President's Message
By Norita Fleming
The following are activities of the Irish Cultural Society of
Toronto
"Welcome Sundays":
- Taking place at the Emerald Isle Seniors Centre, 1190 Danforth Avenue usually
on the last Sunday of the month. September and October Welcome Sundays were a
huge success thanks to the generosity of Sinead McCarthy who gave workshops on
the "2 Year Visas" for new landed immigrants. Thanks to Eleanor McGrath,
we now have a video of the workshop which will be on the ICST web site very
soon at www.irishculturalsocietyoftoronto.com.
Our upcoming "Welcome Sundays” will be January 29th, February
26th, March 25th and April 29th. We will be
bringing in speakers to give information on requested topics. For more
information call or email Geraldine Browne 416 440 0601 g.browne@sympatico.ca
Rose of Tralee: Erin Horgan,
Chair, and her team are actively at work preparing
for the 2012 Festival of the Rose of Tralee which will be on Friday 13th April
at "Atlantis", Ontario Place on Lakeshore Blvd. We invite you to mark
your calendars and join us to celebrate together.
The Toronto Traditional Irish Music School: TTTIMS is in its 3rd year of operation and
growing steadily. The Winter Season starts Monday, January 9th for
12 weeks with group classes from 6.00pm. Classes are every Monday night at the
Emerald Isle Seniors Centre at 1190 Danforth Avenue. Beginners and Intermediate
group classes in both instruments are available to both children and adults.
Info: Debbie Quigley Tin - Whistle (647) 897-9239 psychopipes@hotmail.com and Patrick Ourceau
- Fiddle (416) 462-2972 patrickourceau@hotmail.com
Pot O’Gold Tickets: Please respond generously when you are
approached to buy a ticket for the Pot O’Gold. Tickets are $100.00 and your
name goes in for 26 draws. The lowest prize is $1,000.00. Half of the monies raised
go to the prize winners and half of the monies go into Arts and Culture Groups
in the form of Grants to the Irish Community of Toronto. If you wish to buy a
ticket and do not know of a seller directly, do not hesitate to contact me at (905)
881-5012 noritasbb@rogers.com
21st Annual Mass of Memory: Took place this year on Sunday October 30th
at St. Paul's Basilica, 83 Power St., Toronto -- To the Memory of the Irish
Immigrants who arrived and died in Toronto in the year of 1847, who were
interred in a mass grave just on the east side of the Basilica; To the Memory
of Bishop Michael Power, first Bishop of Toronto and all who gave their lives
serving the Famine Irish in Toronto in 1847; and To the Memory of all of our
community members who have passed away in this past year. What a blessed day it
all was. People came in their droves to celebrate and remember together on a
crisp and sunny Autumn Day.
St. Paul’s first constructed in 1822 is the historical mother church
of the Archdiocese of Toronto. It was later re-built in the Romanesque style
under the supervision of Bishop Timothy O'Mahony from Kilmurry, Co. Cork. It
was opened just before Christmas of 1889.
On entering the Basilica the 800 + community, were welcomed by the
Toronto Roses. For twenty minutes
before mass the congregation enjoyed the magnificent sacred music of the Dunmore
Church Choir, from Co. Galway. At 3.00 pm, under the leadership of Mickey
Hamill, the GAA formed an Honour Guard of both present and past hurlers and
camogie players for the procession. The Dunmore Choir (thanks to the hard work
of Majella Coleman), filled the Basilica with song in Gaelic, Latin and
English. The prayers of the faithful were read in Gaelic and English. The
Clergy lifted the prayers of all present to the heavens. The Ambassador of Ireland
to Canada, Dr. Ray Bassett gave a stirring speech and presented a special
tribute to Tom Gallagher for his trojan work for the community over so many
years. Following the Mass, Maureen Leyne placed a Wreath of Remembrance at the
Pieta on the Church grounds while the music of the uilleann pipes, played so beautifully
by Ray Caldwell, filled the air. Special thanks also to Kiva Brady, a new arrival from Ireland who designed the flyers and the program. And
finally, the congregation made their way downstairs to the church hall to a
wonderful reception hosted by the Irish Cultural Society of Toronto where
bodies were packed in shoulder to shoulder.
In summing up the day I leave you with the words of Patrick
Sullivan: "A Great Day - The souls of our ancestors were honoured in
wonderful style today Norita. Thanks for making all that happen. The choir were
wonderful, their voices nourished our spirits and we will not forget their
presence with us on this day. It was an honour to be there and take part in the
prayers of our people. Much good will come from today I think. People realize
that we are still here and an important part of the mosaic of this land. The
young people coming here now will keep things going into the future. Perhaps it
is God's will that they are coming to these shores again. Canada needs the
Irish for we are a rich people, rich in music, rich in song, rich in dance, and
rich in spirit. So take a moment and know that you achieved a great and good
work today. God Bless”.
Have a Happy and Joyous and Peace Filled Christmas.