The Lucknow Sentinel, 1989-02-01, Page 18,a.
Page 18—I.neknow'Seitinele Wednesday, February 1,1!89
riest took Mass to battleground 1
Moms and tots
"Moms and tots" time at the :arena ion
Tuesdays and Wednesdays gives the little
ones time to test their agility an the ice.
and a how goal mom is on<her skates.
When ( photographer' arrived Wit: week
Janice Eadie, Robert McInnes and Kathy
McInnes were having a rest; Bobby Ray-
mond and Angela Elliott were practicing
their faeeoff strategy while Bobby's mom,
Loree acted as referee. Pictured above is
Michael Caslick giving a helping -hand to
his cousin Meaghan McPherson.
(Photo by Pat Livingston)
Editor's note: This article is reprinted
from The Catholic Register for the interest
of our readers. Father Dalton is a brother
of Ray Dalton, RR 7 Lucknow.
ByPatria C. Rivera
The Catholic Register
The Catholic Register's Nov. 12 issue
featured his photograph on page 16 under
the caption "We will remember them." It
was an invitation from Catholic
Cemeteries to attend the Memorial Day
Servicein honor of armed forces veterans
at the Holy Cross Cemetery.
The photograph was taken 44 years ago,
two days before historic D -Day, June 6,
1944, the day when the Allied liberation
forces landed in France.
The picture showed a priest hearing Con-
fession in an army jeep. Although the per-
sons in the photograph were not identified,
men who joined the Essex Scottish Bar-
racks will remember the priest and the
penitent on that day June, 1944. The priest
was no other than Father Michael Joseph
Dalton, Catholic chaplain of the 4th
Brigade and the penitent, piper 'Tom
Burns.
It was a war which for six years Fr.
Dalton wouldrecord in his diary, and from
which he would draw a lot of memories.
Early this November, the 87 -year-old
priest received the Heart of Gold Award
from Air Canada and community
newspapersin recognitiotrof his -service -to
the carnmimity.
Born in Goderich, Ont., Fr. Dalton
started his religious education at Assump-
tion College in Windsor and then attended
St. Peter's Seminary in London. He com-
pleted his bachelor's at London's Western
University. It was while serving as assis-
tant pastor at St. Mpbonsus Church in
Windsor that he volunteered to serve as
chaplain during the war.
By the terms of their commission
chaplains wield no coitunand in the runn-
ing of the army. However, as they are
members of the armed forces, their work
must be closely linked with the army by
making religion play a practical part in
everyday 'life.
In Fr. Dalton's case, it meant brining
Holy Communion and Mass in the warfront
and being plastered, in the dugouts by
bombs, mortars, shells and machine guns.
As the army moved from camp to camp,
soldiers were often "beyond walking
distance to church. Fr. Dalton, with his
faithful -aide de camp Louis Bergeron,
moved with the men and brought the
church to them. Mr. Bergeron would erect
the portable altar from a suitcase (which
Fr. Dalton often mentions in his war
memoirs as his collapsible "Cathedral")
in various places: from the windswept
sands of Camp Borden to army trucks and
mess halls to the bow of a raiding ship.
Fr. Dalton recalls : "Sometimes we were
in the blackout reading only with candle
light, other tunes in a dazzling sun, then in
hospitals, field ambulances, field dressing
stations, in a mobile laundry on New
Year's Eve, in an Anglican hallon
Christmas Eve, and in the private chapel
of (writer) Hiliaire Belloc.
"Often," he added, "there was no choir
exeeptthe x oarof-the Luftwaffe overhead,
or the shrill siren heralding the approach
of enemy action."
--- At At some Masses there were hundreds
who attended at others, only half a dozen.
He remembers one particular Mass right
after the tragedy of Dieppe when only 44 of
the 550 Essex Scottish who invaded France
Classified
readers 'rake
great customers be-
cause they're alert,
informed and eager
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•
with the Allied Forces returned.
As he noted in his diary: "Sunday, Aug.
23, 1941. I preached shortest serrnon...It
was hard to face lads, many empty
seats, so many old reliabies missing, but I
asked to build up new spirit, to close in the
ranks and to pray for fallen. When we
enlisted we bargained for hardships of
war, but we didn't realize we would 'miss
our pais so much after three years of
friendship. Through the `Communion of
Saints' they are still with us in spirit...Per-
sonal loss is nation's gain."
For his efforts during the war, Fr.
Dalton was conferred the Member of the
British Empire medal by King George VI
in 1943, one the first Catholic priests to be
honored by a British sovereign.
When he came back to Windsor after the
war, Fr. Dalton devoted his time to
building churches and chaplaincies in the
various parishes. In 1957, the Order of
Alhambra, the historical branch of the
Knights of Columbus, presented Fr.
Dalton with a shield for his work with the
Knights of Columbus and the various
chaplaincies.
From 1959 to the late 1960s he worked as
pastor of Kingsville, the University of
Detroit and St. Joe's Summer Homes.
Since 1970 he has administered to the
residents of the Sacred Heart Villa, a con-
valescent home for seniors in Courtland,
Ont. When not visiting hospitals in` the area
or the parish in Tillsonburg, Fr. Dalton
lielpsFatirer-FrancisX. Paul, pastor of-St.-
John
f-St:John de Brebeuf and Companions Parish
in Delhi, Ont.
At 87, Fr. Dalton attributes his good
health to fasting on Sundays: "It gives me
strength." In his spare time, he assembles
rosary beads. "It's an easy hobby for
seniors."
Crime Stoppers award
winners
The Board -of -Directors of Crime Stop-
pers of Grey Bruce Inc. is pleased to an-
nounce the 1988 award winners. These
awards were presented during the first an-
nual Crime Stoppers Commurrity Recogni-
tion NightYon January 20:
The Crime Stoppers "Award of Merit"
was presented to a number of community
minded businesses who assisted in putting
the Crime Stoppers Community Services
Vehicle on the road: Tony Carson, presi-
dent, Peninsula Ford Mercury Sales for
the 1988 Ford Tempo; Grey Bruce In-
surance Brokers Association for supplying
insurance coverage; Bob Whetstone,
president, Rutherford's Advertising for
signs on the car; Jacque and Marjorie
Pellitier of Hwy. 26 Variety and Texaco
Canada Inc. for their donation of fuel; and
Joe MacDonald, Joe MacDonald Car Wash
for keeping everything clean.
The Law Enforcement Co-ordinator of
the Year Award was presented to Con-
stable Mac Barber and the Ontario Provin-
cial Police, Walkerton detachment, for :the
highest success rate from Crime Stoppers
tips received. The interest in the program
by Constable Barber is commended by the
Board of Directors.
Charlie Fitch, Manager of Food City,
Owen Sound, was.tbe 1988 recipient of the
"Crime Stoppers Citizen of the Year
Award". oh • lie, as he prefers to be call-
ed, bas given hunodredsof volunteer hours
to the promotion and rig of funds for
theProgram.. He iaalways cottdng up with
new and innovative ideas of the better-
ment of Crime Stoppers.
Drew Ferguson, CKNX TV, Grey Bruce
Bureau received the "Television Re-
enactment Award" for 1988. He has pro-
duced 34 TV re-enactments 10 date all
through Grey and Bruce Counties. Even
though it only is shown on TV for 60 to 90
seconds, the planning and shooting of a re-
enactment takes more than eight hours of
his time. ' .
TheEkpress, Meaford, and Rob Brebner
were awarded the 1988 "Print Media
Award" . There were many tough decisions
Made in the selection of our winner. The
Express has given excellent coverage to
not only Crime Stoppers but to any
organization with a crime prevention
message to present.
A special "Award of Merit" ° was
presented to radio station CFOS/CFPS
and Rick 'Moss for their efforts in pro-
moting Crime Stoppers over the airwaves.
It was a pleasure having CFOS/CFPS
sponsor the Plying Fathers Hockey Game
in November of 1987, Family Day at Kelso
Beach and the annual evening. We are in-
deed fortunate to. have such a community
minded organization in Grey and Bruce
Counties.
We are only able to honour a few of its
hundreds of volunteers and donors with
these wards, however, the efforts of
everyone have contributed to the success
of Crime Stoppers, a truly community pro-
gram that works.
The community would like to send sym-
pathy to both the Sim and the 'Car-
ruthiers huolly en theaway of
Lillian Simpson :last :week � AlthoUlth
Mrs. Simpson had been in Tomtit* for
some time she bad lived near by, taught
2131sic. at z t of the :achoods in the area,
played the organ at the Ashfield
Presbyterian Churl for a , number of
years and raised her family too. Mrs.
Simpson lovedher oak. ympathy to all
who mourn her Passing.
Mrs. Oordon Robb spent a coup of
days in Maley with her daughter, son-in-
law .and grandchildren, Bob and Sandra
Joe Darling.
d Mi el MacDonald, thildron
George ood Andrea MacDonald of Kin -
vent
1 -•vent '[tee weekenfl wi+hth their
by lfae Webster
♦y ..,....,F.�..nr" s.,, '..., .rsar F
lna
and Finlay and`Margie 4 itaeDonald•
Harold andPeggy Jardine.of Holliston
visited on Wd . y with Harold's -sister
and niece Ihetta and Marion MacLennan.
Finlay, rey, Pega, Rhetta and
Marion MacLennan, had Sunday dinner at
Point Clark with Margaret, Tina and
Jason Morton. daughterTina Morton of Point Clark, Of
Mewl* Morton and a granddaughter of
Ritetta Mac Leman has parsed her hair
course with honours and now has
hair Irening position incarde•