www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, October 15, 2015 | 28 St. Michael's celebrates its past and looks to its future by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver The last four decades have been a time of growth and unity for Oakville's St. Michael's Parish. St. Michael's, which serves English and Spanish Catholics in Halton, officially celebrated its 40th anniversary recently with a special mass and a dinner at Le Dome Banquet Hall, which drew about 320 people. "It's good for our members to look back and see all the things we have accomplished and the ways in which our parish has grown and changed over the years. Almost 800 couples have been married in our church," said Father Jason Kuntz. "It is very beautiful to look at what has happened. It encourages us to move forward and continue the work the Lord has given us." Founded in 1975, the Roman Catholic parish initially held its celebrations and mass at St. Michael Elementary School, which is 10 years older than the church. Bishop Paul Reding appointed Father Jim Mihm, who lived in the neighbourhood, as Father Jason Kuntz is seen in St. Michael's Church. The parish is celebrating its 40th anniversary. | photo by Graham Paine Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) HEARING AID SPECIAL *Some Conditions Apply (Clients portion) Up to 3 Year Service Warranty HOME VISITS AVAILABLE $295 Latest Technology the first pastor at St. Michael's. A building for St. Michael's church was erected four years later at its current locale, 181 Sewell Dr., which cost $651,000. According to Kuntz, there were 700 families in the congregation at the time of its inception. "This part of Oakville was increasing in population, so it needed a new Catholic church. They had mass in the school and raised some money to build the church," said Kuntz. Due to its size, the church's congregation was split in the mid-`90s with the launch of the Mary Mother of God Catholic Church, Kuntz said. "The congregation had grown. It was quite big and then it was split in half. That was a big change for the congregation," said Kuntz. The parish is now comprised of nearly 2,900 families, with an average attendance between 900 and 1,000 at weekend masses. St. Michael's churchgoers have aged from when it first opened, but is "counterbalanced" by the influx of Hispanic newcomers, Kuntz explained. see St. Michael's on p.32 For your memories. For always. Mature gardens. Stately mausoleum. Tranquil cremation paths. 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