The Pillars Trust Fund

The lay men and women who today make up the Directors of the Pillars Trust Fund are people much like their predecessors, who with Bishop Leonard J. Crowley founded Pillars in 1972. They too believe deeply in the English Catholic community and in preserving and passing on Catholic tradition, heritage and faith through services and programs unique to the community's needs.  The Pillars Trust Fund, through and with the financial assistance of its English Catholic community, supports and maintains the apostolic, charitable and religious educational activities deemed fundamental to this community.

As President of Pillars, I take this occasion to thank all of our supporters for the confidence and trust they have placed in the Directors of Pillars for the work accomplished, on their behalf, for the benefit of the entire community. Under the guidance of the Honorary Chairman, Bishop Anthony Mancini, along with the collaboration of Monsignor Sean Harty, Director of the Office for English Pastoral Services, and in conjunction with all of our supporters we have much to be proud of and thankful for.

I agree with Msgr. Harty when he says, "The strength and support engendered by the name Pillars is aptly reflected in the goals of the Pillars Trust Fund.  Through Pillars support of the many services to our English Catholic community, we are all together contributing to and strengthening the mission and activities of our diocesan Church.  Please contimue your generous contributions to Pillars Trust."

It was in 1962 that Cardinal Paul-Emile Leger asked a fluently bilingual Rev. Leonard Crowley to begin coordinating services and activities for Montreal's English-speaking faithful.  In 1971, Rev. Crowley was named Auxiliary Bishop of Montreal and Director of the Office for English Language Affairs.

Always willing to "encourage individual initiative" and under the implementation of Vatican 2, Bishop Crowley organized and strengthened the  English-speaking parishes in Montreal and encouraged increase participation of lay people in liturgical duties.  In 1972, sensing a change in the political landscape of the province, Bishop Crowley conceived the Pillars Trust Fund.  As Honorary Chairman of Pillars for 25 years, Bishop Crowley called upon volunteers from the business world, clergy and parishes to serve on its Board.

Pillars encouraged the English-speaking Catholic community of Montreal to take financial responsibility for their apostolic, religious educational and spiritual welfare.  By the end of his tenure (23 years) as Director of OELA, Bishop Crowley had helped establish more that 20 programs and services, including the Catholic Times, Montreal Catholic Counselling and the English Speaking Catholic Council to name a few.  For over two decades with tolerence and vision Bishop Crowley faithfully led, served and represented the needs of Montreal's 250,000 English-speaking Catholics to church and government leaders through an era of political change and through a steady decline in church influence.

Looking back on his time as head of the OELA he remarked, "The faithful people still fill our churches.  It's a good sign - a sign that we're willing to serve others."