Mary Queen of the World Parish (Mount Pearl, N.L. : Catholic)

Mary Queen of the World was initially established as a mission of the Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Parish on 10 June 1956. Patrick J. Skinner, Archbishop of St. John's, created the mission to serve the needs of the growing Catholic community in the recently incorporated town of Mount Pearl Park-Glendale (renamed Mount Pearl in 1958) and the Topsail Road area. The parishes of Corpus Christi (Kilbride) and St. Edward's (Topsail) were dismembered to form this new territory as the borders of both of these parishes met in the area. The construction of a school-chapel on the south side of Topsail Road was completed in late 1956 and the combined structure was opened in January 1957. Priests from the Basilica Parish served the mission until 1 July 1962 when the Archbishop canonically erected Mary Queen of the World Parish. Shortly after its erection, the parish's infrastructure grew to include a presbytery, constructed in 1962, and a convent for members of the Presentation of the Most Blessed Virgin Congregation (Presentation Sisters), constructed between 1963 and 1964. The Mary Queen of the World School-Chapel continued to function as the parish church until construction began on the present-day church in the fall of 1983. This structure was blessed and dedicated by Archbishop Alphonsus L. Penney on 30 October 1985.

The administration of Mary Queen of the World Parish was transferred from Archdiocesan clergy to members of the Capuchin Vice-Province of Central Canada (later Province) in 1974. That same year, a Parish Steering Committee was formed, leading to the establishment of Mary Queen of the World's first Parish Council in 1975. Responsible for organizing and directing parish activities, the Parish Council oversaw four committees that managed the broad spheres of finance, social action, liturgy, and entertainment.

On 8 May 1979, the parish instituted a new constitution, establishing four new committees: Liturgical, Financial, Ways and Means, and Service and Help committees. In March 1982, the Parish Council was renamed the Mary Queen of the World Pastoral Council.

Societies and organizations that have been active in parish life include the Holy Name Society, the St. Anne's Sodality, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Catholic Women's League, and the Rev. John B. Kent Council of the Knights of Columbus (this list is not exhaustive).

In May 1996, the Capuchins officially resigned from Mary Queen of the World Parish and from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's. The administration of the parish thus reverted to Archdiocesan clergy.

Mary Queen of the World Parish maintained close relations with Catholic schools in Mount Pearl, including Mary Queen of the World School on Topsail Road (under the direction of the Presentation Sisters until 1985), St. Peter's Elementary School on Muden Drive, St. Peter's Primary on Ashford Drive, and O'Donel High School in the Flynn Brook area. Today, these schools are no longer under church control as a result of the denominational education reforms passed by the Provincial Government in 1997. However, the Presentation Sisters continue to maintain a convent in Mount Pearl and remain active in the parish.

Mary Queen of the World's boundaries have evolved since its inception in 1956. Originally, the parish included the area enclosed by Topsail Road from Dunne's Bridge to the junction of Topsail and Kenmount Road and by Mount Pearl Road from where it crossed by the railway line to a point west of where the Old Placentia Road ended. As new housing developments expanded the boundaries of Mount Pearl, so too did parish boundaries expand. In 1977, Mary Queen of the World established a mission at St. Peter's School to serve the Catholic population in the rapidly growing Newtown development. In 1982, Archbishop Penney dismembered Mary Queen of the World Parish, detaching the Newtown area to establish the new parish of St. Peter's.

Pastors who have served Mary Queen of the World since its establishment in 1962 include: John B. Kent (1962-1969); McDermott J. Penney (1969-1974); Henri Van Olffen (1974-1980); Adrian Kimenai (1980-1986); Pierre Wood, Administrator (1986); Louis Mousseau, Administrator and later Pastor (1986-1991); Ron MacIntyre (1991-1996); John Wallis (1996-1999); and Patrick J. Kennedy (1999- ).

Created - May 9, 2013

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