February 7, 2025— Building Community in Vancouver
In August 2024, the Claretian Missionaries from the USA-Canada Province arrived in Vancouver, British Columbia, to create a new community, marking a new chapter in their global mission. A dedicated team of six Claretians from four different countries arrived with a shared purpose: to serve some of the most vulnerable communities within the Archdiocese. Their mission encompasses pastoral care, chaplaincy, ministering to the Hispanic community, and supporting the homeless.
At the forefront of this mission is Fr. Ray Smith, CMF, who was appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, one of the more underserved churches in the archdiocese. Sacred Heart, along with its sister parish, St. Paul’s, stands at the heart of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. This area struggles with extreme scarcity and faces the challenges of an open-air drug crisis along Hastings Avenue. In this neighborhood, drug use is a visible and daily reality, for individuals battling substance addiction. St. Paul’s, situated in Canada’s most economically challenged postal code, offers hope in an otherwise desolate landscape.
Recognizing the need for community engagement and spiritual renewal, Fr. Ray initiated listening sessions with parishioners which culminated in a parish-wide retreat on the life and mission of St. Anthony Claret. Since then, the Claretians have reinforced four key ministries serving the the community and the homeless while also fostering a new young adult ministry led by Fr. Olivier Nkwimi, CMF.
One of the most notable initiatives has been the formation of a vibrant Hispanic ministry. What began with a Mass celebrating the Independence of Mexico, Central America, and Chile has flourished into a thriving Sagrado Corazón community. This ministry, first established to relieve the burden on the neighboring cathedral’s Hispanic outreach, has expanded rapidly, growing from a six founding members to over sixty in just a few months. The presence of the Claretians has also doubled the parish’s size—by an impressive 106%—and has helped Sacred Heart move toward financial stability. The recent arrival of Fr. Frank Hernandez Beltran, CMF, has further strengthened this outreach, allowing even greater service to the growing Hispanic population.
Another initiative launched in December 2024 is a monthly bilingual Mass devoted to St. Jude, the patron of impossible causes and leading ministry of the Claretian USA-Canada province. For Fr. Ray, this devotion is deeply personal—his vocation began at the National Shrine of St. Jude at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Chicago, where he first encountered the Claretians. It was there that he prayed for guidance, and it was St. Jude who answered. Now, in the face of immense challenges—overcoming debt, restoring neglected faith communities, and reaching those who have been forgotten—the Claretian Missionaries draw strength from their faith and the support of the followers at the Shrine of St. Jude.
While the road ahead for the Vancouver mission is not without concerns, challenges and obstacles, the future shines brighter with every soul touched and every life changed. The ministry in Vancouver is not just about rebuilding a parish and community; it is about reigniting hope in a community that has long been searching for light. With faith, perseverance, and the spirit of St. Anthony Claret guiding them, the Claretian Missionaries continue their unwavering commitment to serving those often overlooked and in greatest need.
St. Jude League Community Development supporters like you play a key role at the Vancouver mission. Through your generosity of faith, spirit and resources, we can continue bringing hope to these worthy ministries, programs and projects. You’re directly strengthening the community the Claretians have joined, and help by expanding efforts to serve the homeless, the Hispanic community, and those struggling with addiction. Through your attention, faith, perseverance, and the unwavering support, the Claretian Missionaries will continue to make a transformative difference in Vancouver’s most vulnerable communities.
Make this ministry your 2025 Cause Challenge and start a personal fundraising page to support Vancouver!
