Holy Trinity Catholic Church
Nanaimo
BC

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We, Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, are a diverse community joined in an ecumenical partnership. We come together, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to live and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. We pledge to use our talents, gifts, and resources to live the Faith, preach the Word, and serve others. We welcome all as we work for the betterment and growth of our faith community.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church acknowledges with gratitude that we work and pray on the territories and traditional lands of the Coast Salish and Snaw-naw-as Peoples. In the light of this truth, and in humility, we commit ourselves to continue to work for reconciliation, and for respectful relationships with the Creator and all creation.

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https://www.holytrinitynanaimo.com/

Fr. Irek (Ireneusz) Bem

Parish Priest

(250) 390-2612 / (250) 751-1567

(250) 390-1142

Fr. Irek (Ireneusz) Bem was born in Wodzislaw Sl, a region known from coal mining in the very south part of Poland. His father worked in the mines and his mother cared for their home and four children (three boys and a girl). Irek was the oldest.

An older cousin joined the Savatorian Fathers (SDS) that gave him a chance to learn about the ministry of this religious order. Irek joined the formation program of the SDS and after 7 years was ordained to priesthood on May 16th, 1987 in Mokolow, Poland.

After 4 years of ministry in Poland, Fr. Irek was sent to Canada to join the new created community. Fr. Irek is coming to Nanaimo after 21 years of ministry in the Archdiocese of Halifax – Yarmouth in Nova Scotia. When he has spare time he enjoys golf, skiing, music, reading and movies.

Diane Laporte and Sherry Freed

Secretaries

(250) 390-2612

(250) 390-1142

WEEKLY MASS SCHEDULE
​
Tuesday 9am
Wednesday 9am
Thursday 7pm
​Friday 9am

Saturday 6pm
Sunday 8am & 9:30am

Healing Mass
The first Saturday of every month at 11:00am

RECONCILIATION
Friday 9:30am-10:30am
Except the last Friday of the month - confessions after Thursday Mass that weekend - (Fr. at seniors home Mass)
Saturday 5:00pm-5:30pm

ADORATION
​Friday after Mass 9:30am-10:30am

ROSARY Every weekday 1/2 hour before Mass

Mass Times last updated on the 10th of February, 2024

Ministries

Religious Education
Trinity Youth
Trinity Catholic Ladies Group
Knight's Of Columbus

Trinity Catholic parish was established in 1979 under the leadership of Monsignor Michael O’Connell, the first pastor of our parish, and Most Reverend Bishop Remi De Roo the Bishop of Victoria at the time. Trinity Catholic Parish’s home was part of an Ecumenical Centre that was also home To Trinity United Church (see below for the history of the Ecumenical Centre). Both parishes prospered under the same roof for over 40 years.

Then on September 26, 2021 Holy Trinity Catholic Church unveiled the new sign that introduced our new name as Holy Trinity Catholic Church (formerly Trinity Catholic Church). This unveiling was the result of many months of negotiations with members of Trinity United and the purchase of what was formerly known as the Nanaimo Ecumenical Centre. Trinity United parish found a new home on Doumont Rd. just down from Holy Trinity. The parishioners of Holy Trinity Parish deeply miss their United brothers and sisters in Christ. Fr. Irek Bem is the current pastor at Holy Trinity Parish.

Ecumenical History

in 1975 the Nanaimo Ecumenical Centre, began the planning stages for the building and officially opened on February 4, 1979. It was jointly owned by the Catholic and United Churches, and served both congregations. The two clergy appointed to serve the Centre were Msgr. Michael O'Connell and Reverend Arthur Lucy.
The land was to be the location of a new Catholic Church however it became an Ecumenical project when Reverend Les Clark, of the Lantzville Wellington United Churches, approached the Parish Priest of St. Peter's Parish also in Nanaimo, Father John Zuyderwijk. The question was could two Christian congregations, with different backgrounds, build and share the same building while still following their own traditions. The answer was yes.

After that pledge was made, committees from each Congregation met regularly to plan the building and arrange the financing. Under Co-Chairmen, George Speed and Joe McCarthy, many hard working and devoted people, who believed in this project, worked together in a wonderful spirit of Christian fellowship. As soon as the various committees began working together, it became apparent that they were involved in much more than just constructing a building.

The Centre meant a financial saving for everyone, but it also meant that a large group of Christians, from different backgrounds, would encourage, share with and enrich one another. The Centre as a whole hoped to give expressions to Ecumenism through a variety of initiatives, as well as through structural form. There was a desire to respond to the Spirit of God, who calls Christian people everywhere to unity, through renewal, common prayer, dialogue, collaboration and witnessing.
Once the various committees had listed the uses they would have for the building, Mr. Henry Heibert, who had designed and built many Churches, was asked to draw up a plan that would fill the varied needs. The emphasis on the design was to make the building as multipurpose as possible, and still maintain a spiritual atmosphere. After two or three different plans were considered and altered to provide for expansion, it was decided to forge ahead.

Mr. Dave Martinson was asked to supervise the construction, and upon approval of the plan by then Bishop Remi DeRoo, and the United Church Presbytery, a Building Committee was formed and chaired by Mr. John Girard.

Many savings were made on the project, due to the skill and ingenuity of Dave Martinson and Henry Heibert, as well as by the generous assistance and consideration of so many sub-contractors and hardworking volunteers.

The building, located as it is, was in the heart of an expanding area, and served the needs of the area for many years.
Trinity United operated an independent Congregation, while Trinity Catholic was still related to St. Peter's Parish, Nanaimo. Years later Trinity Catholic separated from St. Peter’s Parish. A Board of Governors was appointed to handle the operation of the new Centre and through the years was comprised of clergy and parishioners from both congregations.

The building was dedicated to the Holy Trinity, to serve the cause of Christian Unity for the Glory of God, and the Service of His People.