Home - St John the Compassionate Mission

        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 Orthodox Church of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. (See our history and mission.)

        Daily Orthodox Church Services in English – see the schedule on our Saint Silouan’s Chapel page.
      
      We’re happy to report that St. John’s Bakery has been named one of Toronto’s Best Bakeries by Toronto Life.
      
        Lest we ignore this fact: over 9 million people died of hunger worldwide in 2020. (According to the international relief agency Mercy Corps.)

        “In the gospel of Judgment Day, Christ does not tell us that we have to heal the sick, but to visit them. He does not tell us that we need to solve the problem of inequity in the world, but to share with the one that comes our way. He does not tell us that we need to change the justice system, but to reach out to those whose freedom was taken away, by sharing with them the freedom of being together. The care and the good news of the gospel are personal.” — Father Nicolaie

         A historic joint statement has been issued by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Pope Francis, and Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, on climate change.

        See also the Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the Fifth World Day of the Poor.

        COVID-19 Community Updates – here are our opening hours

         • Tuesday 5am-8:30am, 5am - 8:30am Breakfast

           • Wednesday 5am-6pm, 5am - 8:30am Breakfast, Dinner 5 pm

           • Thursday 5am-4pm, 5am - 8:30am Breakfast, Lunch 1:30 pm

           • Friday 5am-4pm, 5am - 8:30am Breakfast, Lunch 1:30 pm

           • Saturday 9am-1pm

 We mourn the recent death of Rev. Douglas Varey, a long-time friend and supporter of St. John’s Mission, going all the way back to the Mission’s beginnings on Blake Street.

His wife, Lynne Brennan (both are shown in this 2014 photo), wrote to us earlier this month: “Douglas was minister at Simpson Avenue United Church from 1986-89. He and I bought a house on Riverdale Avenue, (and) that was probably where you recall us having a meal and planning together. It was during Doug’s time at Simpson Avenue UC that he got involved with St. John’s Mission, and when he worked with others to start up the Youth Outreach work, from the space at Blake Street and Boultbee Avenue. Funds were found and a Youth Worker was hired. The Blake Boultbee Youth Outreach Service (BBYOS) continues to operate to this day. Douglas found that work very meaningful as it lived out what ministry meant for him.”

Lynne has made a very generous donation in his name to support the Mission’s breakfast program, which is the kind of social service that Doug loved to help.

Click the image to see the PDF poster (~110 kb)

            A new edition of the Rule of the Mission is now available. Let us know if you would like to find out more, and see ordering information on our multimedia page.
©2021 St. John the Compassionate Mission
416-466-1357 | info@stjohnsmission.org
155 Broadview Avenue, Toronto M4M 2E9
Charitable Registration #893281832RR0001