CHARLO‘ITEI'OWN

(St. Pius X)

L'E To AN INCREASING CATHOLIC

POPULATION on the cathedral parish’s

east side, the new parish of St. Pius X was canonically constituted in 1956. Monsignor R.V. MacKenzie, rector of St. Dunstan's University, was the founding pastor and the basement section of the present church is fittingly named the "MacKenzie Room".

By the end of 1956 a modest church with basement hall opened its doors and three years later a new parochial house was added.

Ongoing parish growth made larger quarters necessary and in 1973 the present— day church was completed with the former

one becoming a parish centre. t

Mount St. Mary’s, the mother house of the Sisters of Saint Martha, lies within the parish and the sisters over the years have contributed substantially to the life of the church community.

With 2300 families, St. Pius X Parish is the largest in the diocese. Due to a large number ofyoung families, children and youth form a major part of the parish focus.

In 1980 the pastor ofthe day, Father Faber MacDonald, became I Bishop ofGrand Falls, /F Newfoundland. In 1999 he became Bishop ofSaintjohn, New

L swic \vaere 1e is ac ive Ienoaae in ac Brin‘ k l l t l abd tl

many ministries of that larger diocese.

For many years and while premier of P.E.l. from 1981 to 1986,]im Lee was a

member of this parish.

St. Pius X was canonized in 1954, just two years before the founding of this parish. A reform pope (1903—1914), he called for greater participation in the liturgy and restored the high place ofliturgical music. In particular he issued a call to the laity to a greater share in the renewal of the Church. All of these are valid present-day Church objectives, especially in this Charlottetown parish that bears his name.

OUR PARISHES u 53