|
|
|
|
LATER YEARS Father Abraham Kappankunnel, a missionary priest from Kerala, India, and the first non-Slovak priest since Father Maynard, took over in 1988. Like his predecessor, he too strove to incorporate changes while maintaining traditional elements . |
|
|
|
|
|
The current priest is Father Bernard Campbell who in 1997 celebrated his fortieth anniversary the priesthood. while at St.Peter's. Though hailing from Newfoundland, Father Campbell was in Fort William at the time of St.Peter's fiftieth anniversary and remembers the excitement of that celebration. He is now shepherding the ninetieth anniversary celebration |
|
|
|
|
|
|
and has been attending to the renovations of the church in preparation - repainting, a new organ for the choir, and planning for a spiritual retreat for the parishioners. The neighbourhood has not grown a great deal in size, and St.Peter's school was closed in the 1990s, but the church continues to evolve and grow and will persevere into the future. One can still see names on the parish registers which trace back to those very early Slovak families who came to Fort William with the dream of a new life and a church of their own - Krupa, Matulak, Gvora, Kompan, Toman, Reguly, Brandza, Hudec, Drndak, Stupendek, Beda, Capulak, Tapak, Zack and Meady (Mikita) to name just a few. Today when the church bell rings, it no longer needs the brawn of the 6' 2 Tomas Kastak (or a team of altar boys) to pull the heavy rope - it turns on with a switch - but it still sounds as sweet and as clear when it calls the faithful to worship today as it did to our ancestors all those long days ago. |
|
|