Father Charles Greene
The Reverend Father Charles Gerard Greene, son of William Greene and Elizabeth Greene, was born in Point Verde, Placentia Bay, on 7 October 1924. He had three brothers: Ronald, Brian and Aloysius and four sisters: Magdalen, Imelda, Mary and Agnes. He did his early years of education in Sacred Heart Parish Schools, first in Point Verde and then in Placentia.
In 1940 he secured employment at the nearby American Naval Base in Argentia, and continued working there until 1943. In that year he registered as a student in St. Bonaventure‘s College in St. John’s, where he did two years of senior high school education. At the time of leaving there he was accepted by Archbishop E. P. Roche as a candidate for the priesthood, who arranged for him to pursue his full course of studies at All Hallows College in Dublin. He was ordained to the Order of Priest in the Chapel of the College on 17 June 1951, by the Right Reverend Dr. Quinn, Bishop of Kilmore.
Shortly after his return to St. John’s, Archbishop P. J. Skinner appointed him as administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Fox Harbour, and held that appointment until 1953. This was followed with an appointment as a curate in the Cathedral Parish in St. John’s, and had been working there for about three years, when he was appointed as a member of a team of three priests for pastoral ministry in Placentia Bay, namely: Saint Francis Xavier Parish, Bar Haven; Assumption Parish, St. Kyran’s; and Sacred Heart Parish, Oderin.
He was appointed the parish priest of St. Joseph’s Parish, Merasheen, in 1957, and worked there for the next 3 years. This was followed with an appointment in July 1960, as the parish priest of St. Joseph’s Parish, Lamaline. In December of the following year he was appointed as the parish priest of Saint Agnes Parish in Pouch Cove-Flat Rock, a title he held until 1970. In that year, he was appointed as the parish priest of St. Patrick's Parish in St. John’s, succeeding Right Reverend Monsignor Ronald McD. Murphy, and remained there until 1973.
His next appointment came in that year as the parish priest of the Cathedral Basilica Parish. His last pastoral appointment came in 1977, when he was appointed as the parish priest of Holy Trinity Parish in Torbay, a title he held for thirteen years. In that year he was granted permission by Archbishop A. L. Penney to retire from full-time parish pastoral ministry for reasons of health, and moved into his private home in Pouch Cove.
However, in retirement he offered his services as a chaplain to the Sisters in the Presentation Convent in St. John’s, and continued to do this work until the condition of his health began to deteriorate from diabetes. For several years, both before and after his retirement, he did excellent work as a Judge in the Branch Office of the Halifax Regional Tribunal in St. John’s.
Father Greene was by nature a quiet, generous, kind and unassuming type of person. In his prayer life the Blessed Virgin Mary had a special place of honour. His works of charity were numerous which he seldom discussed with others. In each of the parishes he served in he gave generously of himself in building up the parish both spiritually and materially.
In 2003 he took up residence in Saint Patrick’s Mercy Home in St. John’s, where he died on 1 January 2004 in the 79th year of his age and 52nd year of his priesthood. Burial in the family plot in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Dixon Hill, Placentia.
Source: Lives Recalled by Monsignor Francis A. Coady, P.H. Used with permission.
Photo 1 credit: Mary Walsh from 1983
Photos 2 & 3: Ernie Walsh