The Basilica Recreation Centre — Before and After

In September of 1922, on the invitation of the Charlottetown subdivision, representatives of Tignish, Alberton and Souris subdivisions that had been organized during the year met in Charlottetown with the intention of forming a Diocesan subdivision. Rev. Maurice McDonald, Rector of St. Dunstan’s Cathedral and chaplain of the Charlottetown subdivision, was organization chairman

at this meeting, Mrs. J. J. Johnston, Charlottetown, was elected as the first Diocesan president. Rev. Louis J. O’Leary, Bishop of Charlottetown, graciously consented to be the honorary patron with Rev. Maurice McDonald as chaplain.

The importance of having the laity more involved in local parishes was obvious. In the past, some pastors were quite content to look after the administration of the parish themselves and resisted any involvement by the laity.

LAYMEN’S ASSOCIATION

St. Dunstan’s Parish in the 19505 was one of the largest parishes in the diocese. The spiritual and social needs were growing, the clergy were overworked and the laity was willing and able to become more active in the life of the church. As a result, the St. Dunstan’s Basilica Laymen’s Association was formed in

the mid 19505. There was reluctance by some of the clergy to allow such an association, because they were not accustomed to sharing any responsibility. Of course this has changed a great deal after Vatican II, and now we have parish councils in all the parishes, as well as various other committees that are invaluable to the pastors in planning and administrating their parishes.

We had a lot of highly qualified and determined leaders in the parish at this time. An article in the Guardian in 1962 reported on the quarterly meeting held at the Notre Dame Academy auditorium. J. Elmer Blanchard, President of the Laymen’s Association, chaired the meeting. Elmer was a lawyer and a cabinet minister in Alex Campbell’s Liberal government in 1966. Other executive members were John T. Doyle, ways and means committee; Frank Butler, Treasurer; Harold Landry, Study Group Coordinator; Eugene A MacDonald,

social action committee; and Matt F. Hagen, Chairman of the New Building Committee.

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