A Tradition of Service

The Pillars Trust Fund can trace its roots to the founding days of Montreal's English-speaking Catholic community.

The Early Years
Since the early 1800s, members of the community have banded together and given generously of themselves and of their time to build their community. The results of their work are clearly evident today. The existence of institutions such as Camp Kinkora, St. Mary's Hospital, the Father Dowd Home, the St. Patrick's Orphan Asylum (now, Montreal St. Patrick's Foundation), Catholic Community Services, St. Patrick's Square, and a wide array of social service and educational institutions, reflects the depth of the community's commitment to look after its distinctive needs.

In 1972, it became apparent that the community needed to consolidate its fund-raising efforts to support its services.  In response, Monsignor Leonard Crowley, Auxiliary Bishop of Montreal, founded The Pillars Trust Fund.

Affirmative Spiritual Leadership
Bishop Crowley guided and inspired the work of The Pillars Trust Fund for a quarter of a century, completing his final term with the Fund in June, 1997. Jean-Claude Cardinal Turcotte has expressed his admiration for the services rendered by Bishop Crowley to the English-speaking Catholic Community, pointing out that he has represented the community in a clear and enlightened way, with courage and effectiveness.

Over the years, many services and organizations blossomed because Bishop Crowley had vision and confidence: vision to see what was good for the community and confidence in those who came to him with ideas.
Bishop Crowley's successors, the late Bishop Neil Willard, and  Bishop Anthony Mancini, whole-heartedly continue to contribute and share in the spirit, mission and work of the Pillars Trust Fund with a vision to the future.
For 30 years, thanks in no small measure to the dedication and inspired leadership of its Bishops and volunteer Directors, millions of dollars have been raised by the Pillars Trust Fund and have been used to provide genuine support for its community needs. The Fund's client beneficiaries now number more than 20 (compared to eight in 1972-73). The Diocesan Priesthood Guild, Montreal Catholic Counselling Services, The Catholic Times monthly newspaper, Newman Centre at McGill University and the English Speaking Catholic Council are some of the client beneficiaries that have made a great difference in the lives of many English Catholics in the community.

Dedicated Volunteer Members
The Pillars Trust Fund Board of Directors is composed of members drawn from the English-speaking parishes of the Archdiocese of Montreal. All are volunteer members who give generously of their time and expertise and include representatives from banking, law, life insurance, accounting, business, community and social service agencies, and the priesthood.

Thanks to the hard work of its committed volunteers and the generosity of its many supporters, The Pillars Trust Fund is building a solid foundation for future generations of English Catholics by ensuring that all members of the community — clergy and religious, lay people, singles and parents, young and elderly — have access to counselling, spiritual guidance, educational programs and other services.

English Catholic Community
The Pillars Trust Fund depends on the generosity of the entire English Catholic community — approximately 240,000 people in 42 separate parishes — to carry out its vital work.