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The
Twelve Bishops
of
the Diocese of Charlottetown
Bishop
Angus MacEachern, 1829-1835
Bishop
Bernard MacDonald, 1837-1859
Bishop
Peter MacIntyre, 1860-1891
Bishop
Charles MacDonald, 1891-1912
Bishop
Henry O'Leary, 1913-1920
Bishop
Louis O'Leary, 1920-1930
Bishop
Joseph O'Sullivan, 1931-1944
Bishop
James Boyle, 1944-1954
Bishop
Malcolm MacEachern, 1955-1970
Bishop
Francis Spence, 1970-1982
Bishop
James MacDonald,
1982-1991
Bishop
Vernon Fougere, 1992- |
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The
Era
of Bishop
Angus MacEachern, 1829-1835
The Diocese of Charlottetown this year marks its 175th anniversary
(1829-2004). Before 1829 the territory of present day P.E.I. formed
part of the Diocese of Quebec which stretched from the Atlantic Ocean
to the Mississippi River.
The Island Micmacs here were joined in the 1720s by settlers from
France and Acadia and were served by a succeeding number of French
priests. By the 1750s there were five well established parishes, each
with its own pastor, located at Point Prim, Scotchfort, St. Peter's
Harbor, Malpeque and Port LaJoie. The deplorable expulsion of all but
a few of the Acadians from the Island in 1758 left these parishes and
the Catholic population in ruins.
The year 1772 saw the arrival of more than 200 Scottish Catholic
settlers unto the lands of Captain John MacDonald around Tracadie.
More Scottish immigrants soon followed. Father James MacDonald came
with the earlier group and served with zeal as the only priest on the
Island until his death in 1885.
A major date in the Church's Island history was set in 1790 with the
arrival from Scotland of Father Angus MacEachern. This remarkable
missionary, called by some as the father of Roman Catholicism on this
Island, would remain here until his death 45 years later. In addition
to this Island his mission field extended to other parts of the
Maritime region, involving rugged pioneer travel and untiring zeal.
For upwards of ten years he was the only priest here.
Two Quebec bishops visited the Catholic missions of P.E.I., one
in 1803, the other in 1812. In the latter visit Bishop Plessis
advised Father MacEachern to build a church in Charlottetown and to
dedicate it to St. Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury. That early
church, erected in 1816, occupied the site of the present basilica
and was the first of four churches to occupy that lot.
In 1819 Father MacEachern was appointed auxiliary (assistant) bishop
of Quebec with his field of labor continuing to be P.E.I. and other
mainland regions.
In 1829 the Diocese of Charlottetown was officially constituted with
Bishop MacEachern as its first spiritual head. Now separated from the
Diocese of Quebec, the territory of the new diocese included P.E.I.,
the Magdalen Islands and New Brunswick. To assist the bishop in his
new mission were three priests here, one in the Magdalens and maybe
two in New Brunswick.
Two events in 1830 were of great importance for the Diocese of
Charlottetown. One was the local legislature's passing of the bill of
emancipation whereby Roman Catholics could now vote in elections and
have the right to be elected to the legislature. Up to that point
Catholics did not have full rights as citizens. The other event in
1830 was the arrival of over 200 mostly Irish immigrants who settled
in the Fort Augustus area. Other Irish newcomers had come in earlier stages.
In 1831 a long held dream of Bishop MacEachern was fulfilled with the
opening of St. Andrew's College. Located in the bishop's large
house at St. Andrew's, it had an enrollment of twenty students the
first year under the guidance of Father Edward Walsh.
Essentially intended as a training ground for future priests, it was
also open to youth with other interests and indeed to students who
were not Catholic.
Worn out by 45 years of outstanding missionary life in these parts
and 76 years of age, Bishop MacEachern died at his home in Canavoy on
April 22, 1835. He was mourned far and wide by people of various
religious persuasions. Only two priests were present to conduct his
funeral in St. Andrew's Church with burial taking place in the church
basement. His remains now rest in a small crypt chapel nearby. At the
time of his death P.E.l's Roman Catholic population was composed of
people from aboriginal, Acadian, Scottish and Irish backgrounds.
The
Era of Bishop Bernard MacDonald,
1837-1859
Following the death of Bishop MacEachern in 1835, Father Bernard
MacDonald was appointed the second Bishop of Charlottetown.
Born at St. Andrew's in 1797, he had studied for ten years in Quebec
City and was ordained there in 1822, the first native Islander to
become a priest. At the age of forty and with fifteen years of
missionary life behind him, he was consecrated bishop in St.
Patrick's Church, Quebec City on October 15, 1837.
With only three priests on P.E.I. at the time, Bishop MacDonald faced
a humbling challenge in the shepherding of a far-flung pioneer
diocese which included P.E.I., the Magdalen Islands and New
Brunswick. His burden was lessened considerably in 1842 when
New Brunswick was cut off to become a diocese of its own.
Bishop MacDonald continued to reside at Rustico where he had been
making his home base for some years earlier as missionary
priest. As it turned out he lived in Rustico for all his
twenty-two years as bishop here. The present St. Augustine's
Church there, built under his supervision in 1838, served for many of
his episcopal functions.
Ever aware of the dangers of alcohol, Bishop MacDonald was
responsible for the founding of the St. Dunstan's Total Abstinence
Society in 1841. This movement spread rapidly throughout the
diocese with branches in every parish.
In 1843 the cornerstone was laid for a new cathedral, the second
church to occupy the site of the present basilica. This was an
impressive wooden building for its day, 70 by 140 feet, with its
front door facing the harbour.
Always conscious of the welfare of his priests, Bishop MacDonald in
1846 established the St. Bernard's Society at a meeting which brought
together all nine diocesan priests of the day. Its purpose was
to provide for the care of priests who might become inactive due to
sickness, old age or other infirmities. An annual assessment
for each priest was set. This St. Bernard's Society continued
in the Diocese of Charlottetown until the 1960s.
In the field of education, Bishop MacDonald was very active.
Although he closed St. Andrew's College in 1844, he supervised the
opening in 1848 of the cathedral school in Charlottetown which
flourished for a number of years with many pupils, boys and girls,
under competent teachers. In 1855 the new St. Dunstan's College
opened in what was, for its day, one of the grandest buildings on
the Island (today's Main Building on the UPEI Campus). In 1857
the bishop was responsible in bringing the first Sisters of Notre
Dame here and in the opening of a convent school for girls on Sydney
Street near the present day Notre Dame Convent.
Like Bishop MacEachern before him, Bishop MacDonald enjoyed good
relations with the government and with people of other religious
denominations. The only public exception to this came in the
late 1850s when the Board of Education with the backing of a number
of non-Catholic ministers sought to force the reading of the Bible in
public schools. The government, however, refused this request
and the religious unrest calmed at least for the time.
Feeling unwell for some time, Bishop MacDonald, shortly before his
death, moved from Rustico to St. Dunstan's College to rest.
There he died on December 30, 1859. His funeral Mass was
celebrated at the cathedral by Father Dan MacDonald, pastor at East
Point, with all fifteen priests from P.E.I. in attendance, along with
a large gathering of sorrowing people. The bishop's remains now
rest at his native St. Andrew's, P.E.I.
Bishop MacDonald had served as diocesan shepherd for twenty-two
years. At the time of his death the fifteen diocesan priests
were stationed at the following places: Magdalen Islands (2),
Charlottetown (2), Rustico (2), Vernon River, Georgetown, St.
Andrew's, East Point, Kelly's Cross, Miscouche, Indian River, Tignish
and St. Dunstan's College. At the same time (1859) there were roughly
thirty Roman Catholic churches on P.E.I. of which the following are
still in use: Grand River, South Rustico, Covehead and
Tignish. The Roman Catholic population by then was something
over 30,000.
The
Era of Bishop Peter MacIntyre,
1860-1891
This article looks at the long term of our third bishop, Peter
MacIntyre. Born at Cable Head near St. Peter's Bay in 1818, he
attended St. Andrew's College, St. Hyacinthe College and the Seminary
of Quebec and was ordained a priest at Quebec City in 1843.
Father MacIntyre was immediately assigned to the western missions
of P.E.I., making his residence at Tignish and serving the
people of that wide area for seventeen years. In May, 1860, he
was appointed Bishop of Charlottetown and was consecrated at St.
Dunstan's Cathedral that summer.
Bishop MacIntyre's term began under a flurry of religious unrest on
P.E.I.. The Orange lodges and several city newspapers in
particular stood united in anti-Catholic sentiment with the whole
issue being neatly tied to the politics of the day. However,
the storm clouds eventually passed and all citizens attempted to live
in peace.
Unlike his predecessors, Bishop MacIntyre made his home in
Charlottetown, first in two smaller houses near the present basilica
and finally in the "palace" built in 1875 that still serves
as home for the basilica and other clergy. The west-end
extension to this house was added much later.
One of the highlights of Bishop MacIntyre's time was his attendance
at the Vatican Council in Rome from 1869 to 1870 where he was one of
over 800 bishops present. In all he visited Rome four times.
Education always held a strong interest for Bishop MacIntyre.
He worked faithfully to maintain and improve St. Dunstan's College
which was constantly a financial challenge. Through his
leadership the new three-storey St. Patrick's School for boys was
erected next to the cathedral in 1870. This later became known
as Queen Square School. The bishop was also much involved in
bringing to the Island succeeding waves of Sisters of Notre Dame and
their high quality teaching to Notre Dame and St. Joseph's Convents
in Charlottetown, as well as to convent schools in Miscouche,
Summerside, Tignish, Souris and Rustico.
Bishop MacIntyre was a force behind the establishment of the
Charlottetown Hospital in 1879. Located in his former residence
on the site of the present basilica and administered by six Grey Nuns
from Quebec, it was the first hospital in Charlottetown. Three
years later a large annex was added to this pioneer medical centre
which was open to people of any religious background.
Ever aware of the dangers of alcohol, the bishop was influential in
the establishment of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union which spread
throughout the diocese in the 1870s, and in organizing the League of
the Cross in the 1880s.
The Charlottetown Conference, Confederation and P.E.I.'s becoming a
province of Canada all took place during the MacIntyre years and the
bishop was never shy about having a say in the political proceedings
of his day.
During his long term here, Bishop MacIntyre had the honor of having
two of his priests consecrated as bishops. Father Cornelius
O'Brien, pastor at Indian River, became Archbishop of Halifax in 1883
and Father James Charles MacDonald, rector of St. Dunstan's College,
became coadjutor Bishop of Charlottetown in 1890.
Bishop MacIntyre died at the bishop's house in Antigonish on April
30, 1891. Following funeral Mass at St. Dunstan's Cathedral,
his remains were conveyed by special train to his native parish of
St. Peter's Bay for interment in the church basement beneath the
altar. He died in harness after serving as chief shepherd for
thirty-one years.
During his long term Bishop MacIntyre proved to be a strong leader
but he did not act alone. It was a time of much building and he
was supported by a wide circle of hard working lay men and women, by
a generous group of dedicated priests and by gradually increasing
numbers of devoted sisters, the Grey Nuns of Quebec and the Sisters
of Notre Dame.
At the time of the bishop's death the diocese had forty-four churches
and a Roman Catholic population of 49,000, served by thirty-four priests.
The
Era of Bishop Charles MacDonald, 1891-1912
Our fourth bishop, Charles MacDonald, was born at St. Andrew's,
P.E.I. in 1840, attended the Central Academy in Charlottetown and
taught in Island schools for a number of years. After
completing his studies at St. Dunstan's College he then entered the
Grand Seminary of Montreal and was ordained in St. Dunstan's
Cathedral by Bishop MacIntyre in 1873.
Father MacDonald taught briefly at St. Dunstan's College and then was
pastor of Georgetown-Cardigan for nine years. From there he was
named rector of the College and held that position for seven years.
In May, 1890, Father MacDonald was appointed coadjutor Bishop of
Charlottetown and was consecrated at St. Dunstan's Cathedral that
summer. Upon the death of Bishop MacIntyre in 1891, MacDonald
immediately became the fourth Bishop of Charlottetown.
The 1890s and the decade that followed was a period of continuing
growth within the diocese. Parishioners erected splendid new churches
at Brae, Charlottetown (cathedral), Emyvale, Fort Augustus,
Indian River, Kelly's Cross, Kinkora, Lennox Island, Miscouche, Mont
Carmel, Palmer Road, St. Charles, Souris and Tracadie. Ten of
these remain today, the others having burned.
In education, St. Dunstan's College continued to improve. In
1892 it took a major step by becoming affiliated with Laval
University in Quebec City, which meant that St. Dunstan's graduates
could then receive bachelors degrees from Laval. In 1900 a
large extension was added to the college due to increasing
enrollment. Meanwhile, Notre Dame Academy for girls flourished
under the leadership of its dedicated educators, the Sisters of Notre
Dame. As well, increasing numbers of these devoted sisters
continued to staff the many convent schools throughout the Island.
Over these years the Charlottetown Hospital moved to larger quarters
on Haviland Street with a large new wing added in 1902. Its
administrators, the Grey Nuns of Quebec, gave their all in this great
apostolate to the sick.
One of the most notable diocesan projects during Bishop MacDonald's
time was the construction of the new cathedral (the one before the
present basilica). Begun in 1896, the basement area was
finished early to accommodate the growing congregation while the
whole structure took a number of years to complete. Built of
stone, this massive cathedral was considered one of the most
magnificent churches east of Quebec.
In 1908 Father Alfred Burke, pastor of Alberton-Lot 7 and one of the
more energetic priests of the diocese, was called away to organize
the Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada, based in
Toronto. That society, aimed at the Canadian home missions, is
still flourishing to this day.
In 1910 the diocese purchased the Morris farm on the outskirts of the
city and in the large farmhouse there opened an orphanage
dedicated to St. Vincent de Paul. Here again the Grey Nuns of
Quebec stepped in as its first administrators and faithful workers.
Bishop MacDonald maintained a steady hand of leadership until 1908
when his health failed completely, leaving him an invalid. At
that point Father James Morrison, Vicar General of the diocese and
pastor at Vernon River, assumed responsibility for diocesan
administration. Ordained in Rome, Morrison had served as rector
of St. Dunstan's College, rector of the cathedral during its years of
construction and Vicar General since 1904. To no one's surprise
Father Morrison in 1912 was appointed Bishop of Antigonish and was
consecrated there in September of that year.
Bishop MacDonald died at his Charlottetown residence on December 1,
1912. Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Dunstan's Cathedral
and his remains now rest at his native St. Andrew's. By that
time the diocese had a large body of dedicated lay men and women in
thirty-six well established parishes, served by forty-eight priests.
The
Era of Bishop Henry O'Leary, 1913-1920
Our fifth bishop, Henry O'Leary,was born at
Richibucto, N.B. in 1879, graduated from St. Joseph's College
in Memramcook and studied theology at the Grand Seminary of
Montreal. In 1901 he was ordained a priest at his home parish
in Richibucto for the Diocese of Chatham, N.B. That same year
he was sent to Rome for further studies which lasted four years
enabling him to earn doctorates in Theology, Philosophy and Canon Law.
Back home, Father O'Leary served for a short time as
parish priest at Jacquet River and in 1907 was named pastor of Sacred
Heart Parish in Bathurst. The following year he was appointed
Vicar General of the Diocese of Chatham.
In the winter of 1913, at the age of thirty-four,
Father O'Leary was named Bishop of Charlottetown. Since St.
Dunstan's Cathedral had been destroyed by fire that same winter, the
new bishop was consecrated at Sacred Heart Church in Bathurst that May.
Bishop O'Leary devoted his first attention to the
building of a new cathedral (the present one). By 1914 the
basement area was ready to accommodate the growing Charlottetown
congregation. The completion of the massive structure proceeded
gradually with the grand opening taking place in 1919.
In 1914 a large brick St. Vincent's Orphanage was
constructed on the same site as the older wooden one, two miles out
of Charlottetown.
World War I (1914-1918) gave a new focus to diocesan
affairs with men from all parishes joining the military forces in
what was considered a high act of patriotism. Many died in
battle. Several of our priests also joined the ranks of war
time chaplains at home and overseas.
During the Bishop O'Leary years St. Dunstan's College
continued to expand. A major step forward came in 1917 when the
college was raised to the status of a university, enabling it to
grant its own degrees. In 1919 Dalton Hall, a new four-storey
brick student residence, opened its doors. That same year the
first ever fund raising drive for St. Dunstan's took place which
brought in over $40,000, a remarkable amount for those days.
The Charlottetown Hospital continued its rise in
stature. A new maternity department opened in 1918 and a school
of nursing was established in 1920, all under the administration of
the Grey Nuns of Quebec.
One of Bishop O'Leary's greatest accomplishments was
the founding of the Sisters of St. Martha of Prince Edward Island, a
religious community which would engage in various forms of good works
within the diocese. In 1916 this new religious order had its
beginning, with small numbers at first, in a convent attached to St.
Dunstan's College. In 1920, with membership increasing, the
sisters moved to Mount St. Mary's on Mt. Edward Road, taking up
residence first in the old farm house there.
Along these years the Magdalen Islands continued to
form part of the Diocese of Charlottetown. Usually four Acadian
priests were posted there to staff its parishes and a prominent academy.
After just a few years here and probably to no one's
great surprise, Bishop O'Leary was called away to a wider field of
service. In 1920 he was appointed Archbishop of Edmonton, a
growing center of the developing Canadian West. During his
seven years as our bishop he had given mature leadership, supported
by increasing numbers of faithful laity, sisters and priests.
In his new Alberta vineyard he was ready to build on that experience.
Archbishop O'Leary died in March, 1938 and is buried
in St. Joachim's Cemetery, Edmonton.
The
Era of Bishop Louis
O'Leary, 1920-1930
We now
look briefly at the ten-year term of our sixth bishop, Louis O'Leary.
Born at
Richibucto, N.B. in 1877, he graduated from St. Joseph's College in
Memramcook and studied theology at the Grand Seminary of
Montreal. He completed his seminary training in Rome where he
was ordained to the priesthood in 1900 for the Diocese of Chatham,
N.B.. He remained in Rome for further studies leading to
doctorates in Theology and Canon Law.
Back home,
Father O'Leary served as Chancellor of the Diocese of Chatham until
1914 when he was appointed auxiliary bishop of that
diocese. In 1920 he was named Bishop of Charlottetown,
succeeding his younger brother, Henry, who had been transferred to
Edmonton that year.
St.
Dunstan's College continued to be a major focus during the decade of
Bishop Louis. Although it had received its university charter
in 1917, it was felt that extra time for updating both the campus and
faculty would be required before granting its own degrees.
During the 1920s the strengthening of the faculty became an ongoing
reality. In 1929 the college celebrated its 75th anniversary in
gala fashion with the Alumni promising to take an increasing role
toward the betterment of the institution.
During the
Bishop Louis O'Leary years the Sisters of St. Martha continued to
grow. In 1923, with new constitutions in place and by formal
decree, the Sisters of St. Martha of Prince Edward Island officially
became a congregation.
In 1925
the Grey Nuns of Quebec, after 46 years of truly dedicated service in
the diocese, left here to undertake new missions in the province of
Quebec. Upon their departure, the Sisters of St. Martha were
called upon to assume the administration of the Charlottetown
Hospital and St. Vincent's Orphanage. This they did with great dignity.
A bright
new brick Charlottetown Hospital opened its door in 1925 on Haviland
Street. The former wooden hospital that same year was converted
into a much needed residence for the elderly, staffed by the Sisters
of St. Martha, and named the "Sacred Heart Home".
The year
1929 was historic for the Diocese of Charlottetown for it marked our
first hundred years as a diocese. That centennial year saw the
founding of Holy Redeemer Parish in Charlottetown. To staff
this new parish, the Redemptorist Fathers were welcomed to the city
where they would remain for nearly half a century.
That same
year the Sisters of the Precious Blood arrived in Charlottetown into
their first monastery at 126 Sydney Street, next door to the
cathedral. They moved to new quarters twice since then and
today, 75 years later, they continue to richly bless our diocese
through their prayers and good works.
Another
notable event of centennial year 1929 was the raising of St.
Dunstan's Cathedral to the dignity of a basilica. This honor is
conferred on relatively few churches because of their elegance,
historical importance or significance as centres of worship.
During his
years here Bishop Louis O'Leary never enjoyed robust health and spent
a number of intervals in the Charlottetown Hospital as well as in
hospitals away. Late in 1929 he was a patient for a prolonged
period in a Montreal hospital. He then went for a period of
extended rest at the home of his brother in Dayton, Ohio. There
the bishop died on July 8, 1930 at the age of 53. Funeral Mass
was celebrated in St. Dunstan's Basilica by his brother, Archbishop
Henry O'Leary of Edmonton, with burial in the Catholic Cemetery, Charlottetown.
By 1930
the Diocese of Charlottetown, which included the Magdalen Islands,
had 42,000 Roman Catholics, 65 active priests, over a hundred
religious sisters and a wide circle of truly dedicated lay men and women.
The
Era of Bishop Joseph O'Sullivan, 1931-1944
Our seventh bishop, Joseph O'Sullivan, was born at Hamilton, Ontario
in 1886, graduated from St. Jerome's College in Kitchener and studied
theology at the Grand Seminary of Montreal. In 1911 he was
ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Hamilton.
Father O'Sullivan was curate at St. Mary's Cathedral Parish in
Hamilton for ten years after which he served as pastor there and as
Chancellor of the Diocese of Hamilton. In 1923 he was named a
monsignor and two years later he became rector of St. Augustine's
Seminary in Toronto.
Early in 1931 Monsignor O'Sullivan was appointed Bishop of
Charlottetown and was consecrated at St. Mary's Cathedral, Hamilton
in May that year. His arrival here coincided with the Great
Depression which touched in no small way the people of the diocese.
As early as 1932, radio made its way into diocesan life, first with
the broadcast of Lenten sermons from the basilica, and soon after
that with the transmission of Christmas Midnight Masses from the same church.
During the early O'Sullivan years Eucharistic Congresses throughout
the diocese became an annual event of great significance. They
were held at Miscouche, St. Andrew's, Souris, Vernon River, Egmont
Bay, Kinkora, St. Peter's Bay and Indian River. Large crowds
took part in these special devotions and heard powerful sermons from
local and visiting clergy. These Congresses were postponed
during the war years.
Another happening under the leadership of Bishop O'Sullivan was the
introduction of an improved system of Christian Doctrine.
A careful program was drawn up with annual written catechetical
examinations throughout the diocese each June. Then in October
each year there was a Catechetical Sunday during which diplomas and
prizes were handed out at parish Masses.
St. Dunstan's University continued to grow in stature. In the
mid 1930s the university Adult Education program began, with radio
broadcasts, the formation of study clubs, credit unions and short
courses for farmers and fishermen. The improvement in academic
qualifications of the faculty proceeded gradually and in 1939 a much
needed new Science building was erected. Probably the
university's most notable moment came in 1941 when it began granting
its own degrees. For fifty years before that the graduates
received degrees from Laval University in Quebec. In 1942 St.
Dunstan's University became a co-educational institution with the
admission of women to the campus, although a few Sisters of St.
Martha had been students there earlier.
In 1939 the Island experienced the exciting visit of the King and
Queen to Charlottetown. This event, a school holiday, brought
great crowds to the city in a spirit of widespread unity. That
same year, unfortunately, brought about the horrors of World War II
with thousands of our Island youth going off to battle, many never to
return. A number of our diocesan priests also answered the call
and served as chaplains overseas. During the early war years
there were days of prayer for peace, often three a year, throughout
the diocese. One of these days was usually requested by King
George VI, one by Pope Pius XII and another by Bishop O'Sullivan.
Early in 1944 Bishop O'Sullivan was appointed Archbishop of Kingston,
Ontario and he was installed in St. Mary's Cathedral there that
April. His leadership in the Diocese of Charlottetown had been
an impressive one during a time of much change and worldly
turmoil. Archbishop O'Sullivan died on June 6, 1972 and is
buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in his native Hamilton.
The Era
of Bishop James Boyle, 1944-1954
We devote this article to
the years of our eighth bishop, James Boyle.
Born at Merland, Nova
Scotia (Tracadie Parish) in 1885, he graduated from St. Francis
Xavier University in Antigonish after which he taught school for two
years. He then proceeded to Rome for the study of theology and
in 1913 he was ordained to the priesthood there for service in the
Diocese of Antigonish.
Back home, Father Boyle
joined the faculty of St. F.X. University where he remained for eight
years. He then studied at Columbia University from which he
received a M.A. in English. From 1922 to 1938 he was pastor at
Havre Boucher and from 1938 to 1944 parish priest at Holy Redeemer in
Sydney. During his years in the Antigonish Diocese he was
deeply involved in adult education, namely the co-operative movement,
study clubs and credit unions.
In 1944 Father Boyle was
named Bishop of Charlottetown and was consecrated at St. Dunstan's
Basilica that June. His term here coincided in general with a
post-war period of expansion.
St. Dunstan's University
continued its significant growth with the erection of the Memorial
Hall men's residence, the Alumni Gymnasium and a new complex
containing the chapel, dining hall and Sisters' convent. These
projects were preceded by two successful fundraising drives. In 1954
the university proudly celebrated its centennial with enthusiastic attention.
In similar manner,
hospital care received special treatment during the Bishop Boyle
years. In 1944 the Western Hospital in Alberton opened its
doors under the administration of the Sisters of St. Martha.
The Charlottetown Hospital underwent major interior renovations and
in 1950 a large new wing was added to meet increasing health-care
demands. A giant fund raising campaign made this project possible.
The year 1945 happily
brought an end to World War II and the return home of so many
military personnel, including our priest chaplains.
Late in 1945 there was
much rejoicing when Island native Archbishop James McGuigan was named
a cardinal. The following summer Cardinal McGuigan was given a
joyous welcome home in gatherings at the basilica, at St. Dunstan's
University and in his native parish of South Rustico.
In 1946 the Magdalen
Islands, a part of this diocese since its beginning in 1829, were
transferred to the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Gaspé.
The Family Rosary
Crusade, under the leadership of Father Patrick Peyton, was a major
event throughout the diocese in 1951. In addition to parish
activity, large outdoor rallies were held in Summerside and Charlottetown.
The Marian Year of 1954
was observed with great attention in all parts of the diocese.
In addition, large attendance was noted during special evening Masses
in each deanery at churches dedicated to Mary.
In the spring of 1954
Bishop Boyle left for his "ad limina" visit to Rome
which is required of bishops every five years. In England he
became very ill and was admitted to St. Elizabeth's Hospital in
London where the Sister Superior happened to be Sister St.
Dunstan. There the bishop died on June 3, 1954. Following
funeral Mass at St. Dunstan's Basilica, he was laid to rest in the
Catholic Cemetery, Parkdale.
During the decade
1944-1954 the Diocese of Charlottetown witnessed increasing numbers
of graduates from St. Dunstan's University, Notre Dame Academy and
the Charlottetown Hospital School of Nursing. As well,
vocations to the priesthood and sisterhood showed steady growth..
The
Era
of Bishop Malcolm MacEachern,
1955-1970
This article focuses on
the life and times of our ninth bishop, Malcolm MacEachern.
Born at Broad Cove, Cape
Breton in 1901, he graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in
Antigonish and then studied theology at the Grand Seminary of
Montreal. In 1927 he was ordained to the priesthood for service
in the Diocese of Antigonish.
Father MacEachern spent
his first three years as curate in Sydney Mines and the next two on
the faculty of St. F.X. University. From there he was
sent to Louvain University in Belgium where in 1935 he merited a
Ph.D. in philosophy.
Back home, Father
MacEachern rejoined the St. F.X. faculty and remained in the
philosophy department there until 1951 when he was named pastor of
Mount Carmel Parish in New Waterford. Appointed Bishop of
Charlottetown, he was consecrated at St. Ninian's Cathedral,
Antigonish on January 18, 1955 and was installed in St. Dunstan's
Basilica a month later.
During the MacEachern
years there was an unusual amount of new construction throughout the
diocese. This was especially noticeable at St. Dunstan's
University where increasing enrollment brought about the following
new buildings: Marian Hall, rink, Kelley Library, Duffy Science
Building and Bernadine Hall.
New parish churches were
built at Kelly's Cross, Parkdale, Seven Mile Bay, Iona, Mount
Stewart, Summerside, Emyvale, Charlottetown's Holy Redeemer and
Fairfield (East Point).
Other new structures over
these years included the Charlottetown Hospital Nurses' Residence, a
large addition to the Alberton Hospital, Sacred Heart Home, Precious
Blood Monastery, Sisters of St. Martha Motherhouse and bishop's
residence/chancery (Dun Glaston ).
Two new parishes, St.
Pius X and Southport, joined the diocesan family and a chapel was
placed in Cavendish for use during the tourist seasons. A new
order of nuns, the Sacred Heart Sisters, came to the Evangeline
region for service within the Acadian population.
Eucharistic Congresses
were held on three occasions and much attention was directed toward
the young people with diocesan youth weeks being held frequently in
the 1960s. A new missionary outreach was undertaken in 1968
when priests and sisters from our diocese began serving in the
Dominican Republic.
Certainly the most
momentous Church experience during these years was the Second Vatican
Council which brought to Rome nearly 3000 bishops from around the
world. Bishop MacEachern was an alert participant in all four
autumn sessions from 1962 to 1965. At the parish level, notable
changes to the Mass and a greater involvement of the laity in the
life of the Church were the first most visible results of the Council.
A major diocesan event
came in 1969 with the sale of the St. Dunstan's University campus and
the closing out of the visible presence of this noble 114-year-old
seat of learning. Thereafter the place became the campus of the
new University of P.E.I.
Unwell for much of his
last year here, Bishop MacEachern retired in February, 1970 and took
up residence at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish. He
died at St. Martha's Hospital in Antigonish on March 28, 1982 and is
buried in St. Margaret's Church Cemetery, Broad Cove, the bishop's
native parish.
Over a span of fifteen
years Bishop MacEachern had given steady leadership during a time of
much change in the Church and world. He was joined in his
service by faithful parishioners among whom were many competent
leaders, lay men and women, religious sisters and priests.
The
Era of Bishop Francis Spence, 1970-1982
Our tenth
bishop, Francis Spence, was born at Perth, Ontario in 1926, graduated
from the University of Toronto and studied theology at St.
Augustine's Seminary in the same city. In 1950 he was ordained
to the priesthood for service in the Archdiocese of Kingston, Ontario.
Father
Spence studied for three years in Rome where he received a doctorate
in Canon Law. Back home, he served as curate, archbishop's
secretary and pastor at Marmora. He also had the privilege of
attending all four sessions of the nd Vatican Council (1962 to 1965)
as theological assistant to his archbishop.
In 1967
Father Spence was named auxiliary bishop to the military vicar
(Cardinal Roy) and was consecrated in St. Mary's Cathedral,
Kingston. This new posting meant for him a steady round of
visitations to military bases in Canada as well as in Europe.
In 1970
Bishop Spence was appointed Bishop of Charlottetown and was installed
in St. Dunstan's Basilica that September. He still retained his
commitments to the military which added noticeably to his workload here.
The Spence
years here were busy with implementing much of the vision of the
Second Vatican Council as it related to a diocese and parish.
This focus led to many new developments in the fields of liturgy,
family life, youth, social action, communications, religious
education, ecumenism and priest personnel. Of special note was
the establishment of parish councils, a diocesan pastoral council and
a local branch office of the Halifax Regional Marriage Tribunal.
In the
early 1970s a group of musically talented priests came together under
the name of
"the
padres" and entertained many audiences across the diocese,
usually in fund raising events.
In the
years under review here, several significant anniversaries fell into
place. In 1972 the bicentennial of the arrival of the Scottish
Tracadie settlers was observed in a fitting manner. The
following year marked the centennial of our province which was
celebrated in the diocese by a largely attended Mass in the St.
Dunstan's University rink along with a wide display of diocesan
history. Sister Patricia Cullen, C.S.M., had the honor of
producing the words and music for the 1973 Centennial Hymn of
P.E.I.. In 1979 the Diocese of Charlottetown grandly celebrated
its 150th anniversary in many significant ways, climaxed by a large
outdoor Mass at Victoria Park at which Cardinal Roy of Quebec was presider.
In 1975,
due to a redistribution of their priests, the Redemptorist Fathers
regretfully departed from Holy Redeemer Parish where they had served
faithfully for nearly half a century. Over that period more
than eighty of their men had been stationed at Holy Redeemer.
In 1978 the new parish of St. Francis of Assisi in Cornwall was
formed with a new church on site two years later.
In 1980
one of our diocesan priests, Father Faber MacDonald, was named Bishop
of Grand Falls, Newfoundland and was consecrated in St. Dunstan's
Basilica that March. In October of that same year the state
funeral for Hon. Dan MacDonald was celebrated in St. Dunstan's
Basilica with the eulogy being delivered by Prime Minister Trudeau.
After
exemplary service for 102 years the Charlottetown Hospital closed its
doors in 1981. That year the opening of the new Queen Elizabeth
Hospital brought an end to the two existing city hospitals.
In the
spring of 1982, to no one's surprise, Bishop Spence was appointed
Archbishop of Kingston, Ontario with the additional responsibility as
full military vicar for Canada. His twelve-year term on P.E.I.
was a period of high transition, keeping in balance the Church's
treasure of what is new and what is old. Archbishop Spence
retired in 2002 but has remained active in a number of important areas.
The
Era of Bishop James MacDonald,
1982-1991
The
eleventh bishop of the Diocese of Charlottetown was James MacDonald, C.S.C.
Born at
Whycocomagh, Cape Breton in 1925, he attended St. Joseph's University
in New Brunswick and Notre Dame University in Indiana. He then
studied theology at Holy Cross Seminary in St. Genevieve, Quebec and
was ordained at Woodstock, Ontario in 1953 as a religious order
priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross.
Father
MacDonald held a number of positions within the Holy Cross Order,
including their preaching mission band, teacher at St. Joseph's
University High School in New Brunswick, superior of Holy Cross House
of Studies in Fredericton and director of personnel for the Holy
Cross Fathers. He then served for eight years as pastor of St.
Michael's Parish in Waterloo, Ontario.
In 1978
Father MacDonald was named auxiliary bishop of Hamilton, Ontario and
was consecrated in Christ the King Cathedral there in April of that
year. In 1982 he was appointed Bishop of Charlottetown and was
installed in St. Dunstan's Basilica that October.
During
these years under review two events of international scope touched
our diocese. One was the new Code of Canon Law, promulgated in
1983. This had many practical applications for parishes and
dioceses, replacing the old Code of 1917. The second major
event was the Canada-wide tour of Pope John Paul II in 1984.
Although his itinerary did not include P.E.I., many of our people
participated at papal celebrations in Moncton and Halifax.
Two
significant anniversaries occurred during these years. First
was the 100th anniversary of the Acadian flag in 1984 which was
commemorated at Miscouche in various ways, including a large outdoor
Mass there. It was at Miscouche a century earlier that this
flag was first created. In 1988 the diocese celebrated the
1000th anniversary of the death of St. Dunstan. This milestone
was marked in a number of ways, including special Masses at the
cathedral and in Summerside and the priests' retreat that year
conducted by world renowned Scripture scholar, Father Raymond Brown.
Other
noteworthy developments took place in the diocese during the Bishop
MacDonald years. In 1984 the bishop moved to a house in York
Point, while the remaining diocesan offices were transferred from
downtown Charlottetown to the bishop's former residence on North
River Road which then became known as the "Diocesan
Pastoral Centre".
The
following year Sister Lauretta White, C.S.M., was appointed
Chancellor of the Diocese of Charlottetown, the first woman to hold
that important office here.
Beginning
in 1987 the diocese inaugurated a series of annual fall conferences
on each of the sacraments, as well as on other Church-related
topics. Excellent resource people for these came from Canada,
the United States and England.
In the mid
1980s a new development took place across the diocese regarding the
Sacrament of Reconciliation. Permission was given, usually for
Advent and Lent, to use the Third Rite of Penance, sometimes referred
to locally as "general absolution".
The
restored catechumenate of the Catholic Church became implanted in our
diocese in a big way during the 1980s. Commonly known as the
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.), two major
institutes on this topic were held here, in 1986 and again in 1991.
In 1989
the diocese began a very successful series of annual Scripture
Institutes, held for four days each July and directed by top notch
Scripture scholars from Canada and the United States.
In 1990,
after careful planning, the diocese implemented a grand fund-raising
campaign involving every parish and named Growing In Faith Together (G.I.F.T.)
Early in
1991 Bishop MacDonald was appointed Archbishop of St. John's in
Newfoundland. After ten years in that position he retired to
Windsor, Ontario where he is actively involved in weekend and related
ministry. He was the fourth of our bishops to be transferred
from here to an archdiocese in Canada.
The
Era of Bishop Vernon Fougere, 1992- present
Our
twelfth and present bishop, Vernon Fougere, was born at Petit de
Grat, Cape Breton in 1943. He graduated from St. Francis Xavier
University in Antigonish and studied theology at the Grand Seminary
of Montreal. In 1969 he was ordained to the priesthood for
service in the Diocese of Antigonish.
Father
Fougere served first as curate at Mount Carmel Parish in New
Waterford. Later he was pastor at Louisdale, Bras d 'Or and at
St. Augustine's in Sydney. From 1975 to 1982 he was a member of
the Antigonish diocese's mission team in Honduras, following which he
took further theological studies at the University of
California. In 1988 he was appointed Vicar General of the
Diocese of Antigonish and Director of Pastoral Services for that diocese.
Late in
1991 Father Fougere was named Bishop of Charlottetown and was
consecrated at
St.
Dunstan's Basilica on March 19, 1992.
Our major
diocesan fund raising campaign, begun in 1990, continued for five
years and when completed amounted to over $6,000,000. The funds
collected were divided equally into four units: St. Dunstan's
Basilica, priests' retirement fund, pastoral programs and the
individual parish which kept the final quarter.
In 1993
the bishop established a Pastoral Planning Committee to determine
long range goals for the diocese. This led to a series of
meetings in forty locations across the diocese. From these
sessions three priority areas arose: lay formation, family life
and youth. Implementation of these priorities began gradually,
first with the setting up of a Pastoral Planning Office.
In 1996
the diocese inaugurated a three-year Lay Formation Program, held on
ten weekends a year at Belcourt Centre in Rustico, and covering the
areas of theology, Scripture, liturgy and prayer, along with general
topics. A similar three-year program began the following year
at Notre Dame Convent. When terminated in 2000, forty-five lay
people had completed these three-year sessions.
RENEW 2000
was followed by most parishes in the diocese. Begun in 1998, it
was a
three-year
series of meetings in homes during the seasons of Advent and Lent
with carefully chosen topics for reflection. Parts of the
program were included in catechism classes and Sunday Masses.
During the
Bishop Fougere years a new emphasis has been made toward our youth
with a Director of Youth in place for the past six years.
Co-ordination of parish and diocesan activity continues. Teen
Encounter is very much alive and many of our young people are now
participating actively in World Youth Days with a hundred
present at Rome in 2000, a similar number at Toronto in 2002 and a
large group now preparing for Cologne, Germany next year.
Our
diocese participated actively in the worldwide JUBILEE 2000,
initiated by Pope John
Paul II to
commemorate two thousand years of Christianity. In addition to
parish involvement, special Masses were celebrated at the UPEI
fieldhouse and at the College of Piping grounds in Summerside.
During the
1990s and beyond, many books on our diocesan history have been
published. Two deal with the priests and bishops, those who
served here and those who ministered away from here. Another
has a compact history of the diocese and of each parish. Still
another details the basilica and its fine architecture. Just
out, is a large book that tells about the 925 nuns of P.E.I.
And soon to be published is a definitive history of the Sisters of
St. Martha of P.E.I.
This year
is, of course, the 175th anniversary of our diocese with significant
observances of that milestone having been held throughout the
year. Today the diocese has 60,000 Roman Catholics, some forty
active priests, seven seminarians and an involved laity. This
fall a new
two-year
lay formation program began with sessions arranged for ten week-ends
each year and held at St. Mary's Convent, Summerside.
This
summer an Atlantic Omnibus Survey showed that 60% of our parishioners
participate at Mass each week, that over 75% find homilies
excellent/good and that youth and finding more priests rank high as
diocesan priorities.
(Booklets
containing these twelve articles on our diocesan bishops will be
available in January, upon request at 368-8005)
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