Meet Our Teachers - Fr. Daniel Mentesana

Fr. Daniel Jesús Mentesana entered the Institute of the Incarnate Word on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11, 1987 and made his perpetual profession on October 12, 1992. He was ordained a priest on October 9, 1993.

From 1991 to 1993, Fr. Mentesana was a monk in the contemplative branch of the Incarnate Word at the Monastery of the Incarnate Word in San Rafael, Argentina. From there he went to study at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas “Angelicum” in Rome, Italy where in 1996 he received his licentiate in dogmatic theology. From 1996-1998, he was the Associate Pastor at St. Wilfred Church in Toronto, Canada.  From 1998 to the present, he has been the pastor of St. Augustine of Canterbury Church which is also located in Toronto.

Fr. Mentesana speaks English, Italian and his native Spanish fluently so as to better serve more souls. Accordingly, he has taught classes on spiritually and other topics for several years.  He teaches annually at the Fulton Sheen House of Formation in Chillum, MD and has also taught classes to the contemplative sisters of St. Teresa of the Andes Monastery in San Rafael, Argentina.

Father’s gift for languages is a great blessing since the St. Augustine of Canterbury Church is located in the Jane and Finch Area, one of the most cosmopolitan in the world.  Indeed, his parish incorporates people from 40 different countries.  Accordingly, each weekend Masses are celebrated in Italian, Spanish, and English in order to better meet the needs of this culturally diverse parish. To further complicate matters, this area is also in one of the poorest and crime-ridden neighborhoods in Toronto

In order to meet this challenge, Father initiated a major project which took ten years and over two millions dollars to complete.  The end result was the development of the John Paul II Family Center. This center has become a safe haven for thousands of people of all ages.  There are activities for children, youth, adults, senior citizens and families.  Some of the many programs are listed below:

• An after school programs for children and youth
• Catechism classes for all age groups
• Programs for violence and substance abuse
• A food bank (from which many families receive assistance)
• The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
• Workshops for all age groups
• Popular missions
• Pro-life Conferences

According to the Archbishop of Toronto, Thomas Christopher Collins, St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish (assisted by member of IVE and Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará for more than 12 years) is a center of spirituality for Toronto and a model parish. Since the IVE's arrival to Canada there have been 20 vocations to the consecrated life and currently there are several more youth who have expressed an interest in becoming religious when they are of age.

The priesthood of Fr. Daniel Jesús Mentesana is an eloquent testimony of how God can use a faithful priest to pour his graces on a needy community.

To read about the Family Conference that was held at St. Augustine of Canterbury Parish you can click here.

To read about the Popular Mission that was preached at the Parish you can click here.