The Church of the Holy Family, Vancouver

Matthew Alderman recently wrote in the NLM about the results of the ongoing restoration project of the parish of the Holy Family, Vancouver, BC. Two weeks ago we had had the pleasure of visiting this parish. It is a remarkable example of the quality of the restoration work going on today in numerous parishes and communities. The Parish occupies a small, unprepossessing building that originallly served as a German ethnic parish.

This parish, under the direction of the FSSP, celebrates the Traditional liturgy and has a large congregation of all ages. The parish is working to restore to the rather barren interior a richer Catholic dimension. The restoration goes beyond art, however – how many parishes in North America heard a sermon that week on the Feast of the Our Lady of the Rosary, the battle of Lepanto and how it all related to contemporary trials? (This parish has one advantage, however: the dedication of Vancouver Cathedral is to Our Lady of the Rosary).

This is the Altar of Holy Family parish before restoration.

Center piece of the restoration is the new altarpiece.

The artist is Mr. Michal Janek, a former parishioner of Holy Family parish who now resides in Ottawa, Ontario. He is
a parishioner at the FSSP parish there (St. Clement ). This is the 1st panel of a tryptich which Mr. Janek hopes to complete by Easter of 2011.

For further information on the renovations in this parish see the website of the parish.