(ANS – Surrey) – From a humble beginning on Christmas Eve 1948 with 37 people in attendance, the Salesian parish dedicated to “Our Lady of Good Counsel” has grown to be the largest parish in the Vancouver Archdiocese. This flourishing parish, now with more than 10,000 souls, has a multitude of activities over and above the regular church services, elementary school, and religious education programs in English, Polish, and Spanish.

Canada glories in multiculturalism, and Surrey reflects it. The parish has liturgies for the Polish community each Sunday and often during the week. There is monthly Mass for the Laotian community, while the Spanish-speaking have a liturgy every week. Perpetual adoration takes place 24 hours a day in the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. Parishioners work with the local Salvation Army to feed the needy of the area, while the St. Vincent de Paul Society makes regular home visits and feeds many families.

As the emphasis of the archdiocese focused on youth ministry, the Don Bosco Youth Centre has became a model, serving youths of all creeds and backgrounds.

Published 27/03/2015