Corpus Christi Parish (St. John's, N.L. : Catholic)

Kilbride Mission, the predecessor body to Corpus Christi Parish, was founded circa 1863 by Bishop John T. Mullock. A stone church, dedicated to St. Bride, was built in what is now Kilbride Cemetery on Bay Bulls Road; Bishop Mullock celebrated the first mass in the new church on 1 February 1863. St. Bride's was destroyed by fire in 1892; however, mass continued to be celebrated in a school building located near the Kilbride Cemetery. The Kilbride Mission was administered from the Cathedral Parish between 1863 and 1872 and later from St. Patrick's Parish between 1872 and 1917. In 1917, Archbishop Roche elevated Corpus Christi to the status of an independent parish.

Corpus Christi initially was without a church of its own. The Parish made a financial contribution towards the expenses of the Chapel at Littledale, part of the Sisters of Mercy St. Bride's Convent complex, and used the facility as a parish church until the construction of the present-day structure located at 260 Waterford Bridge Road, St. John's (dedicated on 19 August 1923 to Corpus Christi).

Under the denominational education system, Corpus Christi Parish maintained close connections with the Catholic schools operating within its boundaries. These included St. Joseph's Elementary School, St. Augustine's Elementary School, and St. Bride's Academy. In 1975, St. Joseph's was closed and replaced by Beaconsfield Elementary.

Societies and associations active within the parish have included the Holy Name Society, the Ladies' Association (formerly St. Anne's Society), the Altar Guild, the Legion of Mary, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Catholic Women's League, and the Knights of Columbus (this list is not exhaustive).

When Corpus Christi Church was dedicated in 1917, it was situated in Kilbride, an unincorporated agricultural and residential community near St. John's. Today, Kilbride forms part of the City of St. John's and the parish boundaries have been altered several times in response to changing demographic trends in the city. On 1 January 1986, Archbishop Alphonsus L. Penney issued a decree of dismemberment, dividing Corpus Christi to create the new Parish of St. Matthew's in the Cowan Heights area. The boundaries of Corpus Christi also have been altered to assist in maintaining the viability of St. Patrick's Parish.

Pastors who have served Corpus Christi Parish since its establishment include: James Coady (1917-1920); John J. Rawlins (1920-1957); John W. McGettigan (1957-1969); Dermot O'Keefe (1969-1985); Francis Slattery (1985-1989); Kevin Molloy (1989-2000); Wayne Dohey (2000-2001); and Kenneth Walsh (2001- ).

The Corpus Christi Parish Pastoral Council, comprised of elected members and representatives of parish societies and associations, assists the pastor in making decisions affecting the life of the parish and, therefore, is at the centre of parish operations.

Created - April 24, 2013

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