The Basilica Recreation Centre —— Before and After

CHAPTER 6: NEED FOR/1 NE WPARISH CENTRE

When one considers that the Holy Name Hall building was built in 1860 as the Queen Square Presbyterian Church and remodelled in 1919 for the League

of the Cross, one can understand why the topic of a new parish center was frequently discussed. Besides its age, consider the number of organizations that existed over that period of time. They included the League of the Cross, Legion of Mary, Holy Name Society, Young Christian Worker, League of Sacred Heart, Layman’s Association, Knights of Columbus, Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, Altar Society, Credit Union, St. Veronica’s Guild, St. Joseph Sodality, Third Order of St. Francis, Newman Club, St. Charles Auxiliary, Catholic Women’s League and Basilica Youth Club.

In 1954, Bishop Malcolm MacEachern was appointed to the Diocese of Charlottetown. In 1957 the bishop announced a Diocesan fundraising effort to raise $750,000. The Basilica parish contribution to that was to be $150,000. The parish also wanted to raise another $100,000 for operating expenses, and another $50,000 for a reserve for a new parish hall. The fact that the reserve for a new hall was even mentioned is an indication that there was interest and discussion regarding the need for such a building. Fr. McMahon had purchased the Dr. MacGuigan building next to the Holy Name Hall as a first step.

This was pre Vatican II, when the administration of the diocese by the bishop and the parishes by the pastors was absolute and seldom questioned by the parishioners. Two strong lay national organizations that existed and continue to exist are the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Women’s League. At that time, they primarily served to support the church’s teaching.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

The Knights of Columbus was founded in 1882 by a 29-year-old priest, Fr. Michael McGivney, in the basement of St. Mary’s Church in New Haven, Connecticut. Today, more than a century later, the Knights of Columbus has become the largest lay organization in the Catholic church. Its objective is to support the church in programs of evangelization and Catholic education, civic involvement, and to provide aid to those in need.

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