Wolo Mekane Trinity Church, which is being built by Muslims.

Wolo Mekane Trinity Church, which is being built by Muslims. By this Biblical imperative, the congregation of St. Mary Church had the dream of constructing a new church building respecting the historical and cultural traditions of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. 

The dream began right after the 1997 acquisition of the buildings at 80 and 84 Tycos Drive. Fundraising schemes for the new church building were initiated in 2000. However, due to the urgent and timely renovation work on both 80 and 84 Tycos Drive, the fundraising effort towards the new church building project did not materialize as planned. 

By August 2006, only $154,000 had been raised for the new church building project. In September 2006 the Board of Trustees reorganized a new Building Committee with the express duty of carrying out the project to construct a new church building. 

Accordingly, in consultation with our Bishop (now Archbishop) Abune Dimetros, our Head Priest, Rev. Messale Engeda, members of the Board of Trustees presided by Archdeacon (now Kesse Gebez Rev. Fr.) Hiwot B. Gudeta and prominent members of our congregation, the Building Committee addressed the main issues of location and orientation of the new church building, and its detailed design through the hired architect/consultant, Mr. Nino Rico. 

Getting the City of Toronto’s approval of our site plan application was an unexpected hurdle.  Our desire for joining both 80 and 84 Tycos properties, building the church at the back to achieve East-West orientation, and providing the right number of parking spaces had several by-law and City plan challenges that required resolution by the City Committee of Adjustment. After an enormous effort that took a long time a conditional site plan approval was issued in April 2010.

Foundation Stone was laid on April 18, 2010, by His Holiness Abune Merkorios, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Exile, in the presence of Archbishop Melketsedek General Secretary of the Holy Synod, Archbishop Elias Head of Europe & Africa Dioceses, Archbishop Lukas head of Washington State in the USA, the Clergy, various Parishners, distinguished guests comprising Federal, Provincial and City officials, members of Canada Council of Churches,  other guests and the enthusiastic members of our congregation.

By the Grace of God, the spiritual leadership of the Clergy, and the commitment of the faithful we now have a brand new church building which was consecrated on November 18, 2012, by His Holiness Abune Merkorios, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church in Exile, in the presence of Archbishop Melketsedek (General Secretary of the Holy Synod), Abune Elias (Archbishop of the Diocese of Europe & Africa), Abune Lukas (Archbishop of the Diocese of Washington State in USA), Abune Dimetros (Archbishop of the Diocese of Ontario & surrounding regions in Canada).