Spotlight Layman: Stanislaus Blanchard
Born at Rustico in 1854, he was the son of Marin Blanchard and his wife Anne Martin. His father was a school teacher and one of the promoters and first cashier of the Farmer’s Bank in Rustico.
Stan, the youngest of eleven children, received his early education in schools conducted by his father, after which he attended St. Dunstan’s College for two years and taught school for another two years. He then began the private study of law in Charlottetown with lawyer William Sullivan (later premier of P.E.I. and long-time chief justice here).
In 1881 he was admitted to the bar of P.E.I. and began the practice of law in Charlottetown in partnership with Edward Bayfield.
In 1905 Blanchard was appointed judge for King’s County, a position he held until his death. He was the first Island Acadian to become a lawyer and the first also to become a judge.
For twenty years Stanislaus was chairman of the Charlottetown School Board and for more than twenty-five years organist and choir director at St. Dunstan’s Cathedral. In 1883 he had married Marie Painchaud from the Magdalene Islands and they were parents of eleven children.
Stanislaus Blanchard died at his home near the cathedral on August 27, 1915 from a cerebral hemorrhage at age 61. His large funeral took place from the cathedral on Sunday afternoon at which Father Gregory MacLellan preached the sermon. Burial took place in the Catholic Cemetery.
A newspaper article of the day stated that the city had lost an excellent citizen, a man of sterling character and a musician of exceptional talent. The Blanchard family was notably musical and three of the daughters took their turn as cathedral organists. The Blanchard tombstone in the Catholic Cemetery adds the words “a family of musicians.” The last family member, Albert, was master of a number of musical expressions and died in 1974. Well done good and faithful servants. Rest now in peace.
Tragedies over Miscouche
Some families unfortunately get hit hard and young by the sting of death. This is what happened within the family of Cyril and Evelyn Gaudet in Miscouche over a short period of life’s journey. In 1963 Maurice Gaudet, aged 26, was killed in a mining accident near Vancouver when a dynamite charge ignited prematurely, killing him and a fellow worker. Maurice had served with the RCMP awhile and was also an accomplished pilot, dropping off Guardian newspapers on the Island and being a bush pilot in the West.
In 1965 Charles Gaudet, aged 16, was involved in a single-car accident on the Linkletter Road near Summerside. Treated first at the Prince County Hospital, he was airlifted on a mercy flight to Halifax but was dead on arrival.
In 1970, Paul Gaudet, aged 24, died accidentally in an Alberta car accident. Then in 1980 Gordon Gaudet, aged 21, died after being struck by a car near the Miscouche church on his way home at night from the Parish Centre. May they all rest in peace.
This Gaudet family had six boys and five girls, so soon reduced by four in their prime of life. The father died reasonably young, leaving behind a valiant widow of great faith and balance, along with the remaining seven family members.
Our cathedral’s centennial year: memories by Father O’Shea
During the 1950s the 11 am Sunday Mass at the basilica was the chosen one for me, seated four seats from the back. The celebrant of the High Mass most regularly was SDU professor Father Richard Ellsworth, a very dignified man in mid-life with clear diction and a good singer as well.
Just before that Mass in a full church, rector Father Pat McMahon would lead out 30 or more extra altar boys, have them genuflect together and seat them neatly on each side of the sanctuary. The preachers on those Sundays were usually the younger priests on staff who quite often seemed tense and stuck closely to their notes. The pulpit in those years was down in the nave, high up a curved stairway by the front pillar on the right side of the assembly. At that High Mass the bishop (Boyle or MacEachern) would be seated in his special place which no doubt made the younger preachers extra jittery!!
At that 11 am Sunday Mass there was no communion served. Strange in a way but maybe having to fast from midnight was the practical reason. On one particular Sunday, however, two well-dressed young men, obviously from out of town, walked up at Communion time and knelt at the rail. After some quick whispering around the altar, Father Ellsworth opened the tabernacle door and came down with communion for the two. It was an interesting sidelight, deftly handled.
Another Island family of priests: the Sullivans
Leo Sullivan: born in Montague Parish in 1896 but moved to Cardigan with family in his childhood. Worked on the farm awhile, at St. Dunstan’s College for six years, then St. Augustine’s Seminary in Toronto. Ordained at Cardigan by Bishop Louis O’Leary in 1927 for the Diocese of Calgary. Pastor of four parishes, including many missions. Named a monsignor, died while driving his car in Calgary in 1969. Buried in Calgary.
Joe Sullivan: born in Montague Parish in 1898 and moved to Cardigan while young. At St. Dunstan’s for six years, Grand Seminary of Quebec, ordained at St. Dunstan’s Basilica by Bishop Louis O’Leary in 1925 for the Archdiocese of Edmonton. Pastor of four parishes with many missions. Died in his rectory in 1967 with burial in Edmonton.
Peter Sullivan: born in Montague in 1900 and moved to Cardigan as a child. At St. Dunstan’s for five years, Grand Seminary of Quebec, ordained in Edmonton by Archbishop Henry O’Leary for that archdiocese in 1925. Pastor of two parishes and many missions. A priest of the new Diocese of St. Paul from 1948. Died in hospital in 1957 with burial in Clyde, his last parish.
The parents of these priests were William Sullivan and his wife Rose Rooney who had eleven children. These three priests were the youngest three of the family.
A St. Patrick’s Day Tale
They met on O’Connell Bridge in Dublin early one St Patrick’s Day.
first: Good morning Mike, how are you?
second: I’m fine Pat but my name is not Mike.
first: Well I’m not Pat either so it mustn’t be either of us.
Father O’Shea’s Diocesan Reflections #38 March 14, 2019