By 1985, the contemporary choir had also run its course. With the resignation of choir director Kathy Kennedy, the choir, now comprising seven people, disbanded.
The music ministry struggled for the next decade with different musicians and singers, but one music member remained constant, former choir member Denis Bernard. Denis, who had only recently learned to play the guitar, persevered.
Then in 1999, his daughter Anne, an organist, joined him, assisted by pianist Keith Glashan, who helps out whenever possible. The choir now successfully transitioned into a congregational vocal assembly, which it remains today.
Meanwhile, Fr. Baxter’s commitment to developing youth leadership coupled with the parish’s up-to-date audio-visual capabilities made it a natural location to host the Archdiocesan Youth Retreat Centre, which launched in 1987. Led by Peter Krushelnyski, an average of 50 small-group retreats for senior high school students were held at Holy Family for more than a decade.
On average, 1,200 students participated annually, coming from about 20 public and private high schools in and around Montreal. Funding came from several sources, but the parish provided the locale free and, of course, Fr. John was always on hand to welcome the students, set a reflective tone, and celebrate mass when requested.
The parish embraced and supported Fr. Baxter’s lifelong ministry to youth, which also included his operation of Camp Caritas, an offshoot of the altar servers group. This wider community outreach follows from seeds planted by Fr. Carter in the 1950s.
The parish has helped many community groups start out, such as Moisson Montreal Harvest, today the city’s largest food-bank, and Terre des Hommes, an aid program for children-in-need worldwide. It has also supported women’s shelters and refugees.
In its centennial year, the parish launched four 100-item drives to collect various items – hygiene kits, back-to-school supplies, non-perishable food, cold-weather items – to distribute to local services and shelters to assist those in need.
“Watching Father Sutton encounter the marginalized with genuine warmth and vulnerability, Fr. Baxter carried those lessons forward, ensuring that the marginalized and vulnerable always have a seat at the table,” the 100th Anniversary mass booklet reads.