CHAPTER V DISTINGUISHED SONS AND DAUGHTERS

Father Francis William Pius Bolger has served the Island people as a priest for many years. He is, as well, an eloquent historian, an acclaimed author and one of the most loved professors at our Island university. Francis William Pius Bolger was born on July 8, 1925, on the "North Road", near the village of Stanley Bridge. He is the youngest of four children, the son of Thomas Bolger and Margaret Walsh. He spent his early years enjoying life on the farm and in the community, and cherished his frequent visits with his maternal grand- mother, Mrs. Patrick Walsh, at her home in Stanley Bridge.

Father Bolger spent nine years attending a two-room school in Stanley Bridge. He successfully completed ten grades and at the age of fourteen wrote the entrance examinations required to attend Prince of Wales College. After successfully completing these exams, he attended Prince of Wales College for two years.

In August, 1942, Father Bolger officially began a teaching career which was to continue for many years. Father's first teaching assignment was at a one—room school in New London. He had forty-four students and a curriculum which spanned Grades one to ten.

In 1943, Father Bolger entered St. Dunstan's University to obtain a Bachelors of Arts Degree and he graduated with a major in History in 1947.

It was at this stage in his life that Father made the decision to study for the priesthood and later that same year he began his studies at the Grand Seminary of Montreal. Father Bolger was ordained as a priest by Bishop James Boyle on June 10, 1951, at St. Ann's Church, Hope River. Immediately following, he served as an assistant pastor at St. Dunstan's Basilica in Charlottetown. He was approached by Bishop Boyle, in 1953, to fill a teaching vacancy at St. Dunstan's where he taught History along

Rev. Dr. F.W.P. Bolger

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