Blog Archives
Bishop Joseph Dabrowski
Bishop Joseph Dabrowski
BISHOP OF THE DIOCESE OF CHARLOTTETOWN
Bishop Joseph Dabrowski was born in 1964, the second of five children, and grew up in
Wysoka Strzyżowska, a small village in the south of Poland. After graduating from a high school run by the Congregation of St. Michael the Archangel, he entered the community. Ordained to the priesthood on 4 May 1991 in Italy, he was assigned to the Michaelite community in London, Ontario. With them, he served as Vice Superior, Advisor, Vice Provincial, and Provincial of the North American Vice Province. Since his episcopal ordination on 14 April 2015 at St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica in London Ontario, he served as auxiliary bishop of London, until being named bishop of Charlottetown in April 2023. He was installed at St. Dunstan’s Cathedral Basilica on June 29, 2023. Bishop Dabrowski enjoys serving and speaking with the faithful of many cultures and languages. He speaks English, Polish, Italian, Spanish and has previously studied French, Russian and Latin. Bishop Dabrowski enjoys playing the guitar, volleyball, tennis, soccer, and skiing. He is a big fan of the Italian football club AS Roma.
Fr. Keith Kennific
Fr. Keith Kennific
Rector
Fr. Keith was appointed rector of the Basilica parish in January 2019. The eldest of six, he grew up in Charlottetown and Parkdale—with many happy times spent on the farm in Morell—and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Charlottetown on May 29, 1992. Since then, he has served in numerous Island parishes. Fr. Keith has a BA from UPEI, a Master of Divinity from St.Augustine’s Seminary/University of Toronto, MA degrees in School Psychology and in Liturgical Studies, and holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regis College/University of Toronto, with a focus on the psalms as prayer.
He enjoys a variety of music–particularly Celtic and classical–books, and the outdoors: his bike on the Confederation Trail, walking, and growing vegetables and flowers.
Leo Marchildon
Leo Marchildon
Music Director
Hailing from Toronto, Ontario, Leo’s music training started at St. Michael’s Choir School, eventually earning performance degrees through the Royal Canadian College of Organists, the Western Conservatory of London, Ontario, the Royal Conservatory of Music, as well as degrees in composition through the University of Toronto, and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Leo is not only music director for the Basilica, but he serves as music supervisor for the Diocese of Charlottetown, as well as an Atlantic representative for the National Council for Liturgical Music, and chair for the National Hymnal Committee. He is conductor of the Strathgartney Chamber Orchestra, accompanist for the UPEI Concert Choir, and can often be seen performing in various concert and theatre projects throughout the Island.
Sandra Bourque
Sandra Bourque
Catechetics Coordinator
Sandra, the mother of two adult children, is a definitive professed member of the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. As a member of an order whose charism is prayer, her service to St. Dunstan’s Basilica Parish flows from that. Sandra has been a dedicated catechist since 2001, with a focus on helping each child discover and deepen their relationship with God. In her role as Coordinator of Catechetics, she enjoys working with St. Dunstan’s families and developing service project initiatives to help children apply catechetical teachings in supporting Charlottetown’s local needs and foreign children’s missions.
Sandra further serves her parish as a member of the Diocesan Council for Development and Peace – Caritas Canada, an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, CWL member, and participant on the OCIA (formerly RCIA) team. Sandra, currently enrolled in the diocesan Lay Pastoral Associates Formation Program, has completed a Catholic Studies Certificate in Spirituality and other general Catholic studies courses with St. Francis Xavier University. She has 25 years of professional experience and education in management, executive assistance, and service in the field of business and finance.