Pedagogy of Migration: The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto’s Response to Immigration (1934–1963)

Abstract

This chapter explores the pedagogy of migration for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto from 1934 to 1963. The rapid influx of a diverse newcomer population to the city was a new phenomenon. The chapter demonstrates that as much as the Archdiocese collaborated with the agenda of the Canadian state, it equally took a principled approach to immigration based on human needs and justice. This was accomplished through a complex web involving newcomer settlement, the establishment of “ethnic” parishes, political advocacy and cooperation at national and international levels.