Parish History

St. Monica's Parish occupies a unique place in the history of the City of Toronto and in the life of the Church.  It was established in 1906 through the generosity of Mr. Eugene O'Keefe.  The name "Saint Monica" was given in honour of Eugene O'Keefe's wife, Helen, who had a great devotion and admiration for St. Monica.  It was to be built in Eglinton, Ontario, in the "far northern suburbs" of Toronto, and was to serve the needs of all Catholics living north of St. Clair Avenue.

St. Monica's Parish is the "Mother Church" of mid-Toronto --- Mother Church of the parishes of Our Lady Perpetual Help, Blessed Sacrament, St. Anselm's, and Our Lady of the Assumption.

The present Church was erected in 1959 and is a modified cruciform design.  The interior of the Church has undergone several renovations since then.

Recognizing the limitations of the current church building, St. Monica's Parish has once again embarked on a redevelopment plan in order to continue serving the needs of the local parish community in this new millennium and beyond.