Saint Benedict’s Parish was established on July 11, 2012 to serve the growing community of Milton, Ontario. The parish building committee engaged Larkin Architect Limited to find an architectural expression that embodied the rule of St. Benedict and reflected the parish’s unique charism in the community. After a collaborative process, the committee assembled a vision document that outlined criteria for a space that was welcoming, joyful, evocative of the Catholic tradition, youth focused and showed a loving respect for all of God’s creation in response to “Laudato Si”.
Installation of cross on the tower. Construction Photography by Peter Wright.
The project was designed in response to the 2015 Papal Encyclical “Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home” issued as a call to action to address the ecological crisis facing all planetary life. The document articulates that the issues of economics, social justice, and ecology are inseparable. The parish established a goal of net-zero-energy with net-zero carbon emissions operationally and the desire to reduce the embodied carbon of the completed building.
The proposed design is made of local materials and is designed to be net-zero energy usage. This means that the facility will generate as much energy as it uses. The reduced operational costs will mean the community will be able to devote more of their fundraised dollars to the important ministries of the parish. Natural split faced local stone and wood are the dominant materials used on the exterior and interior of the major assembly spaces in the church.
With this vision in hand, Larkin Architect Limited set about the iterative design process to arrive at a traditional church design, formed by the charism of St. Benedict, rooted in church history, yet re-interpreted for a time when climate change and environmental degradation were of great concern.
Together, the cumulative effect of these sustainable design initiatives demonstrates this traditional parish’s commitment to upholding the legacy of their Roman Catholic faith while responding to the 21st century context in which they will worship, serve their community, and inspire future generations.