David Bawden and the Apostles of Jesus and Mary, known under its Public Title as the Sacerdotal Fraternity of Saint Pius X
The SSPX also known as the FSSPX is best known as the Society of Saint Pius X founded by Marcel Lefebvre. David Bawden first became aware of the SSPX through Fr. William Daly from Chicago, Illinois in 1974. When Fr. Daly stopped coming to Oklahoma City for Mass, the Bawden family contacted Anthony Ward at Armada, Michigan and asked him if he could send a priest. He sent Hector Bolduc. When David graduated High School in May of 1976, he applied to Saint Joseph's house in Armada under Anthony Ward. Ward replied by stating that David should work for a year, since he did not have enough worldly experience. After Ward left the SSPX at the end of 1976, taking all but three of the seminarians with him to Colorado Springs, Colorado, David reapplied to the newly ordained Donald Sanborn who was sent from New York City to Armada to take over. Sanborn admitted David for the 1977-8 school year. In August Sanborn called David to inform him the Armada was full and that five Americans were going to Econe, David, John Parrot, Jeffrey Johnson, Alexander Riene and Allen Harris. Sanborn stated that he was sending these five because they were most likely to persevere to ordination. On September 27, 1978 David boarded a plane for Switzerland. During his stay in Switzerland he visited Rome, the diocese he would later become bishop of! Allen Harris and David Bawden were offered a transfer back to Armada, because of their lack of knowledge of French, which was accomplished in early 1978. When they arrived instead of being full, Armada had been reduced to five seminarians, and their presence brought the number to seven. No provision was made to bring Allen and David up to speed. Instead they were thrust into the middle of first year with a different set of text books! Allen Harris soon departed. David, though remained, although he repeated first year beginning in August of 1978. On December 15, 1978, Sanborn dismissed David without cause. Immediately David appealed through Bolduc to Lefebvre. In August 1979 at the First Pilgrimage to Saint Marys, Kansas, David Bawden had an audience with Lefebvre, concerning the illegitimate dismissal. Bolduc, another seminarian who had been dismissed and David's parents were present. Lefebvre promised two things. Both seminarians would have a reason for their dismissal, so they could make answer directly to Lefebvre. Further both could apply to any seminary in the SSPX and would be admitted or rejected with no regard to the dismissal from Armada. David applied for readmission to Econe through the rector Bernard Tissier de Mallerais. Tissier de Mallerais replied, rejecting David because of his dismissal from Armada. In January of 1980 the Bawden family moved to Saint Marys. David went to work at Saint Marys College to show his good will, while appealing his dismissal from Armada. In May of 1980 David hand delivered an appeal to Lefebvre, but never received a reply. Again in January of 1981 David hand delivered a similar appeal with no reply. An appeal was hand delivered to Lefebvre by a third party on behalf of David in early 1981. In the fall of 1980 David began noticing un-Catholic activities by some of the staff at Saint Marys, including the rector. These became more apparent leading David to address a 16 page letter to the rector. This was followed almost immediately by an incident, which made David resign all connection with the SSPX on March 5, 1981. It should be noted that although Pope Michael is now thoroughly convinced that the ordination and consecration of Marcel Lefebvre is utterly invalid, at the time he made the decision to resign he had no doubt about Lefebvre's validity, only the legitimacy and Catholicity of several members of the Society of Saint Pius X.Many more things could be told about the various incidents that occurred at Armada and Saint Marys. However, this is a BRIEF explanation of the relationship between David Bawden and the Lefebvrites. Let us trace the history of several of the key players in the SSPX and some now outside of it:Marcel Lefebvre, as can be seen above, did not keep his promise to David Bawden or to the other seminarian. (A third seminarian also came with his parents and had a separate audience. He reapplied to Armada, was accepted and eventually became a SSPX priest.) Bernard Tissier de Mallerais was eventually consecrated bishop by Lefebvre.Richard Williamson, who taught in Econe while David was there, was also eventually consecrated bishop. The last time David saw Williamson he was talking with Gerard Blanchon, who later that day or the next day went and kidnapped his two children from his wife. Blanchon was eventually found near an SSPX chapel and the children returned to their mother. (For more information see The Kansas City Star, which published several articles on these incidents.)As stated above, Anthony Ward departed the SSPX with most of the seminarians in Armada at the end of 1976. He moved to Colorado Springs where he runs a Traditionalist compound today.Donald Sanborn after advising two seminarians, Martin Skierke and Thomas Zapp to sign documents accepting Karol Wojtyla as their Pope John Paul II in order to receive the priesthood at Lefebvre's hands, departed from the SSPX with these two new priests and six others to form the Society of Saint Pius V. Three others, following the same advice would receive ordination and immediately depart the SSPX to bring the number to 12. This group has since divided into three sections. Sanborn was eventually consecrated bishop by Fr. Robert McKenna O.P. A summary of the events at Armada can be found in this independent article. Most of the information was also contained in a 40 page report prepared by one seminarian who departed on December 15, 1978. This report was reviewed by Bawden and three others who had been at Armada in the fall of 1978. Afterwards the report was forwarded to Lefebvre, who certainly received it. Further another copy was hand delivered by Bawden with other documents at El Paso, Texas in January of 1981. Hector Bolduc was dismissed from the SSPX in 1984 from the best information that can be found. No further details are available. It is interesting to note that of the Americans ordained by Lefebvre prior to 1983, few remain with the SSPX. In the picture to the right only one of those pictured remained with the SSPX, the late Fr. Carl Pulvermacher OFM Cap. Michael Fighting
Here is a list of those who left, including some pictured to the right.
Clarence Kelly, departed with the nine in May of 1983.
Gregory Post remains with the SSPX to this day. he was ordained at Powers Lake, North Dakota
Anthony Ward departed 1976
Hector Bolduc was dismissed in 1984 and functions independently. (pictured to right)
Daniel Dolan with the nine
Donald Sanborn with the nine
Anthony Cekada with the nine
Terrence Finnegan also departed and still functions independently (pictured to the right)
Dr. Boyd Anthony Cathey departed and no longer functions as a priest.
Douglas Laudenschlager has departed the priesthood completely. (pictured to the right)
Joseph Collins departed with the nine (pictured)
Roger Petit departed the priesthood completely
Eugene Berry departed with the nine
The following entered Armada in 1977, when David Bawden entered Econe. (pictured to right) Stephen DeLallo remains to this day
Christopher Hunter remains to this day
Martin Skierke and Thomas Zapp departed with the nine as reported above.
In 1984 three left to join the nine after their ordination, Thomas Mrozka, Daniel Ahearn and Dennis McMahon. One other was ordained in that class, John Hogan who remains with the SSPX to this day.This list is compiled from the best information available. Please search to verify.Left to right: Douglas Laudenschlager, David Bawden, William Jenkins, Fr. Carl Pulvermacher, Terrenece Finengan, Joseph Collins and Hector Bolduc. From the reception after Finnegan's first mass
