St. Francis Xavier community mourns Father Stan

Rev. Stanley MacDonald was a friendly face on campus and an ardent supporter of varsity sports at St. FX. MacDonald graduated from the university in 1954 and returned to be a clergy-in-residence in 2008.

Rev. Stanley MacDonald was a friendly face on campus and an ardent supporter of varsity sports at St. FX

Anjuli Patil · CBC News · Posted: May 13, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: May 13

Man wears blue and white X jersey and ball cap. — Rev. Stanley MacDonald, known affectionately as Father Stan at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., died on Sunday. He was 92. (St. Francis Xavier University)

St. Francis Xavier University is mourning the loss of Rev. Stanley MacDonald, a friendly presence on campus and an ardent supporter of varsity sports at the Antigonish, N.S., school.

MacDonald, known affectionately as Father Stan, died on Sunday. He was 92.

"St. FX lost a gentleman. St. FX lost a friend. We're going to miss him," Bob Hale, assistant vice-president of administration and ancillary services at St. FX, told CBC News on Monday.

MacDonald was from Glace Bay, N.S., and attended St. FX. He played varsity rugby and hockey and graduated in 1954, later becoming a priest and returning to St. FX in 2008 to be a clergy-in-residence.

He regularly attended varsity games for both men's and women's teams. Hale said MacDonald would often be the one to get the crowd chanting "Go X Go" at games.

WATCH | Father Stan leads Go X Go chant in locker room:

"The kids would gather around him and echo his 'Go X Go' until the entire arena got going with it. At the recent basketball championships in Halifax, Father Stan — they captured it on the big screen and had a 'Go X Go' chant in the Scotiabank Centre, so that was pretty exciting for him and his family."

When he wasn't at games, Hale said, MacDonald made time for everyone and was genuinely interested in their stories.

"He wanted to know where they were from, who their parents were and if they were enjoying their time at St. FX and if there was something he could do for them," Hale said.

"Even when he had fallen ill, when the nurses and various other staff would come in, he always had time for them and made them feel like they were the most important thing happening at that time."

In a letter to the campus community, St. FX president and vice-chancellor Andrew W. Hakin said MacDonald "always had a smile, a fist bump, and a cheery word for everyone he met."

Hakin described MacDonald as "an unofficial guidance counsellor, book club guide, spiritual advisor, meal companion, and the ultimate StFX Super Fan."

"He represented the very best of being Xaverian. May his noble spirit rest in peace," Hakin wrote.

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