History

1920s: Humble beginnings

"I wished to look upon the little Catholic Church... It was not a great distance from the pier to the church; in fact it is not very far to any part of the town from that starting point. There was not much to be admired in that church either, except its poverty. It was just as Father Robert described it… 'A large cedar cabin; very damp and cold in winter, with a small room for the priest behind the altar.'"

-Fr. Boniface Heidmeir, O.F.M., describing his 1928 visit to White Rock

Today's Star of the Sea parish began as a small mission opened in the summer of 1924 by Father Maurice Lepine, O.M.I., a well-known "roaming missionary" of the time. It was located at F (Fir) Street and Pacific Avenue, which is now the site of the Star of the Sea Church and Parish Hall. The little log cabin could seat 20 people. 

1940s to 1960s: A time of growth

In 1940, parish priest Father M. Kennedy built a new church just to the south of the cabin, which could seat 150. In 1945, a new rectory was built next door by Father John Collins. And in 1948, another addition was added, bringing the church's seating capacity to 275. 

Star of the Sea officially became a parish in 1946, and parish life grew very active. It included the Catholic Women's League (CWL), Knights of Columbus, Guides, Scouts, and even a popular seaside summer camp. The camp, serving underprivileged kids from Vancouver, was run by the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement.

Like many people at the time, Vancouver's Archbishop W.M. Duke had a summer home at Crescent Beach. Other Catholics who spent their summers in the area would attend his personal masses at his home -- so he started taking up a collection. He eventually built Holy Cross Church, which was dedicated and blessed on July 14, 1946.

In May of 1951, White Rock was honoured to host the closing of the Eucharistic Congress. People from all over North America processed down Pacific Avenue and gathered for a large outdoor mass with Archbishop Duke presiding. Parish groups, school children, religious orders and local First Nations all took part in the momentous occasion. 

The CWL ran a thrift shop in a small house adjacent to Star of the Sea Church during this time. It was eventually demolished to make way for the Parish Hall, which opened in 1969. This parish centre was geared largely towards education, with several classrooms and a gym.   

1980s to 1990s: Religious education and booming population

In 1981, Father James Fagan helped establish Star of the Sea Catholic School, initially located in the Parish Hall. In 1985, today's Star of the Sea school building was completed, and the elementary school found its permanent home.

The parish also contributed to financing the Regional Holy Cross Secondary at this time, and it opened in Fleetwood in 1982. This would be the main Catholic high school for families in the parish until St. John Paul II Academy opened in 2018 renting space in the parish centre. 

Of course, the 1980s also marked a major population boom for the Semiahmoo Peninsula. Led by Father Fagan, parish members worked together to fundraise for and build an additional parish church and a new rectory. Good Shepherd Church, located beside Star of the Sea School, was completed and dedicated in the fall of 1994. The modern church hosts the parish offices, a large welcome space, library and an Adoration chapel. It has a beautiful 3-manual pipe organ, custom Stations of the Cross, and a seating capacity of 850.

With two churches, an elementary school and many weekly masses and programs between them, the parish has come a long way from the small cabin on the hill.