WHO WE ARE
our mission
We are Canadian Martyrs Roman Catholic Parish and Saint Kateri University Catholic Chaplaincy, a vibrant and welcoming faith community located in Hamilton’s West End across from McMaster University and Children’s Hospital. Our community is committed to the mission of Inviting, Forming, and Sending… disciples of Jesus Christ.
We strive to create a space where everyone can encounter God and grow in faith. We offer a variety of programs and events to help individuals and families deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ and his church. Our chaplaincy provides opportunities for students to explore and deepen their faith, connect with other students, and receive spiritual support during their university journey.
We believe that everyone has a unique and important role to play in building the Kingdom of God, and we are committed to equipping and empowering you to live out your faith in the world.
We invite you to join us in our mission to be disciples of Jesus Christ and to help build a world that reflects God’s love and mercy. Come visit us and experience the warmth, hospitality, and joy of our faith community.
Our Patron Saints
The Canadian Martyrs
In the early 1600s, the Wendat people near Georgian Bay made an alliance with the French, and in the 1630s, Jesuit missionaries, headquartered near present-day Midland, Ontario, began ministering to the Wendat. Among those missionaries were the eight Canadian Martyrs: St. René Goupil, St. Isaac Jogues, St. Jean de Lalande, St. Antoine Daniel, St. Jean de Brébeuf, St. Noël Chabanel, St. Charles Garnier, St. Gabriel Lalemant.
In the preceding decades, warfare between the Wendat and the neighbouring Iroquois confederacy intensified, reaching its peak around the middle of the 17th century. As allies of the Wendat, the French were considered hostile by the Iroquois, and Jesuit missionaries were no exception: each of the Canadian Martyrs would be captured and killed during separate Iroquois raids throughout the 1640s. While bound to a cross in the hours leading up to their death, St. Jean de Brébeuf encouraged the Christian Hurons bound next to him to remain steadfast in their faith, and St. Gabriel Lalemant implored God for mercy on him, his fellow captives, and his executioners.
The Canadian Martyrs were canonized in 1930, and are all counted as some of the patron saints of Canada. Holy Canadian Martyrs, pray for us!
Prayer to the
Canadian Martyrs
O God, who by the preaching of, and blood of your sainted Martyrs, Isaac and John and their companions, did consecrate the first fruits of the Faith in the vast regions of North America, graciously grant that, by their intercession, the flourishing harvest of Christians may everywhere and always be increased. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You, in the union of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and forever. Amen.
Recognizing the Canadian Martyrs as our patron saints is not meant to diminish the truth and reconciliation process or the ongoing efforts towards decolonization and healing. As a society, it is crucial to continue to listen, learn, and engage in respectful dialogue with Indigenous communities in order to create a more just and equitable future for all.
Santiago, Roseta. St. Kateri. 2018.
Saint Kateri Takakwitha
St. Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 in the former village of Ossernenon, present-day New York state. Her mother, brought up by Jesuits in Trois-Rivières, was taken captive and married to a Mohawk chieftain – the man who would later become St. Kateri’s father. When Kateri was four years old, a smallpox epidemic ravaged her native village, killing her parents and her younger brother, and leaving her with permanent damage to her face and her eyesight. Adopted by a paternal uncle, she was pressured to marry by her adoptive family but she refused. She converted to Catholicism at 19, and was baptized on Easter Sunday, 1676. Her adoptive family was unsympathetic to her, and she faced great opposition from others in her native village for her conversion. In 1677, she moved to Kahnawake, present-day Québec, where she lived as a consecrated virgin for another two years before dying at 24, after a long battle with various illnesses. Whether amidst of terrible hardship in Ossernenon, or in the relative peace of Kahnawake, St. Kateri remained steadfast in her devotion to God through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
St. Kateri was canonized in 2012, joining figures like St. Rose of Lima, St. Martin de Porres, and St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, as one of several Indigenous people of the Americas to be numbered among the saints of the Catholic Church. St. Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us!
Our History
Original architectural rendering.
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Our Catholic community traces its origins back to 1930 when it was established within a modest chapel situated in the newly constructed Canadian Martyrs' School. For several years, its activities were sporadic in nature.
In 1949, Reverend John Noonan became our inaugural pastor, solidifying the foundation of our now well-established parish. By 1951, the construction of the rectory was finalized. At this time, efforts shifted towards the construction of a dedicated church for the Canadian Martyrs' parish.
Initially, only a basement church was constructed. The blessing of the cornerstone took place in November 1952, and the dedication of the finished structure was on May 23, 1953.
Ten years after the completion of the basement section, Bishop Ryan presided over the final dedication ceremony on September 22, 1963, which celebrated the completion of the main church.
The church has undergone numerous transformations over time. In 1975, the basement was refurbished to accommodate a church hall. In 2022, a significant revitalization initiative, known as the Cornerstone Project, was concluded. This comprehensive endeavour involved the renovation of the church, basement hall, and grounds. It also encompassed the removal of the old rectory house and the establishment of a new student center, offices, and rectory.
The parish's rich history is intertwined with countless cherished recollections held by its members. Many have borne witness to the evolution of our Catholic community, from a chapel within the school to the church and student centre we proudly stand in today.
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The Cornerstone Project at Canadian Martyrs Church in Hamilton, Ontario, was first announced on February 23, 2018, on the feast day of the Epiphany. This significant initiative involved a physical addition to the church building, wrapping around its back and side (parking lot side). Key features of the project included new spaces such as a lobby, washrooms, offices, meeting rooms, a student centre, and a rectory, as well as renovations of existing spaces like the church hall and kitchen.
The name "Cornerstone Project" was inspired by Psalm 118: "the stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." This symbolized the church's role as a foundational element of the community, poised to continue serving future generations of parishioners and students.
Financing for the project came entirely from the Diocese, facilitated by the church's role in housing the university chaplaincy. This aligned with the Diocese's prioritization of university ministry, as demonstrated through similar projects in Waterloo and Guelph. In response to this diocesan support, the parish launched its own capital campaign in 2018, focusing on specific needs such as a new organ, choir loft renovations, and bells (though not all of these projects ultimately came to fruition).
The development of the Cornerstone Project was a community effort, driven by prayer, consultations, and collaboration with the Diocese. Extensive community consultation, including "one flock, one shepherd, one hour" sessions and numerous conversations with parishioners, culminated in a project proposal submitted in July 2017 and approved in November 2017. The renovation took place under the leadership of Fr. Bradley Markus, whose vision and dedication were instrumental in bringing the project to completion.
Groundbreaking for the project took place in November 2019. Much of the construction took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused some delays and challenges. By Summer 2021, the new building was approved for occupancy. The project symbolized a renewed commitment to living as a vibrant community of faith at Main and Emerson, providing spaces that served the evolving needs of the congregation and university students alike.
The new spaces were blessed and commissioned in April 2022, marking the official completion of the Cornerstone Project. Ultimately, this project was more than a physical expansion; it was a testament to the enduring presence and mission of Canadian Martyrs Church to be a place where people encounter and grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
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For more information about the chaplaincy, click here.