Fr. McCory, as can be imagined, was not unhappy to be appointed pastor of St. Anthony Parish in September 1974, nor was Fr. Baxter unhappy to return to Holy Family despite its dire financial situation. It was a welcomed appointment for both of them.
When Fr. Baxter returned as pastor, he had a clear idea of what pastoral changes he wanted to introduce but knew that it would bear little fruit if he didn’t address the looming financial crisis.
Once again the wardens and new pastor sought and received help from other English-language parishes, with the assistance of Bishop Leonard Crowley and Msgr. Neil Willard.
Incredible as it seems, they secured another $76,000 in low-interest loans from St. Anthony’s and four additional parishes – St. Aloysius, St. Ann, St. Willibrord and St. Edward the Confessor Mission. Topping it off with a short-term bank loan, they were able to liquidate the $96,000 bank loan when it came due in June 1975 and avoid renewing at a much higher rate.
The parish still carried a $98,000 combined debt owed to 10 parishes and one religious congregation, but it was now on more fraternal terms and with preferred rates. Doomsday had been averted for a second time in seven years. The parish could now confidently celebrate its golden jubilee until the next debt-payment deadline.
1976 was a jubilant year for Holy Family. Parishioners organized an anniversary mass, published a souvenir booklet, and held a dance plus a concert to mark its 50th anniversary. In the process, they raised almost $4,000 that was put toward the parish debt.
Fr. Baxter could now focus on his main pastoral priority: encourage Holy Family parishioners to transition from being a parish in the canonical sense to becoming a “living” Christian community as envisaged by the Second Vatican Council.
His approach was characteristically pragmatic and simple. First on the agenda, reduce the number of pews to only what was actually needed. Second, move the altar closer to the congregation.
This was just the beginning of a series of physical changes made over the next 30 years to inculcate the experience of a living community. Rather than have parishioners dispersed randomly among too many pews, he gathered them physically around the altar to celebrate the memorial meal with Jesus. Liturgical life at Holy Family would remain a work-in-progress as long as Fr. Baxter remained at the helm.