Souls are works in progress,
and so is St. Paul’s Church

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Souls are works in progress,
and so is St. Paul’s Church

From left to right – Squamish Nation Chief Gibby Jacob, elder Wendy Charbonneau, Squamish Nation Councillor Carla George, parishioner Donna Oseen, and Father “Tap” Kurudeepan celebrate the completion of renovations on the roof of St. Paul’s Church March 19.

NORTH VANCOUVER—One of the oldest churches in Greater Vancouver is proving to be a good metaphor for Oblate Father “Tap” Kurudeepan’s homilies.

Spiritual renovation is ever a work in progress, and so is St. Paul’s Indian Catholic Church.

“It is a continual cleansing and repairing,” said Father Tap of both the 134-year-old church and the spiritual life.

St. Paul’s began as a mission church built in 1868 by Squamish First Nations and Oblate missionaries. In 1884, it was replaced by the current building and named Sacred Heart Church, then renamed St. Paul’s after extensive construction in 1909.

A National Heritage Site, the church has experienced many phases of reconstruction and renovation in the last century. According to Father Tap, that may not be over anytime soon.

“We’ll have to keep working at it,” the pastor told The B.C. Catholic after the community celebrated the completion of a roof restoration project March 19.

The recent work at St. Paul’s began in 2013 under then-pastor Father John Brioux, OMI. At the time, Father Brioux had said successful repairs on the leaking, 100-year-old spires bordered on the miraculous.

“It is a miracle that it has happened,” he said after the 26-metre-high towers were restored to glory in the summer of 2013. The project was completed with the help of the community and a large donation from Luigi Aquilini, father of Vancouver Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini.

But even back then, Father Brioux admitted the aging heritage building would need frequent maintenance. After Father Brioux died in 2017, Father Tap took on the task of caring for the fragile piece of history and the North Shore Catholics who worship there every Sunday.

“Next, we are having the basement repaired” as well as “the facility for handicap access,” said Father Tap. There are also plans to incorporate an increasing number of Squamish cultural and historical elements in the building.

While renovation continues, Father Tap is grateful to the community that has rallied around St. Paul’s to help build and celebrate milestones.

“There was lots of beautiful excitement with the people who were there” to celebrate the completion of the roof March 19. Many neighbours, including members of United and Lutheran churches, came out in support of St. Paul’s.

“They all feel it is our church, and feel we should keep it.”

Squamish Nation Chief Gibby Jacob, Squamish Nation Councillor Carla George, and elder Wendy Charbonneau arrived to participate in the festivities and praise St. Paul’s for taking concrete steps toward reconciliation.

Community members celebrate the completion of roof repairs at St. Paul’s March 19.

By Agnieszka Krawczynski

Published by The B.C. Catholic.