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Alumni Returns with Landmark Biography By Katherine Loughrey, BAAJ '99, BA '00 |
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Jamieson visited with former professor, Dr. Cronin, and former classmate (now part-time faculty at St. Thomas), Hugh Williams, BA ’72, while in Fredericton presenting his newly released landmark biography of Bishop Remi De Roo at Holy Cross House, February 28. In the Avant Garde, The Prophetic Catholicism of Remi De Roo (and politics in the Catholic Church), is a first-time biographical study of Bishop DeRoo’s headline-making career including the recent financial saga which unfolded after his retirement in 1999. The book examines his life and career with a special focus on the politics that divide the Catholic Church. Jamieson has closely observed DeRoo since 1975, when the Bishop emerged as the spokesperson for the Social Affairs Commission of the Conference of Canadian Catholic Bishops with their sharpened focus on social issues. DeRoo’s work in that field peaked in 1983, with the Ethical Reflections on the Crisis in the Canadian Economy which virtually made DeRoo a household name, and an icon of the Canadian left according to Jamieson. Jamieson was the founding editor of the independent Island Catholic News, which he edited and operated during DeRoo’s last twelve years as Bishop of Victoria. He also published a history of Catholics on Vancouver Island, Victoria: Demeres to DeRoo A History of the first 150 years of Catholicism on Vancouver Island (Ekstasis Editions 1997). Jamieson was the first lay editor of the progressive Prairie Messenger and was an associate editor of New Maritimes in the 80’s. For a copy of Jamieson’s new book, contact Samarhan Press by email at icn@islandnet.com, by fax at 250-920-0262, by phone at 250-920-0233, or write to PO Box 5715, Victoria BC, V8R 6S8. |
“Nineteen
seventy two was a particularly good year for philosophy students at
St. Thomas University,” said Dr. Frank Cronin, retired St. Thomas
philosophy professor, as he introduced writer, poet and Catholic Journalist
Patrick Jamieson, BA ’72. “Pat was very interested
in what the hierarchy of the Catholic Church was doing, and this remained
a fascination throughout his life as he put to use the values of his
liberal arts education.”