St. John the Compassionate Mission is dedicated to outreach and care for vulnerable individuals and families in Toronto, especially those living in poverty or on the margins – all are welcome!
We’re an apostolate of the Carpatho-Russian Diocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, serving under the Omophorion of Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa (ACROD). (See our history and mission.)

Hours of service – everyone is welcome!

“Did you miss us last week Anna?”

“Yes, this is heaven … I can come here, you know. Here, together with all these people, who have nobody, who are sick, whom nobody else cares for. I am alive because I come here. If it was not for the church here, I would have been already dead. This is heaven, where all the sick people are welcome. It helps me stay alive.”

House of Grace

Mary Padma, director of Good Neighbours, visited House of Grace, our sister community in Haifa. House of Grace does amazing good work among Palestinian and Israeli citizens who are suffering. They have been our friends since 1982.

Mary presented Agnes, the founder of House of Grace, with gifts from our friends as a way to show support for their beautiful witness of Christian Love, which excludes no one, and where God is on the side of those who are suffering.

The photo shows Agnes and Mary.

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who supported the Mission’s Christmas afield effort this year. We braved the weather, ice, and cold to share a Christmas meal in a frozen wilderness. And what a gathering and celebration it was! A volunteer who participated wrote this on her return:

Please accept my gratitude for your kind hospitality for yesterday at St. Mary’s Refuge. My husband and I enjoyed all the activities – the school-bus trip, hiking in the purified nature, singing the songs, praying at the chapel, having the festive feast, and gathering all together around the Christmas tree! Those were amazing experiences for two of us! Thank you so much again!

We especially acknowledge and thank the donors who supported different parts of the trip and made Christmas happen this year: Theodosius, Norm Howe and family, Michael and Cristina Saunders, Sarah Gamester, PJ Sebastian, Tiffany Klassen, Protodeacon David, Max Pommier, Viorica Coxa, Fanny and George Klas, and Sr. Penka.

May our homeless God, lying in the manger, reward you with true riches!

Euthanasia in Canada

Further to our October 29 education evening regarding euthanasia in Canada, the Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto has made an information sheet available, titled “It’s Time To Talk: Facts about Palliative Care, Conscience Rights, and Faith-based Health Care Facilities.” It’s available from their web site.

Join us for our weekly study programs

Our Psalms study is held on Tuesdays from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., via Zoom. For registration, e-mail us at info@stjohnsmission.org.

Our BRIDGES program is held Wednesday nights at 155 Broadview. We read about and study the Orthodox faith, facilitated by Father Nicolaie, with guest speakers. The evenings start at 6:30 p.m., followed by compline at 8:00 p.m.

Two videos about the community at St. John’s

1) Narrated by Father Nicolaie, this 3½-minute video gives an introduction to the mission and people of the St. John’s community.

2) This 3-minute video introduces the viewer to the people and activities of the Mission’s affiliate in Scarborough, Good Neighbours Drop-In.

We are grateful to Peter for volunteering his time and skill.

Contact us to find out more about how you can contribute as a volunteer with the Mission or Good Neighbours.