Pastors - Past and Present

Most of the history below (to 1998) is taken from the booklet prepared for the 75th Anniversary of OLPH, celebrated by Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic on April 19, 1998. Some items since April 1998 have been added to bring these highlights up-to-date.

Monsignor James Hannah

Eighth Pastor, July 2002 - June 29, 2022: Msgr. James Hannah was appointed pastor of OLPH Parish on July 1, 2002. He had previously served as Associate Pastor of St. Mary of the People Parish in Oshawa from 1972 to 1979. From 1979 to 1982, he was on leave from the Archdiocese doing specialized training in Clinical Pastoral Education. When he returned, he was appointed as Director of the Office of Lay Ministry and Chaplaincy for the Archdiocese. Msgr. Hannah maintained that position until he was appointed pastor of OLPH; he served our parish for 20 years until his retirement on June 29, 2022.

Father Cyril Robitaille

Seventh Pastor, 1998-2002: Fr. Cyril Robitaille was appointed as pastor in July of 1998. Father had served as associate pastor and pastor in several parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Father Wilfred B. Firth

Sixth Pastor, 1993-1998: On December 15, 1993, Fr. Wilfred B. Firth was appointed the pastor. Father had served as associate pastor and pastor in several parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Father Basil F. Courtemanche

Fifth Pastor, 1978-1993: Fr. Basil F. Courtemanche was appointed pastor on September 7, 1978. He had been a professor, the Dean of Studies, and a vice president at St. Augustine's Seminary, and had served as pastor and associate pastor in several parishes in the Archdiocese of Toronto.

Msgr. Lucius F. Barnett

Fourth Pastor, 1953-1978: Msgr. Lucius F. Barnett was assigned pastor in September 9, 1953 and arrived to the parish on September 12. It was his only pastorate. Msgr. Barnett had been a professor at St. Augustine's Seminary, and had held several key positions on the Toronto Marriage Tribunal.

Msgr. William A. Egan

Third Pastor, 1930 - 1953: Fr. William A. Egan was appointed pastor on March 25, 1930. The church was under construction, with rising costs and the stock market crash greatly reducing the invested parish funds. The debt inherited by Fr. Egan was estimated to be between $250,000 and $300,000, said to be the largest in the Archdiocese. He saw his pastorate as one of nurturing the spiritual growth of the parish and paying off the massive debt. Through his business acumen and fiscal conservatism, the debt was paid off in 20 years.

Fr. Francis J. Morrissey

Second Pastor, 1925 - 1930: Fr. Francis J. Morrissey, D.D. was appointed pastor on September 8, 1925. Prior to coming to OLPH Parish, Fr. Morrissey had been a professor and vice-rector at St. Augustine's Seminary and was was among the very first faculty when the seminary was established in 1913. As pastor, he immediately changed the name of the parish to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and began the search for a permanent site for the church and an architect to design it. The Archdiocese purchased property from the Gibson family at the northwest corner of St. Clair Avenue East and Clifton Road; the deed was dated March 1, 1926.

Fr. Francis H. Pennylegion

First Pastor, 1923 - 1925: Archbishop Neil McNeil, writing from New York City, established the parish of St. Charles (later named Our Lady of Perpetual Help during the tenure of the second pastor) for the "Moore Park" section of Toronto, and appointed Fr. Francis H. Pennylegion as its first pastor on February 20, 1923. It was Fr. Pennylegion's first pastorate.

Father Francis Pennylegion 1923 - 1925
Father Francis Morrissey 1925 - 1930
Monsignor William Egan 1930 - 1953
Monsignor Lucius F. Barnett 1953 - 1978
Father Basil F. Courtemanche 1978 - 1993
Father Wilfred B. Firth 1993 - 1998
Father Cyril Robitaille 1998 - 2002
Monsignor James Hannah 2002 - present

Priests Who Have Served (or Currently Serve) the Parish

Monsignor John Fullerton
Father Alphonse McNicholl
Father F.X. O'Reilly
Father Leo J. Murray
Father John G. Brennan
Father Gerard Breen
Father Joseph Johnston
Father William O'Brien
Father George Annett
Father Paul Lennon
Father William Stock
Father Denis McPolin
Father Gregory Teskey
Father Philip Wiley
Father Ronald Krafchik
Father Ambrose Sheehy
Father Christopher Walsh
Father J. Anthony MacDonald
Father Matthew Gyamfi — cds@africaonline.com.gh (ordained Biship of Diocese of Sunyani, Ghana, West Africa in June 2003)
Father Deogratias Rutisaire — ryanrugomwa@yahoo.com (Kenya)
Father Adrian D'Cruz — adcruz@jesuits.net (India)
Father Lawrence Martis
Father Joe Oriasel — joriasel@utoronto.ca
Father Joseph Ogbonnaya — okeymbang1969@yahoo.com
Father Guenter Petricek
Father Daniel Donovan (currently serving the parish)

Priests Who Have for Many Years Been Associated with the Parish and Frequently Assisted

Bishop Robert Clune
Father John McGoey
Father John Moss
Father Robert Moore
Father John Brennan
Father Jerry Dunn
Father Chris Cauchi

Many other priests were in residence and shared with the appointed priests.

Pastors - Past and Present

Quick List of Pastors Who Have Served OLPH

Priests Who Have Served (or Currently Serve) the Parish

Priests Who Have for Many Years Been Associated with the Parish and Frequently Assisted