UPON THIS ROCK: THE STORY OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR. O'Neill, Paul. St. John's, Breakwater, c1984. 191 pp, paperbound boards $50.00, ISBN 0-919519-82-2. CIP Grades 10 and up Reviewed by Kenneth A. Elliott Volume 13 Number 6 1985 November This work is the author's ninth book. In it, he spans the two hundred year history of the Roman Catholic Church in Newfoundland and Labrador. An extension of the last chapter is a photo history of the Papal visit to St. John's in the autumn of 1984. O’Neill's flare as an historical writer is evident as he weaves the various threads of diaries, family histories, town records, etc., into a very interesting and readable tapestry. He unfolds his work in ten chapters, completing each one with a series, in some cases up to six pages, of photos or drawings of the main characters and events of that period. Three pages of bibliography indicate the scope of O’Neill's control of his subject. As he himself admits in the acknowledgements, this is a popular history for the general reader. For that reason, he has not footnoted his sources. This omission is unfortunate for the scholar who would otherwise find this book useful. The reader will appreciate the clarity and honesty of O'Neill's pen. As various difficulties developed with the foundation of the Roman Catholic Church, O'Neill presents them in an honest and forthright manner. In fact, one is impressed with the importance of Newfoundland's history for the whole of Canada and North America. A case in point is the family of Lord Baltimore whose heirs founded what is now known as the State of Maryland. From the detailed history of the Irish monk Brendan in chapter 1 to the developed biography of Pope John-Paul II in chapter 10, the reader meets many of the important personages who have been instrumental in the foundation of this great easternmost province. It is questionable whether many of the general reading population can afford the price of this work, but certainly schools and public libraries should include it in their collection. Kenneth A. Elliott, Laval Catholic H.S., Chomedey, Que.