A Double Anniversary

This June, people across the country will gather to observe the liturgical feast of St. Josemaria. This year’s celebration has special significance. June 7th marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the apostolic work of Opus Dei in Canada

06/25/2007

A Double Anniversary

It was on June 7, 1957 that the first members of Opus Dei moved to Canada at the request of Saint Josemaria to start the apostolic work. Fr. John Martin and Fr. Joseph Escribano were among the first to arrive, followed shortly afterwards by Alfonso Bielza, an aeronautical engineer from Spain, and Ernest Caparros, a young law student. They began by opening a student residence in Montreal and soon set out to introduce the message of Opus Dei to Canadians. With time, bishops in other cities showed interest in the service that Opus Dei could provide in their respective dioceses. There are now 16 centres in five cities: Montreal (1957), Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec (1964), Quebec City (1964), Toronto (1982), Ottawa (1989), and Vancouver (1997). Frequent apostolic trips are made to Kingston, Waterloo, Kitchener and London in Ontario; Calgary and Edmonton in Alberta; and La Pocatière in Quebec.

Today, 50 years later, there are thousands of people who receive spiritual and moral support from the different initiativesundertaken by faithful of the Prelature from coast to coast.

Here is the specific Mass information for each city. You can download an electronic copy of the invitation to the Mass by clicking on the city's name: