To be specific, St Catherine of Siena was the centre of communal life for the community from Pachino Sicily. Pachino is a town at the SE tip of the island (near where the Canadians landed during WWII). For some unknown reason, the Pachinese settled around Danforth and Coxwell area, removed from the other Italian communities in Toronto. At its peak, it was a large and vibrant community. Most of us went to school at St Aloysius (which is now a French immersion school), which, as I recall, was overwhelmingly Pachinese kids. St Catherine held an annual "Festa de la Madonna" which mirrored a similar event in Pachino (although on a much smaller scale). There would be a procession across Danforth and down to Monarch Park where a band stand would be set up. It was an important event for the community. Aside from North Pole bakery (thankfully still in business), there's nothing left of that Pachinese community. Seems strange to see the church now razed.
