The History of Guardian Angels Parish

The Archdiocese of Toronto initiated a new parish in Brampton to serve its people as St. Leonard's Parish territory became too large for one parish. And so, on June 27th, 2007 a new parish was established and put under the protection of The Guardian Angels by His Grace the Archbishop of Toronto, His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, the new parish was named Guardian Angels in commemoration of the first church in Brampton which stood on the West side of Centre St. and South of John St. in Brampton, named Guardian Angels Church which was blessed February 12, 1865. This frame building was destroyed by fire on July 18, 1878. And so the new Guardian Angels Parish, Brampton was born. Father Jan Gogolewski was given the assignment to organize this new parish. He came to Guardian Angels Parish after shepherding the people of St. Maria Goretti in Scarborough for 12 years.

The boundaries of the newly established parish are: To the North: Old School Road (22nd Side Road), to the East: McLaughlin Road, to the South: Bovaird Drive and to the West: Winston Churchill Boulevard.

Guardian Angels Parish was established a parish, but without a church, without a place to celebrate Mass but with a shepherd, eager to gather a flock to serve them. He hoped to be able to celebrate Sunday and Weekday Masses at St. Edmund Campion Secondary School, located at Brisdale Drive and Sandalwood Parkway.   

During the summer months, Guardian Angels' pastor celebrated Holy Mass at St. Leonard's Church. It was up to him, with the kind help of St. Leonard's Parish pastor, Fr. Andrew Maderak, to let people know of the existence of Guardian Angels Parish. This was done by announcing and by distributed information sheets informing people of the existence of Guardian Angels parish.

The parish's patrons, the Guardian Angels looked after the new parish. The pastor's prayers were answered and permission was given by the Catholic School Board of Peel to celebrate Mass in the school chapel and later, if need be, in the school cafeteria of St. Edmund Campion Secondary School.

Saturday, September 8th, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. the first Guardian Angels Parish Mass was celebrated, for the new parish family, in the chapel of St. Edmund Campion School. The chapel seats about 100 worshipers.

By the Grace of God, Guardian Angels Parish grew fast. Only 4 weeks later Guardian Angels Parish outgrew the chapel and it was necessary to celebrate Sunday Masses in the school's cafeteria. Weekday Masses were still celebrated in the chapel.

Within Guardian Angels Parish's boundaries are 7 Catholic Schools. 6 Elementary Schools, Guardian Angels, St. Aidan, St. Angela Merici, St. Bonaventure, St. Daniel Comboni and St. Lucy. The 7th school is St. Edmund Campion Secondary School

Eventually, permission was granted to use the chapel for First Friday Devotions which were celebrated for the first time in our parish on November 2nd, 2007

December 2nd, 2007, the First Sunday of Advent, Guardian Angels Parish had a Church Bulletin. 
In it, Father Jan called the parishioners "the cornerstones" of the Parish and asked them to act as ambassadors and spread the news of the existence of our parish. He also asked to get involved in ministries as ushers, choir members, altar servers and as members of Guardian Angels' Building Committee. The parishioners of Guardian Angels Parish listened to their shepherd and soon our ministries were established - Altar Servers, Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Liturgical Hospitality (Ushers/Greeters), Choirs and the Building Committee. Later, as the Parish grew, 17 more Parish ministries and committees were established. 

During Lent, the Stations of the Cross and Holy Mass were celebrated every Friday evening in the School's Chapel.

In March 2008 the first Building Committee meeting was held.

Soon thereafter the first Fundraising event was held with an Easter Basket Raffle and was followed by "Roses for Mothers" on Mother's Day, and a Mother's Day raffle.  June 7th, 2008 we had a Rummage Sale that was held on the grounds of St. Edmund Campion School. The efforts of the many volunteers were rewarded with an almost $3,000.00 profit. Since those days, many Building Fundraising events were held. There were barbeques, St. Valentine's dances, many raffles, trunk sales, and Christmas concerts, and a  major concert by Filipino Artists at the Toronto Pavilion. School children made Christmas tree Angels, there were Bracelet-Rosaries donated, Statues of our Lady were offered, car stickers were designed, printed, and donated. Some parishioners celebrated wedding anniversaries and donated their monetary gifts to the church building fund. All this - to raise money to build a church for the homeless parish. Most efforts were rewarded with success.

Early in 2011 the pastor, Father Jan, was able to give the good news, that Guardian Angels Parish owned property to build a parish church on. This property is located on the northwest corner of Sandalwood Pkwy and Creditview Road. Not far from where Holy Mass was celebrated at that time.

On September 14th, 2013  a sign was put up to announce that on that property the future home of Guardian Angels parish and spiritual home for our parishioners will be built on. On Sunday, September 29th, 2013 The Most Reverent John A. Boissenneau came to bless the grounds on which our church would stand. Shortly after a tall Cross was erected on the corner of the property. It was blessed by the pastor.

All parishioners hoped and prayed that on this ground the spiritual home for the parish would be erected in the near future. It is up to the parishioners!

Four more years of praying, raising funds wishing, begging, and more praying followed.

It was realized that raising the money to build the Church, Hall and Rectory was not possible and so we asked permission from the Chancery Office to build our spiritual home in 3 phases. First, phase 1 the Parish Hall, then phase 2 the Church and Phase 3 would be the building of the Rectory.

Permission was given and the building of Phase 1, the Parish Hall, was started in August 2014. 
On Sunday, August 9th, 2015, the Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto, The Most Reverend John A. Boissenneau blessed our Hall. This gave the Parish a place in which to celebrate Masses and the Sacraments for the people of the parish.

In the school year 2017/2018 a new elementary school, St. Daniel Comboni was added to the parish family. Guardian Angels parish has now six elementary schools within its boundaries, a sign that the parish is growing.

Late in the year 2017, permission was granted to start building "Phase 2", our church. 
A few months after the 12th Anniversary of the establishment of Guardian Angels Parish, the consecration of GUARDIAN ANGELS CHURCH was held on October 6, 2019, presided by His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins.