St. Pius X Parish (St. John's, N.L. : Catholic)

In 1955, a school-chapel complex was constructed on Smithville Crescent in the Churchill Park area of St. John's to service the religious and educational needs of the local Catholic residents. Initially established as a mission of the Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the new chapel was dedicated to St. Pius X on 15 January 1956 by Patrick J. Skinner, Archbishop of St. John's. Priests on the Basilica staff were charged with the administration of the mission.

On 2 September 1962, St. Pius X was canonically established as a parish and its administration was transferred from Basilica clergy to the Society of Jesus of Upper Canada Province (Jesuit Fathers). In 1963, the St. Pius X Rectory and Gonzaga Residence were opened to meet the community needs of the Jesuit Fathers and, in 1975, construction began on a new parish church. Completed in 1976, the new church was blessed and dedicated 1 December 1976 by Archbishop Skinner. The original chapel was then converted into a parish hall.

Parochial schools have formed an integral part of the organization of St. Pius X Parish. St. Pius X School (upper floor of the school-chapel complex on Smithville Crescent) opened 19 September 1955 under the administration of the Sisters of Mercy. In 1967, St. Pius X Boys' School was opened on Elizabeth Avenue under the administration of the Irish Christian Brothers. The original 1955 school then became St. Pius X Girls' School. Due to a shortage of religious teachers, the Sisters of Mercy withdrew from the girls' school in 1978 and the Christian Brothers from the boys' school in 1982. These schools then became organized along the lines of an elementary and a junior high school, both of which were co-educational. The Jesuits were also active in parochial education, assuming control of the administration of the newly constructed Gonzaga Regional High School upon their arrival in St. John's in September 1962. They withdrew from the high school in June 1998 as a result of denominational education reforms passed by the Provincial Government in 1997. These reforms also led to the closing of St. Pius X Elementary School and the reorganization of St. Pius X Junior High as Rennies River Elementary.

The administrative structure of the parish has evolved over time. Shortly after its establishment in 1962, Ladies' and Men's Associations were established to aid in the management of parish affairs. This responsibility later passed to the St. Pius X Parish Pastoral Council, formed in October 1972. In addition to the priests of the parish, its membership included two members of the executive committees of the Men's and Ladies' Associations and six members at large.

The council was reorganized in 1991, with a formal written constitution; it had 12 members elected at large and three appointed, together with the pastor, priests, and religious of the parish. Standing committees included Finance, Liturgy, Outreach, Parish Life, and Religious Education (all committees report to the council).

Other committees and lay societies that have been active within the parish include the Environmental Committee, the Bereavement Committee, Attention to the Neighbourhood Committee, Development and Peace Committee, the Catholic Women's League, the Knights of Columbus, and the Boy Scouts.

Additional parish activities include the provision of Roman Catholic chaplaincy services to the General Hospital at the Health Sciences Centre and the support of the MacMorran Community Centre and parish outreach house in the Brophy Place neighbourhood.

Originally, St. Pius X's boundaries extended around the Churchill Park area. However, they were enlarged in 1982 when the Archdiocese of St. John's suppressed Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (est. 1964). The bulk of the territory comprising Our Lady of Lourdes was amalgamated with St. Pius X, including the Mount Scio-Nagles's Hill area. The custody of Our Lady of Lourdes parish registers also passed to the pastor of St. Pius X.

Pastors who have served St. Pius X Parish since its establishment include: Fred Lynch (1962-1970); Leonard Fischer (1970-1982); William J. Browne (1982-1988); Donald Beaudois (1988-1992); Jack Lynch (1992-1993); and Wayne Bolton (1993- ).

Created - May 27, 2013

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