Abstract

In 1952 Benedict Labre House opened as a house of hospitality for the poor and as a center for the lay apostolate. Situated at 418 La Gauchetière Street in St. Patrick's parish, Benedict Labre House served Montreal's marginalized residents. In 1954, a parallel mission, Patricia House, was established in Griffintown to assist marginalized women and their children. In 1955, Benedict Labre House moved into Griffintown, a small community in St. Ann's Ward, which was once the historical home of the city's Irish Catholic community. Benedict Labre House evolved out of a confluence of the theology and praxis of several American and Canadian lay movements. One of many lay organizations operating within Quebec during this period, this Catholic lay organization was not mandated by the church hierarchy. Despite its unofficial status, Benedict Labre House became known as a vital Catholic lay organization. Through an informal approach to formation, this lay apostolate provided theological, spiritual and practical education to Montreal English lay Catholics from 1952-1966. Key to Benedict Labre House in this period was the founding group, including Tony Walsh, and other lay people from Montreal's English Catholic community. This thesis seeks to demythologize Tony Walsh and Benedict Labre House through a critical analysis of the sources. Using many primary documents, such as newspapers, correspondence and interviews, this historical account seeks to examine the evolution of Benedict Labre House's lay theology, its theory and praxis during its founding, 1952-1955, its development, 1955-1959, and its peak and decline in the Vatican II years, 1960-1966.