Passing of our beloved Fr. Stan - Announcement by Dr. Andy Hakin

To the campus community,

Some Xaverians stand out not because of their career accomplishments or because of their philanthropy; they stand out because they embody the values we hold dear as members of this special community. Last evening we lost one of those remarkable Xaverians -- Rev. Stanley MacDonald, Class of 1954, our beloved Fr. Stan, has gone to his rest.

A native of Glace Bay, Cape Breton, in the early 1950s a young Stanley MacDonald came to StFX, where he was president of his freshman class, played varsity hockey and rugby, and was involved with the Amateur Athletic Association. In his yearbook, “Stumpy” was described in part as having a “winning personality” and someone who “makes friends easily and lastingly.” Some things never changed.

After graduating in 1954, the future Fr. Stanley attended Holy Heart Seminary in Halifax, eventually being ordained a priest for the Diocese of Antigonish. He served as pastor of parishes throughout the Diocese and elsewhere until his retirement in 2008, when he became a full-time resident of Mockler Hall. The rest is StFX history.

Fr. Stan soon became a recognizable (and beloved) figure in Morrison Hall and at varsity sporting events. To watch StFX students and members of the broader StFX and Antigonish communities interact with him on campus was nothing short of inspiring. He always had a smile, a fist bump, and a cheery word for everyone he met. Perhaps most notably, he turned an already popular StFX chant into something that transcended generations. Just months ago, he surprised the Class of 2025 by sneaking into their X-Ring Ceremony and chanting “Go X Go” from the back of the hall. He made a similarly memorable appearance earlier this Spring at the Athletics banquet. And just as importantly, his interactions with students elsewhere on campus, and especially in Morrison Hall, created lasting memories for all he encountered.

Fr. Stan recognized the power of StFX and of the community that it fostered during his time as a student and later when he returned to his beloved alma mater in retirement. “At StFX,” he said in an interview in 2022, “I felt that everyone really cared: the professors, those who cleaned the rooms, the Sisters of St. Martha, just everyone I met at Antigonish. You could feel it. But I think that’s the best thing about community. To create change, you don’t have to do it all on your own.”

And that’s in many ways what Fr. Stan did at StFX. His hospitality to those who shared a table and conversation with him at meal hall; his enthusiastic support of women’s and men’s athletics, regardless of how well they were doing on the field, ice, or court; his warm acceptance of all people; it was all infectious. And it inspired the Xaverian community to become a more hospitable, supportive, and caring place.

I’ve asked Dr. Barry MacKenzie, StFX’s Ceremonial Officer, to keep the campus community apprised of funeral service details as they become available.

Fr. Stanley MacDonald was, for seventeen wonderful years, an unofficial guidance counsellor, book club guide, spiritual advisor, meal companion, and the ultimate StFX Super Fan. He represented the very best of being Xaverian. May his noble spirit rest in peace.

Go X Go.

Andy
 

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