Francis Denis, first-year seminarian at St. Joseph’s in Edmonton
SASKATOON - Fr. Marc Mireau recently survived a severe heart attack thanks to a quick-thinking seminarian and dedicated doctors.
On Dec. 28, Mireau, bilingual pastor of a French Catholic community outside of Saskatoon and chaplain for Catholic Christian Outreach at the University of Saskatchewan, was preparing to fly to Winnipeg for CCO’s national Rise Up Christmas conference, but had not been well for a few days prior.
Francis Denis, first-year seminarian at St. Joseph’s in Edmonton and spiritual directee of Mireau for five years, was home for Christmas break and spoke briefly with Mireau after morning Mass where, before walking to the rectory, Mireau confided that he was feeling ill and had been suffering from chest pain.
Following what he describes as a spiritual prompting, Denis sought Mireau out in the rectory and insisted that the priest seek immediate medical attention.
“I had to be stern with him,” Denis said, noting that he acted out of character in speaking forcefully to Mireau. “He didn’t want to miss his plane, so we decided on a compromise — that he would go to the medical clinic.”
When Mireau reluctantly arrived at the clinic, a doctor found Mireau’s main heart artery 99 per cent blocked. It was estimated he had 55 minutes left to live unless treated. He underwent two-and-a-half hours of life-saving heart surgery at Royal University Hospital.
“If he’d shown up 56 minutes later, he would have been dead,” said Denis. “I know the Holy Spirit guided me to the rectory. There was no hesitation in my action. I knew I had a mission to do. I didn’t even reflect on it.”
When the two met again in the hospital after the surgery, they exchanged few words.
“Without Francis and the doctors, I would not be alive,” said Mireau.
Mireau and Denis have shared a deep friendship over the last few years, with Mireau encouraging Denis and providing many opportunities for faith growth through several missions and pilgrimages. Denis recognizes the incredible impact Mireau has had on his life, including “facilitating the call” to attend seminary.
“There is no one like him in my life... He got me out of my spiritual comfort zone and forced me to dig deeper... He would always bring me back whenever I doubted, reminding me why I fell in love with the church, with Christ, in the first place,” said Denis.
Denis knows, however, that Mireau has affected many more lives than his, especially other youth that he has taken on missions and encouraged in various ministries over the years.
“We’ll never really see the scope of his work with the youth... he has impacted people in so many ways,” said Denis. “His recognition of the value of the youth — that has been a blessing to the universal church.”
Denis noted that when Mireau first mentioned feeling sick he had said, “‘I’m not scared to die — I’m scared to leave.”
“I didn’t want to leave the students... I’m so blessed and grateful I’m still here to minister,” said Mireau. “I love being a priest. I love celebrating the sacraments.”
Working closely with youth, and believing that they are the “church of today, not the future,” Mireau said he sees “miracles happening in them” and that they are his “pride and joy.”
“They’re proclaiming the Gospel with their lives,” said Mireau, adding that he is given great hope in their response of faith, especially as shown in the growing number of youth discerning religious vocations.
“If it’s what God wants, I want to live to see the seminarians ordained,” he said.
In the month since Mireau’s hospitalization, young people from in and around Saskatoon have been visiting and providing services, from picking up Mireau between classes for doctor appointments to making meals and cleaning.
“The youth were right there up front. They were ministering to me!” said Mireau.
“I can’t say enough how they’ve blessed me with their ministry. I love them. There’s no doubt about it.
“It is so good to be alive,” he added.
Mireau plans to be back into ministry by the middle of February and will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his priesthood on Feb. 28.
(Wolfe, 21, is a Christianity & Culture student at Redeemer Pacific College in Langley, B.C.)
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