Chaplain to the St. Francis De Sales Catholic Deaf Society though he still acted as a Professor at the Seminary for some years. Finally he was asked to be a Pastor at St. Margaret Church in Midland.


Then Rev. Father Bean was appointed to succeed Father Ellard but later the appointment was changed to Rev. Father John Moss after some years, he was chosen to attend the St. Augustine Seminary as a Professor.


The Catholic Deaf had to move from Loretto College School because of the growing number of students for the school.  The St. Francis De Sales Catholic Deaf moved to the Catholic Extension building on bond St. in 1960.


From Bond St. the Catholic Deaf had to move again. They finally went to Columbus Boys Club on Bellwoods Ave. in the West end of Toronto. Father Moss and Father Bean alternated with Mass for the Deaf.


It was largely Father Bean who got the Catholic Deaf at Holy Name Church for their Sunday Masses.   The Catholic Deaf moved to Holy Name Church in 1968. Father Moss served the Catholic Deaf until 1969.


Priest with the Deaf                                                                                       Sisters


Rev. J.A. O’Sullivaan                                                                                       Rev Mother Columbiere

Rev. Noon                                                                                                           Sister Eugene O’Reilley

Rev. Mirackle                                                                                                    

Rev. Hopper

Rev. Corrigan

Rev. B.B. Ellard

Rev. F.J. McGoey

Bishop Lacey

Rev. V.L. McGivwey                                                                                        Deacons

Rev. F. Sullivan

Rev. John Moss                                                                                      Deacon Paul J. Martineau

Rev. Bean                                                                                               Deacon Kevin Brockerville

Rev. Brian Dwyer                                                                                    Deacon Walter McNally

Rev. Guy Blair S.C.J.                                                                                Deacon George Newman

Rev. Keith Wallace

Rev. Rich Lamberti

Rev. Anthony Gonsalves

Rev. Harry Stocks  C.S.C.

Rev. Arthur Segueira

Rev. Tamil Govindaraju OFM cap


Archbishops of Toronto who supported Deaf Ministry


Archbishop Neil McNeill

Cardinal McGuiggan

Archbishop Pocock

Cardinal G.E. Carter

Archbishop Thomas Collins

Services to the Deaf community were initiated by Rev. B Dwyer and Victoria Kargul, under the name of “St.Francis Deaf Bureau”. Organized and encouraged development of adult deaf organizations and children's programs.
1973 - In June we established an office in the basement of Holy Name Church, Danforth Avenue, to provide full-time services to the Deaf community.
1974 - First public grant enabled us to hire four full-time employees. Held first summer Sign Language Camp for children.
1975 - In January “Silent Voice Canada ” was incorporated, and active fundraising began. In June we received our first Ministry of Community and Social Services grant, and in August a grant from the City of Toronto.
Increased funding enabled us to initiate new service programs, such an experimental interpreter training program in co-operation with other agencies. Funding provided by ShareLife through Catholic Charities.