Saint Patrick's Basilica has a long history in the City of Ottawa, being its first English-speaking Roman Catholic Parish. It was completed in 1875 and was declared a Basilica on Saint Patrick's Day, March 1995.

Beautiful as it is, Saint Patrick's Basilica is primarily a place of worship and repentance - Catholics citywide make use of the confessional at Saint Patrick's. It also serves the downtown core and offers Masses before work (7:00a.m., 8:00a.m.), during lunch (12:15p.m.), and after the workday (4:30p.m.), with confessions before each Mass, and six Masses for Sunday Obligation.

For directions click HERE.

May 19th:  Pentecost Sunday

Click on Pentecost for the readings.


Our mission as Christians and the Holy Spirit.

Corpus Christi Procession

Sunday June 2nd, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Corpus Christi. Please join us in our annual outdoor Corpus Christi procession, which will follow the 12:15 Mass. It is a prayerful public witness to our faith and love of Christ.

For those not taking part in the procession, it would be best to park to avoid the procession route, as there will be pedestrians in the street.

This prayerful public witness to our faith and love of Christ will begin on Kent Street and proceed along Gloucester Street, onto Lyon and finally returning to the Basilica along Nepean Street. The streets mentioned here will be closed to traffic after Mass at 12:15 p.m.

For those planning to leave the Basilica following Mass, you may want to consider using the parking lot across the street, on the Nepean side of the Basilica. This school parking lot is convenient and has a far exit leading onto Lyon Street.

Presentation Series:
Living out the faith
practical considerations

On May 13th - May 16th, Fr. Martin Farrell, friar and professor of Theology at the Dominican College, gave a presentation at Saint Patrick's Basilica on topics related to the nature of faith, how faith is perceived today by the secular culture, and addressing challenging issues and practical considerations for living our faith.

Below are recordings from the four evenings:

• Homily given on Sunday May 12th (Ascension of the Lord) where the Year of Faith presentations were introduced:
      download mp3 file (20 min.)
• Session on May 13th - Various meanings of "faith" are discussed. Catholics do not have "Faith" in dogmas, but in the person of Jesus Christ:
      download mp3 file A (41 min.)
      download mp3 file B (18 min.)
• Session on May 14th - Faith does not require us to sacrifice reason (intellect). It governs how we interact (have faith in) others (persons):
      download mp3 file A (44 min.)
      download mp3 file B (33 min.)
• Session on May 15th - Faith is not sub-rational - Reason helps us unpack Faith:
      download mp3 file A (1 hr.)
      download mp3 file B (18 min.)
• Session on May 16th - Faith is the most misunderstood of the Theological Virtues. ...It is not credulity or naïveté as many secularists think. If you don't believe in God then love of neighbour ends:
      download mp3 file A (1 hr. 10 min.)
      download mp3 file B (33 min.)

Pope Francis and the Holy Spirit

The Holy Father's homilies provide a compelling invitation to seek the guidance of the third Person of the Trinity... Click HERE

'Always carry the power of the Gospel!' the Holy Father encouraged May 19th... Click HERE to read more.

Basilica Exterior Restoration

Work has commenced to complete the copper roof and the stonework down to the Basilica footings on the west end of the Gloucester side of the church and on the extreme west end where the Resurrection window is located. We ask for your prayers for the safety of all workers and parishioners and for your support during this project. Please respect any signs or parking restrictions during construction. We will do our best to minimize inconvenience.

Saint Patrick's Giftshop Corner

The Gift Shop and Bookstore carry First Communion and Confirmation gifts and cards, crucifixes, rosaries and religious pictures. We have a beautiful new selection of hand painted statues, made in Italy. We are also pleased to announce we are now carrying a new line of North American made jewellery from a Catholic Company specializing in crucifixes, medals and rosary bracelets.

Also come browse our large selection of books, bibles and DVD's. Michael Coren's new book, "Heresy: Ten Lies They Spread about Christianity" is back in stock.

Browse the Gift Shop and Bookstore online.

May 2013 -  Overview for the Month

The month of May is dedicated to The Blessed Virgin Mary.



Who is she that cometh forth
as the morning rising,
fair as the moon, bright as the sun?

For overview of month including Papal Intentions, click HERE.

The Venerable Michael J. McGivney Honoris

In honour of the founder of the Knights of Columbus, a number of Knights from across the city have formed The Venerable Michael J. McGivney Honoris [Latin for Place of Honour]. The Honoris has been established to educate the faithful on the life and works of their Venerable Founder and to advance his cause for canonization through prayer and public devotions. A place of honour has been established in the Scavi of the Basilica for his statue and devotional information.

Click HERE for The Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney Honoris website.
For more information, contact Michael O'Neill at 613-592-9020

Pipe Organ Restoration

Our church has been part of the history of the nation's capital since 1875. Nearly 20 years ago, in 1995, this church became a Basilica, reflecting its importance in our community. The last major rebuild of our 1887 pipe organ was carried out 83 years ago, in 1930. As a part of our ongoing restoration of the fabric of our parish, this year we plan to begin restoration of this historic pipe organ to its former glory. This is a major project with an overall cost approximating $300,000; it is necessary, and the parish has already had several significant gifts. Next month, work will commence with removing the main console for rebuilding. Further financing is still required. Tax receipts will be given for all money donated to the pipe organ restoration (2012 tax receipts to be available near the end of February 2013, bulletin announcements will be made). If you value music as part of our liturgical tradition and wish to help with this effort, please clearly mark your donation for "the Pipe Organ Restoration Fund".

Click HERE for more information.

Year Of Faith Indulgences: The Holy See has made available special indulgences for the Faithful during this Year of Faith. For information on the Instruction of these indulgences click HERE to read online.

With the Apostolic Letter Porta fidei Pope Benedict XVI declared a Year of Faith. This year began on October 11, 2012, on the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Ecumenical Vatican Council, and will conclude on November 24, 2013, the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King.

Click HERE to read the introduction to the Nicene Creed.

For more info on the Year of Faith, visit: www.annusfidei.va

Knights of Columbus
St. Patrick's Basilica
Join Us For A Day In Kingston
June 22, 2013

Sightseeing Tour of Kingston / Visit of St. Mary's Cathedral & 1000 Islands, Luncheon Cruise

For more information, click HERE.

Knights of Columbus
Saint Patrick's Basilica Council Invites
You To Join Their Trip
Washington & Baltimore
September 5-8, 2013

For more information, click HERE.

Over 150 books are available on our Web Portal in PDF & epub format, including the Sermons of the Cure of Ars, the complete set of books by GK Chesterton, as well as books by some of the Church Fathers such as Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Therese of Lisieux.

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Parish Office: 281 Nepean Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 5G2     Tel: (613) 233-1126    Fax:(613) 234-8667
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