Photo courtesy of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College
BARRY’S BAY- It has been said, “There is no greater force against evil in the world than the love of a man and woman in marriage.” If this statement is true, local priest Fr. Joseph Hattie has done much to eradicate evil in the world by teaching, forming and inspiring married couples from coast to coast.
Having spent the last nine years in residence at St. Hedwig’s parish and as assistant chaplain to Seat of Wisdom College, this much-loved priest will soon follow the orders of his religious superior and will move to Ottawa. Once pandemic restrictions are lifted, of course.
In a message printed in the St. Hedwig’s bulletin, Fr. Hattie wrote, “At this time I would like to say that it has been a privilege for me to have been with you and to serve you these past 9 years. Thank you for your many kindnesses, your prayers, and your encouragement. Please continue your prayers for me, and especially that the Lord will bless the Missionary Congregation of Mary Immaculate with more vocations. Please also help the College with prayers. I thank the Lord for my time in the Bay and I will continue to keep you all in my prayers. Let us keep close to Our Lady and we will all meet in heaven. Love & prayers, Fr. Joseph Hattie, OMI”
Hattie was born in Yarmouth, and grew up in Digby, Nova Scotia. In his autobiography posted on the Seat of Wisdom website, he says of his childhood, “They were good years. In those years I gave a lot of time to playing sports: hockey, baseball, soccer, swimming, tennis, golf. I enjoyed working as a caddy for several summers and walked many a mile as a caddy and met a number of good people.”
One of the many good people Hattie met through sports was an Oblate priest about whom Hattie says, “…Fr. Frank MacCarthy was a natural born golfer. I caddied for him when he played at the local golf course. He usually played with the local pro and some of the best golfers in the area.” The Oblates, who have been one of the driving forces in missionary work across Canada, also influenced Hattie in a number of other ways. Eventually he would join their ranks serving in dioceses from Halifax to Vancouver; he also spent time in Lourdes, France.
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