Looking to the Future

“Behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

For three years now, the parishioners of Guardian Angels Church have prayed the “Prayer for Reverence for life” as part of the Prayer of the Faithful. The prayer reflects the story of the parish and also our call to live out our baptismal promises as we minister to one another.

Almighty God, giver of all that is good, we thank You for the precious gift of human life:

...for life in the womb, coming from your creative power...

This particular parish began with a school founded, as Archbishop William Mark Duke declared, “to fill a long-felt want for small children up to four years of age who are too young to make the journey to town.”

...for the life of children, making us glad with their freshness and promise...

Later, when St. Ann’s Academy closed, the kindergarten class of Guardian Angels was discontinued to allow for the inclusion of the remainder of St. Ann’s grammar grades, increasing enrolment at our parish school to 110 pupils by 1951. throughout the early school years, Guardian Angels youth distinguished themselves on the sports fiels, winning trophies in shot-putt, high-jump, softball, basketball, volleyball and ping-pong.

...for the life of young people, hoping for a better world...

Guardian Angels Parish contribures, along with other regional parishes, to St. Patrick’s High School, allowing students of this parish to be given priority for admission. Once in University, students may choose to join the Newman Club or other Catholic Associations.

In the Spring of 1988, Father John Tritschler formed a young adults’ group. Meetings, preceded by a potluck dinner, were held in the rectory. Some of the young people also attended Camp Latona on Gambier Island. And the parish gave financial help to train street youth for work in the restaurant business. The restaurant was called the picasso Cafe and the training program began in february 1989.

...for the life of the elderly, witnessing to the ageless values of patience and wisdom...

In 1986, the south sidewalk of the church was made wheelchair accessible by removing the steps. This made an easier approach for both the handicapped and elderly.

...for the life of people who are disabled, teaching us that every life has value...

In 1989, the history of the first forty years of the Guardian Angels parish was published as the result of a senior’s project. Father John Tritschler reports in his commending letter, “A committee of seniors under the leadership of Chairman Frank Gray and editor Mary Landry met weekly for months in order that our parish history could be accurately recorded.” He added that it would “be amusing to lend an ear as the seniors of Guardian Angels recall the past 40 years, each from his or her own perspective.”

He credits them as “Faith-filled parishioners” who “wove their lives through…changes, prudently welcoming the golden wheat of true progress while being indifferent to the dead chaff of pretense.”

Recently, Guardian Angels Parish members elected to devote the old school property to a seniors housing project. John Nelson, president of the Knights of Columbus Charities Association, oversees the development, construction and opening of new projects. He explained the philosophy behind this project and others like them, is lifestyle enrichment; to offer a more secure, more vibrant lifestyle to seniors in lower income brackets.

The rectory, built in 1903 by Mr. Douglas, co-founder of Kelly-Douglas, will remain. The hall that was to be part of the project has been reduced to a number of rooms in the project building.

The development will be comprised of self-contained units, some wheelchair accessible. Meals will be included. Dinner will be in the central dining room. This will provide company for seniors who find themselves alone at their table each night after years of family dinners with laughter and loved ones. At this time, it is anticipated that there will be several dinner services and choices of menus. There will be a resident caretaker, but no resident health care workers, and no evening assistance. “It is not intended to be a care facility.” Nelson said.

And so the community life cycle continues. A new mother observed that when she took her baby to be weighed and checked by the community nurse at Gordon Neighbourhood House, two blocks from the church, twenty-five other mothers waited with her. And so we come full circle, with young families and children again a frequent sight at Mass.

Guardian Angels reflects the diversity of the community, offering love, shelter and hope to anyone who comes seeking Jesus . . . in the words of the hymn, we strive to be ‘a shelter for all who will call on His name’.

The influx of European immigrants – polish, Czech, Romanian, Yugoslav, who traditionally prefer to raise their children in close proximity to educational facilities, art and music programs, has once again changed the face of the West End. Refugees from the war in Kosovo, or immigrants seeking a better life for their families, they come bringing their children, creating new lives, broadening their field of influence, filling the streets once again with the beautiful faces of small children.

The West End is always changing, has always been home to new arrivals whether they come as refugees or immigrants or are simply moving to a new part of Canada. may Guardian Angels always be a beacon of welcome to all who visit and all who stay, reaching out to share the love of Jesus ;with these newcomers.

Grant that, like blessed Mary, may we always say ‘yes’ to your gift. May we defend and promote it from conception to its natural end. And bring us at last, O Father, to the fullness of eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord...

Guardian Angels Church is located on land where once stood an Italian Rose Garden. At Easter 1948 the Archdiocese of Vancouver announced the establishment of a Church at Broughton and Pendrell Streets in Vancouver’s West End, to be known as the “Chapel of Ease to the Cathedral”.

On Sunday, May 21, 1950, this Church was blessed by His Grace Archbishop Duke, assisted by the Reverend Francis A. Clinton together with Father James Fagan. It was dedicated to war services personnel and called Guardian Angels Church.

Both of the above names apparently still apply to this West End church, though it is now commonly referred to as Guardian Angels Church.(Now Guardian Angels Church has become a Parish).

At the blessing ceremony the Archbishop commented that this new Church would fill a long standing need in this thickly populated West End area. Plans for the building began as early as mid-1948. Construction took place in 1949-50. The structure is of stone and brick, fire resistant, and has a foundation of concrete wall with footings. The pews were made of fir and the windows are of two-toned stained glass.

The church was first equipped with a reed organ, a Tabernacle and a Crucifix. The old organ broke down many times, Father Gordon(Pastor,1967-84), told us, but with occasional repairs did quite well. One day, however, one of the Oblate priests from Hope came by and said to Father Gordon, “If you ever get rid of this organ, can we have it?” Father Gordon said it was his lucky day! “How much could he pay for it? He said he couldn’t afford to buy it, so I gave it to him,” said Father Gordon. We acquired a new organ and it is a good one,” Father Gordon continued. The new organ was bought by means of contributions from the Royal Canadian Legion in memory of Armed Forces personnel, and bears a plaque reading: “This organ has been placed in our church as a memory of the members of the Armed Forces who lost their lives in the service of their country.”

An accomplished organist, on examining the new organ, commented, “It’s as close to a pipe organ as you can get.” The Tabernacle was donated by the late Dr. Vincent Moe, Dentist, and his Mother. The original Crucifix was donated by Mrs Ernest Weeks.

“We had a Crucifix which had a plaster corpus glued to the main bar of the cross, about 2 years after I got here,” Father Gordon recalled. “With the heat of the church and general wear and tear, the glue came apart and the whole Crucifix came tumbling down. The corpus, made of plaster of Paris, crashed to the floor in a thousand pieces. So we had a new corpus made, designed by an artist in Rome…I got advice on the size of the cross to hold it and that’s what we have now.”

In time, other donations were made. The two side altars were donated by Major Martin Griffin and his Mother. During later renovations these altars were reduced in size and the alteration cost was a donation from Mrs. Edward Cuddy. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary was a present from Mr. McFarlane in thanksgiving for his conversion to the faith, and the Stations of the Cross were donated by Mrs. Alice Ontkean. The beautiful altar bells were a gift from Beryl and Roland Daoust to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary, in replacement of the bells that had been stolen a short time earlier.

Around the year 1979 Father Gordon had the church roof repaired, and during the mid-1980’s Guardian Angels’ Pastor, Father Leon Kotsko, called for a thorough renovation of the church.When, by 1987, it was completed, Father Kotsko noted in his Sunday bulletin: “Our renovations have been made possible by donations of varying sizes to our parish over the years and put into trust for the improvements we are now making. We are grateful to those who remembered us in their Wills and to those who made contributions in their lifetime, as well as to those who helped and are helping along each day. Without that help we could not have dreamed of the kind of change the church has undergone. May God reward their loving care.”

Renovations began in the Fall of 1984 with the landscaping of trees and shrubs. Inside the church, heating was improved, the lectern remodelled, the rugs replaced and the original pews, at the request of Father Bader, sent out to St. Luke’s in Maple Ridge, where they would be refurbished for the new church being built there. The new pews in Guardian Angels Church further enhanced the new decor.

By the spring of 1986, more work had been done on the interior and soon the architects could report a revamp sanctuary and reconciliation room, along with the addition of a washroom in the vestibule of the church. Outside, the sidewalk on the south side of the church was replaced, removing all steps and making the approach to the door accessible to the handicapped and the elderly.

Not least of the renovations is the newly painted ceiling. Its three-tone design caused many heads to turn upward when it was uncovered. The lettering has been set above the entrance to identify our church.

Last October 2, 1999, Guardian Angels Parish celebrated its 50th anniversary of its founding. The Parish had its Parish Mission with Father Bennett from the Gospel of Life Ministries in Ontario.