By Alan Hustak on July 30, 2012
Barry Egan-Jones was English-language director of public relations for the Roman Catholic diocese of Montreal for 25 years before he was named administrator of St. Patrick’s basilica in 1996 where he was given the daunting task of completing the $2.5-million restoration of the historic downtown church. He started the Catholic Times diocesan newspaper, was on the CBC’s regional advisory council and was the commentator for the national broadcaster during Pope John Paul’s 1984 visit to Canada. Urbane and socially well-connected, Rev. Egan Jones also conducted part of his ministry writing pointed letters to the editor. He was 80 when he died of a heart attack on July 25.
