In response to the dire economic circumstances of the Maritimes in the early 20th century, Roman Catholics centered at St. Francis Xavier University in the diocese of Antigonish started a movement of mass adult education that led to one of the most successful economic development movements in the world. Celebrated by the Vatican and by partners around the world, the “Antigonish Movement” is a truly remarkable story of the work of Canadian Christians working to empower people to become “masters of their own destiny”. This week on the podcast, Dr. Peter Ludlow takes us through some of the key moments and figures in this movement and challenges the church today to find its own “Antigonish movement” to throw its energy behind.

Peter Ludlow has a PhD from Queen’s University Belfast. An adjunct professor of Catholic Studies at St. Francis Xavier University, he is the editor of Historical Studies, the peer-reviewed journal of the Canadian Catholic Historical Association. His latest book, Disciples of Antigonish: Catholics in Nova Scotia, 1880-1960 will be released shortly by McGill-Queen’s University Press.

Further Reading

Coady, M.M. Masters of Their Own Destiny. New York: Harper &Row Publishers, 1939.

Ludlow, Peter. The Canny Scot: Archbishop James Morrison of Antigonish. McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2015.

Ludlow, Peter. Disciples of Antigonish: Catholics in Nova Scotia, 1880-1960. Montreal, QC: McGill-Queen’s University Press, 2022.

Also, check out the Coady Institute: https://coady.stfx.ca/

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For more information about the upcoming Political Theology series in the New Leaf Learning Centre (March 18 - April 8, 2022) visit: newleafnetwork.ca/events/canadianpoliticaltheology

The Antigonish Movement with Dr. Peter Ludlow