Arrangement
Arranged Alphabeticaly by correspondent/office
Administrative/Biographical History
Fr Purtill’s third term of office continued in much the same vein as the second. Purtill continued to enhance the existing apostolates, developing strong connections in the South, England and Quebec and maintaining the parishes and work in France and in Vermont. The formation program continued to develop as well during this term, and the number of novices grew, as did places of education and a development program for the Society. The only major apostolate to close was Cardinal Mindszenty High School. However, Cardinal Mindszenty was closed to develop two different and new apostolates. One, building a minor seminary in Allentown Pennsylvania, never came to fruition, although the Edmundites did purchase land and get fairly far in developing the idea. The second was quite successful, however. This was the expansion of the Edmundites to Caracas, Venezuela. In answer to Pope John XXIII’s call for priests in Latin America, the Society of Saint Edmund established an apostolate in Caracas in January 1964. Purtill finished off his term of office on this strong note, and went on to serve many more years in a number of different leadership roles in the Society.