St. Francis Xavier Parish

St. Francis Xavier stands on Highway 8 in Stoney Creek. The City’s heritage inventory records that before the Second World War, Catholics in Saltfleet Township travelled into Hamilton for Mass, and that as Catholic newcomers settled in the area after the war, Bishop Joseph Ryan bought land from the estate of the Green family for a church. Father Patrick Bodendistel was appointed to the new parish in 1946; the parish gives 1947 as its founding year. With no church yet, Mass was celebrated at The Terrace (later the El Moroco Night Club), at the White City Inn and, from 1947, in the basement of St. Francis Xavier School, and in 1950 Father Gerald Warren had former R.A.F. barracks moved in sections from Mount Hope to the Highway 8 site to serve until a permanent church could be built.

By 1957 the congregation, by then about 400 families, had raised $65,000 for a permanent church. Designed by George L. Schneider and built by H. Schilthius & Sons of Ancaster, it is a large stone building that blends traditional and modern styles, with a bell tower, and Bishop Ryan opened it and celebrated its first Mass on 14 September 1958. Its pastor is Father Mark Morley.

The Saturday vigil Mass is at 5:30 p.m., and Sunday Masses are at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Weekday Mass is at 8:00 a.m. from Tuesday to Friday, with an evening Mass on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

What Roman Catholics believe and how they worship