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Catholic Cemeteries of Halifax

A Look Back 100 Years

2017 09 12 St. Josephs damage Halifax explosion 1917 Box 4 File 18 no. 35 600x400On the morning of Dec. 6, 1917, the outgoing Norwegian relief vessel Imo collided with the incoming munitions vessel the Mont-Blanc in the Halifax harbour. The Mont-Blanc, with its cargo of benzol, picric acid, TNT and gun cotton, caught fire. After burning for 20 minutes, the volatile cargo exploded, causing a blast unsurpassed in human history until the bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

Halifax was devastated. Approximately 2000 people were killed in the explosion or died shortly thereafter from their injuries. About 9000 people sustained injuries. Partial or total loss of sight was widespread, as the windows to which people had been drawn to watch the fire blew inward, sending shards of glass into faces and eyes. The records of St. Joseph’s Orphanage show a sharp increase in admissions and hundreds of children were left completely orphaned or with only one living parent. Many Archdiocesan properties were affected, including St. Joseph’s Church, which was destroyed. St. Mary’s Cathedral, further away from the explosion, fared better, though a bell was cracked and the stained glass windows shattered.

As we mark the 100th Anniversary of the Explosion, we present a few items of interest, drawn from the Archival holdings of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, and other sources.

 KoC Doak ChildrenPic      List of damagesPg3   Very Rev. Charles McManus 72 

Knights of Columbus Halifax Council 1097 and Dec 6, 1917 Explosion (pdf)

Knight Ervin John Doak was kind enough to share some of the results of his research into the involvement of the Knights of Columbus in recovery efforts following with the explosion. Many thanks to Mr. Doak! 

    

†McCarthy-Damages list (pdf)

This list, in Archbishop McCarthy’s handwriting, shows the estimated dollar value of the damage to Archdiocesan properties. According to an online inflation calculator (in Canadian dollars) $1000 in 1917 would equal roughly $15,700 today. The damages in 1917 totalled over $2,300,000. That amount would total over $36,134,939.76 today.

 		  

Sermon (pdf)

What follows is the homily preached at the funeral of Msgr. Charles McManus, at St. Mary’s Cathedral on January 18, 1940 by Rev. Dr. Charles Curran.  Rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral when he died, Fr. McManus had been the pastor of St. Joseph’s Church on the day of the Halifax Explosion.  He worked tirelessly to minister to the dying and injured in the immediate wake of the explosion, and to his devastated congregation in the weeks, and months that followed.  This homily speaks of that experience. 

 

100th yr Anniversary of the Halifax Explosion: remembering the victims

IN 2017 Halifax will recall a major event in its history as many people, organizations, and the city herself, commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Halifax Explosion. This tragic event changed the young city of Halifax and took the lives of hundreds of people. Many of the victims were buried in local Catholic cemeteries which still exist today: Mount Olivet on Mumford Rd. and Holy Cross on South Park St.

These cemeteries are managed by the Catholic Cemeteries of Halifax of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth. Given the historical significance of these two cemeteries the Archdiocese wanted to commemorate the victims of the Explosion in a special way.

Yellow Markers

To increase the awareness of the grave sites of Explosion victims in the Mount Olivet and Holy Cross cemeteries, yellow, wooden dowels have been placed near the specific graves as identifiers. This simple yet significant initiative has been helpful for family members looking to find the final resting places of relatives who died in the Explosion. The yellow markers recently caught the attention of the Metro Halifax newspaper. You will find the story by clicking here.

New book: Gone but not Forgotten: Victims of the Halifax Explosion in Catholic Cemeteries

In honour of the 100th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion, the Archdiocese has published a book titled: Gone But Not Forgotten: Victims of the Halifax Explosion in Catholic Cemeteries. The book aims to recognize and remember the hundreds of Catholic who perished in the Explosion. Shared within its pages are the names and stories of over 200 victims who were buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery and Holy Cross Cemetery. Copies of Gone But Not Forgotten sell for $25.00 and are available for purchase at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 1531 Grafton St., Halifax.

Cemetery Mass

Each year there are annual Masses in our cemeteries to remember the faithful departed. This year the Mount Olivet Cemetery Mass will take place on Saturday, September 9, at 10:00am with Archbishop Mancini as the celebrant. All are welcome. Please bring a lawn chair! In the event of rain the Mass will take place at Saint Agnes Church, 6903 Mumford Rd., Halifax.

On December 6, Archbishop Mancini will also celebrate a Memorial Mass at 12:15pm at Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Halifax Explosion.

Halifax Explosion pictures

Here is some pictures to remember the victims of the Halifax Explosion in the year of the 100th Anniversary.

Halifax Explosion victims buried in our cemeteries.

LOST book cover 310x400 72

CTV video clip about Our new book "Gone But Not Forgotten" and some stories of the victims.
Click here to view story.

Archives Contact

Sharon Riel 
Archivist - Halifax Office
Archdiocese of Halifax - Yarmouth 
P.O. Box 1527
Halifax, NS B3J 2Y3
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
(902) 429-9800 ext 314

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