Opening of the new priory in Vernon
Father Emmanuel Herkel

It has been many years since the ordination of a Canadian priest for the Society of St. Pius X, but this year, two Canadians were ordained, and both have remained in Canada. Which is the greater miracle?  Now, at last, we are spreading out in the West. This year the Society of St. Pius X has been able to open two new priories (houses where our priests live in small communities) in Canada. This is a great blessing from our Lord. On the feast of St. Pius X, September 3, we were able to celebrate the grand opening of Our Lady Queen of Peace priory in Vernon, B.C.

For more than twenty years many priests have traveled as missionaries to the western ocean, by For more than twenty years many priests have traveled as missionaries to the western ocean, by land, and air, and by boat to the islands in the sea.  All we out West, owe these priests many thanks, and I as well, for my vocation was first kindled by these traveling priests who came to visit us on Vancouver Island.  It is for all of us a joy that these priests of the Society of St. Pius X have at last made their home in British Columbia.

A special thanks is to be offered to Fr. Paul Greuter, who laboured alone in the Okanagan Valley for so many years.  It was his wise foresight that prepared this home, which is now Our Lady Queen of Peace priory. We are now here to continue his work as well, and to give Fr. Greuter a chance to enter into a more restful age. We will strive to avail ourselves of his experience, direction and good example.

We celebrated the opening of this new priory with a solemn high Mass, at Our Lady Queen of Peace church, in Vernon. Fr. Boulet, the new prior, was assisted by myself, Fr. Herkel, and our Canadian deacon, Rev. Mr. MacPherson. September 3, this year, fell on the Monday of a long weekend, and many faithful Catholics from other parts of the province were able to travel to pray with us.

Fr. Boulet preached on the example of the life of St. Pius X.  His enemies are still our enemies, the enemies of Christ and the Church.  We live in the same struggle against the heresy of modernism that St. Pius X so strongly opposed.  St. Pius X has also given us the remedy to this ill:  frequent and fervent reception of Holy Communion, by adults and children.  St. Pius X is loved, perhaps more than for anything else, because he lowered the age required for first Holy Communion.  He encouraged children to receive this precious sacrament as soon as they reached the age of reason, and obtained sufficient knowledge.  He saw that God’s grace had to be rooted into souls at a young age, because the modern world would threaten the sanctity of children, even in the security of their homes.  This holy pope also encouraged adults to receive the Bread of Life more frequently, as the food to sustain their spiritual lives in this time of temptation.  With the graces obtained for the Church by the increase of Communions, and by his strong hand on the government of the Church, St. Pius X was able to beat down the wicked head of modernism for two generations.

Mass ended with solemn benediction.  Then filled by God’s graces, we went to St. Mary’s Hall to enjoy a potluck luncheon, prepared by the ladies of the parish. At the end of this meal, Fr. Boulet rose and spoke at length, on the life of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.  It was Fr. Boulet’s privilege to study under the direction of Archbishop Lefebvre at the seminary in Econe, Switzerland. We heard of the long public career of Archbishop Lefebvre, as a missionary in Africa, seminary superior, Apostolic delegate to all French speaking Africa, superior of the Holy Ghost Fathers, and defender of tradition at Vatican II. But Fr. Boulet also gave us a more personal account of the “retirement years” of the Archbishop. Archbishop Lefebvre was always approachable, and Fr. Boulet told us that he would stop by the Archbishop’s office to speak of his own concerns – at least whenever the Archbishop was actually at Econe, and not off traveling the world to give the sacrament of confirmation.

We are the spiritual sons of St. Pius X and Archbishop Lefebvre.  We endeavor to bring their spirit of ardent love for Christ, missionary zeal for souls, and firm faith, here to British Columbia, and wherever we go.  Pray for the success of this new foundation.