Olds: Father Fred Olds

C. Fed Olds

Father Fred Olds

“Father Fred”

Father Fred Olds, BA, MTh, MAS

Priest, Archdiocese of Saint Boniface, Manitoba.  Ordained 25 April 1975  for the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface, Manitoba.

Served for 10 years as a hospital chaplain at St. Boniface and Misericordia hospitals “particularly in chemical dependency”

 

November 2016:  placed on administrative leave over allegations of “impropriety”  and was the subject of a preliminary enquiry.  According to a diocesan spokesman, the allegations do not involved minors.

June 2017:  Unconfirmed reports that Father Olds has moved back to his home in Hamilton Ontario

30 August 2017:  Courtroom allegations by a former parish administrator that he was sexually exploited by Father Fred Olds

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29 August 2017:  Saint Boniface Archdiocese Press Release re sentencing of Leo McCaughan

Excerpt:

We are aware that in this current process certain statements were made respecting Father Fred Olds, former pastor of the parishes of St. Timothy and St. Bernadette in the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface. We make no comment at all on these statements, but note that certain allegations against Fr. Fred Olds had earlier been brought forward to us, in approximately July of 2016. We can say that these earlier allegations did not involve minors.

As a result of these earlier allegations, the Archdiocese immediately engaged a third party for a preliminary enquiry. The process of discovery is ongoing and we have not yet conclusively determined what has taken place. We continue the search for the whole truth but do emphasize that Fr. Fred Olds is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

Still, and in accordance with Canon law and diocesan protocol, as of October 27, 2016, Fr. Fred Olds was:

1. Removed from the Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults;

2. Temporarily placed on administrative leave from his office of Pastor of St. Timothy;

3. Temporarily restricted in his faculties such that he is not to exercise public ministry in the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface. He may, however, continue to celebrate the Eucharist privately within his own home.

These actions were taken pending review and direction by the Holy See (Vatican) as to the appropriate final course of action. The Archdiocese remains committed to taking all necessary steps to address things in a manner which is fair and appropriate for all concerned.

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Archbishops of Saint Boniface from time of Father Fred Olds’ ordination: Antoine Hacault  (o7 September 1974  – 13 April 2000 ); Émilius Goulet, P.S.S. (23 June 2001 Appointed – o3 July 2009 ); Albert LeGatt (o3 July 2009  – )

Auxiliary bishops from time of Father Fred Olds’ ordination:  Antoine Hacault  ( Auxiliary Bishop to Bishop Maurice Baudoux: 30 July 1964; Coadjutor Archbishop: 28 October 1972; Archbishop: 07 September 1974 to 13 April 2000)

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31 September 2017:  Church calls for forgiveness

30 August 2017:  “Church calls for forgiveness” & related article

29 August 2017:  Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface Press Release re arrest and sentencing of Leo Coughan and references made at trial to Father Fred Olds

 Archdiocese of Saint Boniface summary of Father Fred Olds’s pastoral ministry

19 & 20 November 2016:  Presentation of Most Reverend Archbishop Albert LeGatt to the parishioners of Saint Bernadette Parish

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Media Coverage and BLOGS

17 July 2017:  BLOG Was it financial “impropriety”?

30 November 2016:  Winnipeg priest put on leave, investigated for impropriety

30 November 2016:  BLOG  Saint Boniface priest subject of internal investigation

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Unless otherwise indicated, the following information is drawn from copies of the Canadian Catholic Church Directories (CCCD) which I have on hand, media (M). 

10-17 September 2017:  Scheduled, with Father Renato Pasinato to lead a “pilgrimage” to  Poland (First two pages of  Mother of the Church bulletin, 02 October 2016)

July 2015 – ?:  Pastor, St. Timothy Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba (CCCD & CV)

26 November 2016:  screen shot of St. Timothy website –  Father Olds is gone (St Timothy webpage screen shot 26 Nov. 2016)

20 November 2016:  St. Timothy bulletin shows Fr. C. Fred Olds as pastor (St. Timothy Parish Bulletin, 20 November 2016)

07 November 2016:  The Wayback Machine shows St. Timothy webpage of 07 November 2016 with Father Olds as Pastor – this is the exactly as the  webpage  appeared 24 November ’16 – unfortunately I did not take a screen shot.  (St. Timothy-Wayback Machine, 07 November 2016)

25 November 2016:  Diocesans website lists Father Olds as Pastor at St. Timothy Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba (CCCD)

5-15 June 2016:  Was xcheduled, with Father Renato Pasinato to lead a “pilgrimage” to Ireland (Holy Rosary Church bulletin, 13 Nov. 2015)

08 October 2015:  Panelist at “Spiritual Paths from Addiction to Recovery” workshop sponsored by the Manitoba Multifaith Council (Multifaith Workshop)

01 September 2015 – 31 August 2018:  Re-appointed as member of the Funeral Board of Manitoba – by Order in Council. ( Reappointed to Funeral Board)

September 2015:  Pastor, St. Timothy Roman Catholic Church. Welcoming picnic for Father Fred Olds at “St. Tim’s”  (  Welcoming picnic)

1992 – July 2015:  St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church, 820 Cottonwood, St. Boniface, Manitoba (CV)

2015:  Pastor, St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba (CCCD)

17 June 2015:  Pastor,  at St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Fr. Fred’s Come & Go Tea ( Bulletin Page 3, Come $ Go Tea)

**FR. FRED’S COME & GO TEA** Please come by and wish Fr. Fred well at a ‘Come & Go’ Tea on Wednesday 17 June from 4-7pm in the upper level of the parish centre. Hope to see you there! Donations of dainties for this celebration would be most welcome. They can be dropped off the day before, 16 June, during office hours. Thanking you in advance for your generosity.

01 September 2012 – 31 August 2015:  Member of the Funeral Board of Manitoba – by Order in Council. (Funeral Board 2012-2015)

May 2013:  Member of the Education Committee of Funeral Board of Manitoba (Father Olds on Funeral Board Education Committee)

17-28 October 2014:  Scheduled, with Father Renato Pasinato to lead a “group tour” to Fatima and Lourdes (Group Tour of Fatima and Lourdes)

19 March 2014:  Speaker at St. Mary, Charleswood Anglican Church Lenten Series on Human Dignity.  Father Olds’ topic:  Human Dignity & Addiction ( Human Dignity & Addiction workshop)

25 October 2013:  Funeral Board of Manitoba meeting (Funeral Board of Manitoba Minutes)

07-18 October 2013: Scheduled, with Father Renato Pasinato to lead a “pilgrimage” to shrines of Italy (St. Bernadette Church bulletin 26 May 2013)

2012:  Pastor, St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba (CCCD)

27 October 2011:   Listed as founder of Conifer House “Addiction Care“

Father Fred Olds, BA, MTh, MAS, a parish priest and former chaplain at Misericordia and St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg

12 October 2011:  By an Order in Council is appointed to  the Board of the Manitoba Chiropractors Association by the Manitoba Chiropractors Association  (Order in Council 2011)

2010:  Rev. Fred Olds granted Permission to perform marriages in PEI for one month (Royal Gazette PEI, 03 July 2010)

Notice is hereby published that, under the
authority of the Marriage Act, the following
clergy has been temporarily registered from
August 14, 2010 – September 14, 2010 for
the purpose of solemnizing marriages in the
province of Prince Edward Island:

Rev. Fred Olds
C/O St. Augustine’s Parish
Rustico, RR#3
Hunter River, PE C0A 1N0
T.A. Johnston
Director of Vital Statistics

2009:  Has served as retreat director for the Kenora Catholic District School Board (Ontario).   (Extract cover and page 44 from English Catholic Council of Ontario Direcors of Eduction 2009 Catholicty Best Practices)

Best Practice #2: System Retreat

….

Details: This is an optional retreat opportunity provided on the first Saturday in May by the KCDSB to all its employees, trustees, priests/pastoral workers, and representatives
from school councils, retired teachers, and some community services.

This retreat has been held for a number of years at Andy Lake Resort, a most beautiful place in God’s creation, isolated in the bush yet only a half-hour drive from Kenora. It begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends with the celebration of Eucharist at noon followed by lunch. Both body and spiritual nourishment are exceptional. This is always an extremely positive experience for a community that desires to gather, to be nurtured spiritually, to pray, and to celebrate together.

We have had some of the most inspiring retreat directors for this occasion, such as Jamie McCracken from the Ottawa-Carleton School Board, Archbishop Weisgerber from Winnipeg, Msgr. Pat Stilla and Bishop Colli from Thunder Bay, Sister Clare Fitzgerald from Boston (with Bishop Colli able to join us as presider for the Eucharistic Liturgy), Fr. Fred Olds from St. Bernadette’s Parish in St. Boniface, Fr. Gerry Ward from Winnipeg, and Fr. Patrick Fitzpatrick who also does chaplaincy for OCSTA.

May 2009:   According to his comments posted online, he was in Israel when a good friend in Ottawa died suddenly

2009:  Established Conifer House ” a new recovery centre … where, unlike traditional addiction care, Father Fred recommends the component of chiropractic in addition to group and one-on-one counselling. Father Fred, a 25-year veteran of addiction counselling, has described chiropractic as the missing link in addiction care.”  (Addiction counselling Draft)  The centre is ” “’a centre for state of wellbeing and human potential,’ not addiction care. ”  It offers counsel “not only to addicts, but also to those in grief and to families of those affected by addiction” (Addiction Care)

07 November 2007:  at St. Bernadette speaking on “addictions”  followed by “healing Mass”  (Faith Briefs, Winnipeg Free Press, 07 November 2009)

Conquering addictions

St. Bernadette Church seminar. Conquering addictions, anxiety and depression, Nov. 7, 10 a.m., healing mass, 9 a.m., 820 Cottonwood Rd. Speaker: Father Fred Olds. Register: Bruce, 489-0023 or dawsonbn@mts.net.

November 2007:  guided meditations throughout the month at St. Timothy, Christ the King and St. Bernadette parishes (Faith Briefs, Winnipeg Free Press, 04 November 2007)

Promise of Parables

The Promise of the Parables, a four session series of guided meditation, music and preaching with Laura and Dan Carroll and Fr. Fred Olds as follows: Nov. 6, 13, 20, 27 at St. Timothy Parish; Nov. 7, 14, 21, 28 at Christ the King Parish; Nov. 8, 15, 22, 29 at St. Bernadette Parish, 7:45 to 8:30 p.m. Information call 255-1951, ext. 41.

17 May 2006: appeared before The Legislative Assembly of Manitoba Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development regarding Bill 36–The Youth Drug Stabilization  Act.  Father Olds is identified as “from” St. Rafael Centre. The following is an excerpt from Hansard:

Mr. Olds: Yesterday I saw someone whom I had referred to the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba for treatment for crystal meth. He was one of the exceptions. He was a young man in his mid-twenties who came in to see me about a month ago to six weeks ago, saying that he was addicted with crystal meth and he needed help. This is one in probably a hundred.

Just a little bit of background about myself. I worked for 10 years in health care as Chaplain at St. Boniface and over at Misericordia, particularly in chemical dependency. But in the early eighties, I was very involved with Child and Family Services. I chaired the board at NEW FACESS, the agency for North Kildonan, East Kildonan, Elmwood and Transcona. At that time, parents themselves were saying to the agency, we have children under 18 years of age who are out of control with drugs. What do we do?

So this is not a new issue that is facing us. In the early seventies, I was an emergency intake worker for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society in Toronto. We saw cases of that in the early seventies. If there is any good in the crystal meth epidemic that we are hearing about, it has drawn the public’s attention to the need for help for our young people.

Just after the Second World War when the United Nations was formed, the World Health Organization defined health and well-being as four quadrants. They were healthy emotionally, socially, spiritually and physically. Some people would add cognitively as well. Most people would add cog­nitively as well. Of course, finally the World Health Organization defined illness as something that can be seen or identified or diagnosed. For it to be seen or diagnosed means it has a life of its own, and it will have a life of its own by drawing life from us to the point that we die. Now that is the yardstick by which all illnesses are accepted as an illness whether they be emotional, social, spiritual or physical illnesses. It was under that yardstick that in 1956 the American Medical Association agreed that alcoholism was an illness, and the World Health Organization, in turn, agreed that it is an illness.

So our starting point has to be that we are dealing with an illness that affects us in all areas of our life; physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. But I would also add cognitively. If you look up at the DSM-IV, the DSM-IV tells us that the largest form of disorder is caused by addiction. We are cognitively impaired in our thinking processes by the effect of an illness. Therefore, there is kind of a moral or social responsibility upon society to help those who cannot help themselves, particularly minors. So the upside of the crystal meth epidemic is that there is a lot of public attention being given to it, but my concern would be that we, above all, realize that we are dealing with an illness that affects us in all areas of life.

* (18:30)

My mind also goes back to the mid-1980s. I was on the first AIDS team of this province. AIDS hit the province like it hit the rest of the world, particularly North America, as kind of a new urgent illness that needed to be dealt with. Well, a lot of mistakes were made in and around HIV in the mid-eighties of the urgency to provide services.  [Father Olds-legislature]

15 September 2005:  “Theology on Tap.”  Insert in 21 Aug. ’05 Holy Family bulletin – when now convicted molester Father Ronald Leger csv was pastor  (Theology on Tap)

THEOLOGY ON TAP

Topic:  Dilemma of Our Time, Finding the Spiritual in a Secular Society

Speaker:  Fr. Fred Olds, pastor of St. Bernadette Parish

Date:  Thursday, September 15th from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Place:  Maxine’s Restaurant (1131 St. Mary’s Road)

Food and refreshments available for purchase at this event.  Opportunity to participate in discussions.  Please call Bruce …

2005-2006:  Departing Board of Directors Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (Extract from Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 2006/2006 Annual Report – cover and page 4)

A number of our members finished their
terms and have left us, while a number of new
members have joined. …. I’d like to close by thanking all of
our departing Board members, … Fr. Fred Olds, … for the time and commitment they gave this organization.

2004-2005:  Board of Directors Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (Extract from Winnipeg Regional Health Authority 2004/2005 Annual Report – cover and page 5)

08 June 2004:  St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church,  St. Boniface, Manitoba (Father Olds comments in parish bulletin re renovations at St. Bernadette Roman Catholic) Excerpt from “Freditorial” online:

And so it goes…
Since last fall, as you know, we have been in the process of planning for a major renovation of your church. Initially our parish administration committee compiled a list of physical needs that must be addressed, ranging from airconditioning to washroom accessibility. A year ago we engaged Michael Boreskie as our architect to help sort through these various issues. Last November we held a series of town hall meetings where our parish might properly articulate its vision of a renewed worship space. A building committee was formed and with our architect various proposals were looked at. This past Tuesday, after many meetings and much discussion, our building committee accepted a conceptual design and recommended that we move to the next phase – the schematic detailing of this design. Several important issues have been dealt with in this proposed design. It addresses our physical problems and, even more importantly, it brings our worship space into the norms for liturgy called for by the current Church. At present we are doing our best to celebrate good liturgy which engages everyone in “full, conscious, and active participation” but this is a real challenge in a building designed for a liturgy now foreign to most of us. Imagine celebrating mass in an environment that fully supports the liturgy rather than in one that creates barriers to it, as our building now does.

Let me address certain misconceptions that I believe might be circulation within our parish community. There are some who state categorically that nothing has to be done. I wish that were true. The easiest path in life is to do nothing. But we do not have this choice. If we do nothing we ignore real and serious issues facing our parish church. This would be irresponsible on our part and morally reprehensible.

Others are stating that we are opting for a “Lexus” when all we need is a “Hyundai Elantra”. Would that were true as well! There is nothing “luxurious” in the proposed design. It includes aspects that most other churches take for granted” accessible washrooms, a gathering space, airconditioning and a proper airflow system, and, imagine this luxury, a place to hang up your coat! At this stage of the game we do not know the price of this renovation. To determine that price we need to move to the schematic design phase.

There are some in our parish who have stated that the design is a “done deal”. They have ignored the fact that several consultations have taken place. Several options and proposals have been considered by the building committee. After much dialogue and debate over the past months our building committee is now comfortable with our architect’s proposed design and in fact accepted it unanimously. We are asking you to both believe and to trust in your fellow parishioners who only have the parish’s best interests in mind in accepting this proposal. They have sacrificed enormously of themselves in doing this work on our behalf and will continue to work with our architect during the coming months. They are doing their utmost to apply due diligence to this project and ask for your trust and your open mind.

Perhaps the greatest challenge we face is the “fear factor”. There are those who state our parish community is not up to the financial challenge that this renovation presents. I have been pastor of this parish for nine years. I believe our parish is one of the most generous in the archdiocese. How is it that other parishes and churches in our area have been able to build or renovate their gathering places? Is not our parish as generous as others? To state that we could not support this badly needed renovation of our 43 year old complex shows little faith in our community. I hold an opposite view. I believe that St. Bernadette is above all a faith-filled community. We have a tremendous faith in our God. Perhaps we need a little more faith in one another.

[to view the “Freditorial, viewers must click on the picture of Father Fred Old – posted at top of page)

28 April 2004:  St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church,  St. Boniface, Manitoba.  Excerpt from “Freditorial” online:

He is Risen!

It is with heavy heart that I must pass on the following news. Please join me and the St. Bernadette staff in remembering a great icon from the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71. Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. The grave site was piled high with flours. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies and Captain Crunch. Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still – as a crusty old man – was considered a roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife, Play Dough, two children (John and Jane Dough), plus they had another child in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes. May he rest in peace!

2002:  Pastor, St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba (CCCD)

1998:  Pastor, St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church, 820 Cottonwood, St. Boniface, Manitoba (CCCD)

1996:  President of  of health and healing centre (scroll down to Saskatoon Star-Phoenix article “Churches explore role in healing.”

Rev. Fred Olds, president of the health and healing council, says “the old models are breaking down both within medical care and within churches. We’ve all been at fault. Just as the hospitals operated under a purely medical model, the churches operated under a purely spiritual model.”

1997:  Pastor, St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church, 820 Cottonwood, St. Boniface, Manitoba (CCCD)

1996, 1995:  412-15 Cornish Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba  204-786-1458 (CCCD)

1992-1995:  Sunday Ministry at St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba (CV)

1995:  President of the ecumenical Christian Health and Healing Council Inc. (Scroll down to Toronto Star article “New model for healing reunites body and soul”)

1989-1992:  St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church,  Morden, Manitoba (Father Olds at St. John’s)

also serving as Chaplain at Misericordia Hospital for at least some of the years he served at St. John’s (CV)

1992:  406-366 Qu’Appelle Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba – no phone number listed (CCCD)

September 1991:  Diocesan representative of the Archdiocese of St. Boniface on the Manitoba Interfaith Council (CV)

1991:  1006 – 15 Carlton St. Winnipeg  204-788-8283 (CCCD)

1990:  Repres. of Saint Boniface Archdiocese on the Manitoba Catholic Clergy Peer Assistance Committee (CV)

01 October 1986 +1989:  Parochial Administrator, St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church,  Morden, Manitoba (CV)

July 1986-August 1987:  St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church,  Morden, Manitoba (Father Olds at St. John’s)

1978 – 1985:  Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba (CV)

1985 – ? :  Chaplain, St. Boniface General Hospital (CV)

1981-1985:  Pastor Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba (CV)

1985-1986:  address and phone number for the diocesan centre  151 Cathedral Ave,  Saint Boniface, Manitoba  204-237-9851 (CCCD)

Mid 80s:   was on the first AIDS team in Manitoba (Father Olds-legislature)

Early 1980s:  “I was very involved with Child and Family Services.”   Chaired the board at NEW FACESS, the agency for North Kildonan, East Kildonan, Elmwood and Transcona. (Father Olds-legislature)

1978-1981:  Administrator, Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba (CV)

1975-1978:  assisting at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba  (CV)

23 December 1978:  Large article profiling Father Fred Olds in Weekend Edition of the Ottawa Journal (Father Fred Olds in Ottawa Journal, 23 December 1978)

25 April 1975:  ORDAINED by Archbishop Antoine Hacault (Archbishop of Saint Boniface)

1973:  Incardinated into the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface, Manitoba (CV)

Early 70s:  emergency intake worker for the Catholic Children’s Aid Society in Toronto (Father Olds-legislature)

St. Michael’s College, Toronto

1965-1969:  King’s College (U. of Western Ontario)  (CV)

1961-1965:  Bishop Ryan High School, Hamilton, Ontario (CV)

1952-1961:  St. John the Baptist, Hamilton Ontario (CV)

30 October 1947:  Born in Hamilton,  Ontario (CV)

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