Farewell Mass for Students with Fr. Paul

There was a Mass of Thanksgiving with Fr. Paul on Sunday at the Chapel – his last 5 p.m. Mass with the students. Excellent turnout. Afterward there was a reception at the Black Doors, Morrison Hall, complete with a slide show of favourite Fr. Paul photos and a special book of farewell messages for friends to write in. The students gave Fr. Paul a memory book with lots of pictures and personal messages, as well as a very stylish varsity-style StFX jacket. He was obviously pleased!

Moving Day at StFX

It was moving day today on campus and in town. It's the last day of exams and the boulevard is lined with cars, vans and truck as parents come to collect their kids (and a lot more stuff than they arrived with in September). Some students are just moving from one apartment to another in town, like these guys who were moving a bed up Highland Drive on a shopping cart at lunchtime today. Things were going okay until they reached the point just past Fatima St. where it goes downhill, sharply. At that time the bed decided to do the steering. The guys were still in good cheer though and didn't mind me taking their photo.

Alumni Recognition Award winners

This was a tough job. The alumni and staff on the awards committee had a very difficult time selecting one winner from each undergraduate class for the $1500 award. There were some incredible students in the running for this special recognition. Of 43 applicants, 12 were short-listed for interviews. The winners are:
First year: Michael MacIsaac, Inverness, NS
Second year: Kaitlin Russell, Stellarton, NS
Third year: Melissa MacLean, Scoudouc, NS
Fourth year: Lila Pavey, Dartmouth

The winners are invited to read their essays during the Hall of Honour ceremony at Homecoming 2007.

Fr. Paul MacNeil to leave StFX after 11 years

Fr. Paul announced at Sunday's masses in the Chapel that he will be leaving StFX sometime this summer after giving 11 years of spiritual guidance and leadership to the StFX community. He will take a sabbatical year for renewal and study before assuming a post with a parish in the Diocese of Antigonish.

As StFX chaplain, Fr. Paul has been a friend to so many students, faculty alumni, staff and members of the community. He will be greatly missed.

A mass of thanksgiving is taking place at the Chapel at 5pm this Sunday, on April 22nd, with a social gathering at the Black Doors following. There will be a book of “Thanks for the Memories” for people to sign, offering best wishes to Fr. Paul as he moves into his next life journey.

A celebration for the wider community will take place at a future date.

Fr. Paul has been a tremendous gift to StFX for these past 11 years and we hope he enjoys his sabbatical year. He will most certainly be welcomed with open arms in the parish that is blessed with his appointment in 2008.

Faculty retirements

It is with mixed feelings that we celebrate the retirement of faculty members. While we wish them the very best as they embark on a new journey, we know we'll miss their friendship on campus and the very significant contribution they make to the student experience at StFX.

This year a long list of accomplished and popular professors have reached that milestone. This afternoon they are being honoured at a party at Bloomfield Centre. Our new retirees are:

Dr. Dorothy Lander, Adult Education
Dr. Norm Seymour, Biology
Dr. Rom Palepu, Chemistry
Dr. Phil Milner, English
Dr. James Taylor, English
Dr. Patricia Hogan, History
Dr. Paul Phillips, History
Dr. John Quinn, Mathematics, Statistics & CS
Dr. Ernst Schuegraf, Mathematics, Statistics & CS
Dr. Naeem Jan, Physics
Dr. Ken den Heyer, Psychology
Ms. Addy Doucette, Theatre Antigonish
Mr. Al Connors, Chemistry