Catholic and proud of it.

J.B. Darcy, Fair or Foul the Weather, Creative Publishers, St. John's, Nlfd., 1999, 118 pages, @12.95. Postage paid $15.00.

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There was a big, bold brass Irishman living in St. John's, Newfoundland, from 1889 to 1895. He was Brother Luke Slattery, of the Christian Brothers, and president of St. Bonaventure's boys' college. In 1889, this had been a dying school, under-attended, lacking vision and hope. Brother Slattery with his zeal, wisdom, and energy, revived the school, raised it to new heights of achievement, attracted many new students, and in the process inspired countless boys and parents and teachers, both in his own school and neighbouring ones, both Catholic and Protestant, with higher achievements and goals.

The story is told on 118 pages by Brother J.B. Darcy, now "retired" but still most active after a life of impressive appointments in Newfoundland, the USA, and Ireland. He writes with a lively style and abundant factual detail. He quotes literally from the eloquent letters of his subject, Brother Luke Slattery.

Providence had chosen a strong man for a crushing job. During his seven-year term, Brother Slattery and St. Bonaventure's faced a recurring diphtheria epidemic, a devasting fire that consumed most of the city of St. John's, and a crash of all the country's banks. There were also hostile political elements trying to destroy the Catholic and other denominational schools of Newfoundland. Brother Slattery proved equal to the challenge.

In the aftermath of recent scandalous and depressing accounts of sexual abuse at Mount Cashel and other Newfoundland schools, Brother Darcy's Fair or Foul the Weather is a breath of fresh air, highly recommended for Catholic teachers, parents, students, religious, and pastors.