Ignatius Jesuit Centre
in loving service
Since their arrival to Guelph in 1852, the Jesuits have been intimately involved in developing the social infrastructure of the region. Their faith and willingness to serve inspired the early Jesuits to address many of the important social issues of the day — education, health care and ministry. They played a key role in establishing schools, convents, an orphanage, the St. Joseph's Hospital, and a number of distinguished churches.
In January 1852, Bishop Charbonnel of Toronto (see annotation below) appointed Father John Holzer, S.J., to be Pastor of the Church of our Lady Parish in Guelph. This was the same year that the town of Guelph was celebrating its 25th anniversary. The parish would be under the care of the Jesuit Order until 1931.
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Armand-François-Marie de Charbonnel
(Dec. 1, 1802 – Mar. 29, 1891).
Roman Catholic bishop of Toronto, Armand-François-Marie was born in Monistrol-sur-Loire, France. Of noble birth, Charbonnel entered the priesthood in the Society of St-Sulpice. Coming to North America in 1839, he served as priest in Montréal until 1847. He was consecrated bishop of Toronto in 1850.
As bishop, he pressured the Famine Irish laity and politicians to gain separate education for Catholics. The Basilian Fathers, the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of St Joseph were brought to Toronto to assist with education and social work. He established St Michael's College, the House of Providence to shelter the sick, aged and orphaned, and instituted the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Toronto Savings Bank and other charitable associations.
The Church of Our Lady Immaculate
The church was designed by a prominent Ontario architect, Joseph Connolly (1840-1904). Connolly was born in Ireland and received his professional training there under J. J. McCarthy, a leading nineteenth century Catholic church architect. The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception — in the style of the thirteenth century French Gothic — is one of Connolly's earliest known structures and is widely considered to be his finest.
Fr. Holzer, along with other early Jesuits, established fifty-six mission stations in the area. In establishing their missions, the early Jesuits placed a focus on social and education issues — as well as religious concerns.
Most widely recognized among their many accomplishments, over–seeing construction of the Church of Our Lady. The Church, which dominates the Guelph skyline, was commissioned under the leadership of Fr. Holzer's successor, Fr. P. Hamel, S.J. in 1874.
By the beginning of the twentieth century, the Church of Our Lady was no longer a mission center, instead having become the parish for Catholics in the Guelph area. The many missions which had been founded were soon after established as individual parishes. A reflection of the growth taking place in the city.
In 1911, a chapel was opened in the district of Guelph known as “the Ward”. Subsequent growth in the district resulted in the establishment of the Sacred Heart Parish in 1930—which remains active to this day.
In 1863, Fr. Holzer had attempted to establish a pre-seminary adjacent the Church of Our Lady. His efforts met with limited success and the seminary closed in 1864. His vision for a place of worship and prayer for young novices in formation would be realized in a different setting years after his death.