Upon his return to Canada, he was assigned to towns in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, but would eventually come to Toronto in 1941 as assistant pastor at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish. He quickly succeeded in organizing the largest youth group throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto and co-founded the St. Stanislaus Parish Credit Union to meet the financial needs of post-war Polish immigrants.

In the spring of 1948, Father Smith was instructed to build another Polish church in Toronto, later named St. Casimir’s located on Roncesvalles Avenue, to serve the growing Polish community. He was successful in building a retreat centre in Mississauga under the title of Queen of Apostles completed in 1963 to help Polish newlyweds adjust to their new life in Canda.

In the early 70s, several parishioners and Father Michael Smith shared similar concerns about the aging sector of Toronto’s Polish population that had no family to care for them.  They began dreaming of Copernicus Lodge. In 1972, the Polish Oblates of Assumption Province in Canada undertook the decision to prepare for our Polish seniors dignified and suitable living accommodations in their final years. They entrusted the task of building this home to Father Smith. The dream became a reality, when, after five years, the first phase of Copernicus Lodge was begun in 1977 and opened in 1979, followed by a second phase completed in 1984, and the final phase in 2003.

He is always remembered and known as a person who not only served the Oblates, but the Polish community as a whole. For his accomplishments Father Smith was bestowed the Order of Canada and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal.

After 64 years as a Roman Catholic priest, slowed by age and frailty, Father Michael Smith passed away peacefully in October 2002 at the age of 91at Copernicus Lodge.