The History of a Faith Community

January 22, 1954

One acre of land donated by Toccalino family for the site of a new parish in Bronte; an additional four acres were later purchased.

June 22, 1955

Bishop Joseph F. Ryan established Saint Dominic Parish and appoints Rev. Magnus W. Straus as the first pastor for the community of over 100 families.

July 1, 1955

First parish Mass celebrated in the Rectory basement chapel.

July 8, 1955

CWL established, Irene Dunnigan as president.

November 17, 1956

Parish Rectory completed

December 18, 1956

Saint Dominic School blessed by Bishop Ryan; Sister Eulalia Mane, principal.

November 17, 1961

Saint Joseph School blessed by Bishop Ryan; Sister Denise, principal.

November 25, 1961

First meeting of Saint Vincent de Paul Society; Herb Landry, president.

February 18, 1962

Laying of cornerstone of Saint Dominic Church by Rev. Straus.

February 26, 1962

Solemn blessing and official opening of Saint Dominic Church by Bishop Ryan.

November 1965

Saint Ann School blessed by Bishop Ryan; Mary Moore, principal.

1967

Georges Vanier School blessed by Bishop Paul Reding; Larry Loftus, principal.

January 18, 1968

Collapse of Parish Hall.

November 30, 1968

Rev. Ralph Diemert appointed pastor.

March 29, 1970

Bishop Ryan approved plans for new office facilities adjacent to Rectory.

November 26, 1973

Rev. Harry Schmuck appointed pastor.

October 20, 1976

First Parish Council Meeting; Barry Kay chair.

February 1, 1977

Sister Joanette Paleczny, SSND joined pastoral staff.

October 1, 1977

Rev. Paul Boucher appointed pastor

June 30, 1983

Rev. Stephen Bodnar appointed pastor.

November 15, 1989

Fr. Bodnar died suddenly.

February 10, 1990

New Parish Centre opened.

June 27, 1990

Rev. Msgr. Murray J. Kroetsch appointed pastor.

December 8, 1991

Daily Mass Chapel opened.

August 30, 1993

Sister Joanette retired.

1996

Saint Ann School closes; new Saint Dominic School is opened at the former Georges Vanier School.

June 1998

Sanctuary renovations and new cross erected.

1998

First of a series of trips to The Holy Land.

June 2000

Rev. Msgr. Victor W. McNamara, retired, in residence at Saint Dominic for what would be 15 years.

June 26, 2002

Rev. Msgr. Roger W. Formosi appointed pastor.

June 2003

Mariusz Durbajlo, seminarian, came for his pastoral internship; he was ordained transitional Deacon in 2004; in May 2005 was ordained to the holy priesthood for the Diocese of Hamilton.

June 2006

New stain glass window installed on west side of church. It was dedicated and blessed on Pentecost Sunday, the scene it depicts. The donor is Mr. Joseph Aigner, President of Artistic Glass in Toronto. He is a former Saint Dominic Parishioner.

June 27, 2012

Rev. Kevin Cull appointed pastor.

June 26, 2013

Rev. Michael Anderson appointed pastor after acting as Administrator.

July 2016

Rev. Ranjan D’Sa, OCD appointed pastor.

March 2020

Michael Aguiar becomes the parish Youth Minister.

August 2023

A parishioner from our church (Sister Mary Isidore, SOLI) makes her perpetual vows with the Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate.

Solemn blessing of Saint Dominic Church by Bishop Joseph F. Ryan, February 26, 1962.

View of the west side of the church before the second Parish hall was built.

Stained glass window depicting the Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It was installed in 2006 by former parishioner Mr. Joseph Aigner.

Our current pastor, Rev. Ranjan D’Sa, OCD, greeting parishioners outside after Sunday Mass.

Front of the church in 2020. In this picture, you can see the bronze statue of Saint Dominic as well as the stone driveway loop installed as part of the Radiating Our Faith project.

Sister Mary Isidore, SOLI makes her perpetual vows in 2023. She is a former parishioner of our church.