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Curling father not about to hang up the collar (Journal)

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After 53 years in the priesthood, Father Art Pendergast is retiring from active ministry, but plans to fill in for fellow priests for Sunday masses.

(by Eric McCarthy)

PALMER ROAD – Father Art Pendergast is not ready to slip quietly into retirement.

“It’s not ending yet. It’s just the job here that’s ending,” he said Tuesday, his last day as Parish Priest for Immaculate Conception Parish in Palmer Road and Miminegash.

Fr. Pendergast had been priest of the 500-family parish since 1995. He also served there from 1964-66.

Although he is retiring from full-time ministry, he said he is hoping to get calls from fellow priests looking for him to fill in for Sunday Mass. Already, he is scheduled to say Mass at Lennox Island on June 26.

Fr. Pendergast involved himself in building projects in most parishes where he served and, in that regard, lists the building of the new church in Alberton as one of his proudest building achievements.

He should have ample opportunity to enjoy it as he’ll soon be moving to a new apartment in Alberton.

Other projects he was involved with included a ballfield in Borden, artificial ice fund in Rustico and the Knights of Columbus Hall in Palmer Road.

“I always found it was easy, being the priest (to get the public’s cooperation with projects),” he said. “You had sort of a good influence. People were good listeners.”

He is president of the Western Community Curling Club and has been involved with various renovation projects there, as well.

Click for full story in the Journal-Pioneer.

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