Bishop Campbell passes after long illness

ANTIGONISH, N.S. - Bishop Colin Campbell, bishop emeritus of the diocese of Antigonish, died Jan. 17 after a lengthy illness. Bishop Campbell had been living in a Halifax nursing home for the last number of years after retiring in October 2002 for health reasons.

“As you are probably aware Bishop Campbell had been experiencing serious health concerns over the past few years; however, his health was in serious decline over the past few months, “ Fr. Paul Abbass, diocesan spokesman and vicar general, said in a statement on the diocese’s web site.

Despite his declining health, Bishop Campbell continued to find ways to engage in pastoral ministry and maintained a lively interest in the life of the Church, the statement said.

Antigonish Bishop Brian Dunn expressed the sympathy of the diocese to Campbell’s family and those who knew and worked with him over his years of ministry.

“Bishop Campbell will be remembered as one who served with zeal in parish ministry as a priest,” Dunn said. “He will also be remembered as one who had a deep commitment to the Canadian Church in his years of service as the director of the Pontifical Mission Aid Societies and in his service on several commissions of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.”

Bishop Campbell was born June 12, 1931 in Port Hood, N.S. He was educated in Halifax and received a bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s University in 1952 and a bachelor’s degree of theology from Holy Heart Seminary in 1956. He was ordained for the Halifax archdiocese on May 26, 1956. He served as pastor of a number of parishes, was the first director of social services for the archdiocese and was vicar general there for 11 years.

He was appointed the seventh bishop of Antigonish on Dec. 17, 1986. He served in that capacity for 15 years, until his retirement in 2002.

In the years following his retirement Bishop Campbell assisted in parishes in the archdiocese of Halifax.

His funeral took place at St. Ninian Cathedral Jan. 23.

(Lazzuri is editor of The Casket in Antigonish, N.S.)