The Basilica Recreation Centre — Before and After

Dominicans to spread the devotion and to establish the society throughout their dominions. Among the preachers engaged in this apostolate, the most celebrated was the Spanish Dominican Didacus of Victoria (d.1450) who may be properly called the great preacher of the devotion of the Holy Name of God, the objective of which was to suppress the horrible profanation of the Divine Name by blasphemers, perjurers, and by men in their ordinary conversation, and to this end drew up a rule and constitution for its government.

By 1882 there were about 500,000 members in the United States. At the San Antonio Spring Board meeting, the society approved the following mission statement:

“The national Association of the Holy Name Society promotes the honour and glory of our Divine God and the personal sanctification of its members by acts of love and devotion to the most Holy Name of Jesus. The spirited life of its members is a perpetual act of reverence and love. Our members perform the Corporal Works of Mercy: to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty, shelter to the homeless, tend to the sick, visit those in prison, and bury the dead; as well as the spiritual works of mercy: to convert sinners, instruct the ignorant, counsel the wayward, comfort the sorrowful, bear adversity patiently, forgive offences, and pray for the living and the dead on a parochial, diocesan and national level.”

It was an ambitious objective.

BOWLING ALLEYS

The Holy Name Hall was a real asset to the parish, and was used for many functions other than the League of the Cross. The lower floor that had the bowling alleys and pool tables was always busy. Gordon Essery and Dalvey Coyle, two employees, ensured that all events operated smoothly. Both five and 10 pins were popular at that time, and teenagers were hired to sit at the back of the lanes and set up the pins. Harold Byers recalls setting up the pins when he was 17 years old, noting that one was taking a chance of getting hit by the pins because of the speed of the balls. The “pin boys”, as they were called, would get five to 15 cents per game. Each game would last an hour. Another very popular “pin boy” was Eddie Pineau. Fr. Pat McMahon, who was pastor at

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