Fr. (Louis) Clark McAULAY, C.Ss.R.
Fr. Clark died early in the morning on Sunday, November 20, 2016, the Feast of Christ The King, at The Houses of Providence, Toronto, Ontario. He was born on August 10, 1924 in Charlottetown, PEI, the son of Louis McAulay and Carrie Sheehan. Fr. Clark grew up and was educated in the city of his birth, attending Queen’s Square Primary School and St. Dunstan’s High School. He graduated from St. Dunstan’s University in 1947 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree.
After graduation, Fr. Clark attended St. Mary’s College, the Redemptorist Juvenate in Brockville, ON (1947-1948) and entered the Redemptorist Novitiate (1948-1949) at St. Alphonsus Seminary in Woodstock, ON. He made his First Profession of Vows on August 02, 1949 and attended the same Seminary for his theological studies. Fr. Clark was ordained on June 29, 1952 by Bishop John Cody of the London Diocese and celebrated his first Solemn Mass at St. Dunstan’s Basilica in Charlottetown.
During his studies in Rome (1953-1956), Fr. Clark dined with Cardinal Roncalli, the future Saint Pope John XXIII, in Venice. In 1956, Fr. Clark earned a J.C.L. (Doctorate) in Canon Law at Lateran University in Rome.
Back in Canada, Fr. Clark was Professor of Canon Law at St. Alphonsus Seminary, Woodstock, ON (1956-1957) and Holy Redeemer College, Windsor, ON (1957-1966).
Since 1966, he served at the following Redemptorist Parishes: St. Patrick’s, Quebec City (Pastor 1966-1981 and 1988-1999); St. Teresa’s, St. John’s, NL (1981-1984); Holy Redeemer, Sudbury, ON (Pastor 1984-1988); St. Peter’s, Saint John, NB (1999-2006); and St. Patrick’s, Toronto, ON – The National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help – from 2006-2015. Fr. Clark moved to Providence Centre, Toronto, ON in May, 2015.
Fr. McAulay was immortalized in St. Patrick’s Parish, Quebec City, with a bronze bust, sculpted by Anglican Archdeacon Peter Joyce. A gifted tenor, Fr. Clark recorded Irish, Scottish and English folk songs on a CD, entitled ‘Songs of My Spirit’ at the age of 80, to raise funds for a Church Building and Renovation Project at Chapel Grove, NB.
Viewing will take place at St. Patrick’s Parish, 131 McCaul Street, Toronto, ON on Wednesday, November 23, 2016, commencing at 10:30 a.m. This will allow the great numbers who attend Mass and the Novena Devotions each Wednesday to pay their respects. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Thursday, November 24, 2016 commencing at 10:00 a.m. An additional Liturgy later in the week, and Burial, will take place in Charlottetown, PEI. Details for the Service in PEI are still pending.