Catholic Education in Our Parish: Three Schools, One Community

Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for our parish to respond to Bishop Dabrowski's recent invitation to all parishes in the diocese to learn about, celebrate, and actively support the Catholic schools in our community. For Canadian Martyrs Parish, this means telling a story that is richer than many parishioners may realize, one that begins with a small chapel inside Canadian Martyrs Elementary School in 1931.

The early 1930s were a foundational time for the Catholic community in this part of Hamilton. It was a time of putting down roots, building institutions, and committing to the long work of forming future generations in the faith. 1930 was the year that the school and the parish were both officially established, and that the Canadian Martyrs were canonized.

Location Plan of McMaster University circa 1930 from McMaster University Archives.

Westdale was a brand new neighbourhood. Developed through the 1920s as an explicitly Protestant planned community, the Catholic families who settled here were a minority in every sense. Yet, they were well organized and dedicated to giving their children a Catholic education.

In its earliest years, the Canadian Martyrs community was modest and many of its activities were informal. That changed in 1949, when Fr. John Noonan was appointed as the first pastor, giving the parish a stable foundation. The rectory was completed in 1951, and with a resident pastor and a growing congregation, the community turned its attention to building a church.

A basement church came first. The cornerstone was blessed in November 1952, and the building was dedicated on 23 May 1953. A decade later, on 22 September 1963, Bishop Ryan presided over the dedication of the completed main church above.

Sketch of Canadian Martyrs Elementary School in 2009.

The school kept pace with the growing neighbourhood, with additions built in 1965, 1972, and 2003. Canadian Martyrs school now offers a full academic program to over 200 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. With a dedicated staff and many volunteers and mentors, the students are supported and encouraged in their spiritual, social, physical and academic growth.

The parish and school come together regularly for weekday Masses, to celebrate the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion, and to mark other important occasions in the academic and liturgical year.

The McMaster Connection

McMaster's arrival in Hamilton in 1930 brought a university to the neighbourhood and with it, Catholic students who needed pastoral care. In the beginning, there were only about 40 Catholic students at McMaster. Because McMaster was still a Baptist institution, all students were required to take a Bible course. The Catholic students got special permission to meet this requirement through a course taught by a priest at Canadian Martyrs.

A full-time chaplaincy was established in 1966, with Fr. Gerald Gallagher, S.J., as the first chaplain. At its peak, campus Mass drew as many as 200 people gathering in Gilmour Hall on campus. Over time, the centre of gravity began shifting toward the church.

Laying new foundations for the St Kateri University Student Centre in 2022 with Canadian Martyrs Elementary in the background.

Bishop Tonnos eventually moved the Sunday student Mass from the Divinity College on campus to Canadian Martyrs, and in 2005, Fr. Peter Nguyen was appointed as both pastor of the parish and chaplain for Catholic ministry at McMaster — formally uniting the two communities under one roof. For many years, however, the church had limited space, and most chaplaincy events still took place on campus for practical reasons.

That changed with the 2022 Cornerstone Project, which included the construction of the Saint Kateri University Student Centre, funded by the Diocese of Hamilton as a dedicated space for faith formation and student community life. For the first time, the chaplaincy had a proper home of its own. Weekly student dinners, night prayer, and guest speakers are now regular features of chaplaincy life there.

Three Schools, One Parish Community

Our parish is also home to St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, one of the official feeder schools for Canadian Martyrs Elementary.

St. Mary's was founded in 1970, initially housed in the former Christ the King Elementary School. It moved in 1980 to the site of the former Hamilton Teacher's College, now part of McMaster campus, before eventually moving to its current, purpose-built facility.

Together, Canadian Martyrs Elementary, St. Mary Catholic Secondary, and the McMaster chaplaincy form a complete pathway of Catholic education within our parish boundaries — from junior kindergarten through university. That is a remarkable gift worth celebrating.

Bishop Dabrowski blessing University Chaplaincy Students at Canadian Martyrs 2026.

Why the Church Calls Us to Support Catholic Schools

The Church teaches that Catholic education should foster a genuine Catholic identity through solid academic, moral and religious formation. Bishops and pastors bear particular responsibility for ensuring that the school's religious and moral mission stays central to everything it does (Acta Apostolicae Sedis, August 1988).

When parishes actively support their Catholic schools, the Church's ability to pass on the faith to the next generation is strengthened for everyone. Catholic Education Week is a moment to act on that responsibility. We invite every parishioner to:

• Pray for the students, staff, and families of Canadian Martyrs Elementary School, St. Mary Catholic Secondary School, and the McMaster Catholic community — especially at our special Mass on 6 May.

• Support Catholic education through encouragement and, where possible, through volunteering or participation in school and chaplaincy events.

• Spread the word to families thinking about where their children will be educated, and to university students who may not yet know that an active faith community exists right on their doorstep.

The Canadian Martyrs gave their lives in service to the people of this land. Their name is a reminder that what happens here — educating children, forming young adults, building community, and worshipping together — is part of a story that goes well beyond any of us as individuals. We are glad to be part of it.