Fr. Simon Lobo, freshly elected as General Superior of the Companions of the Cross, after a decade of vibrant parish renewal in Halifax, now finds himself back in the nation’s capital, ready to lead his thriving religious community into its next chapter of evangelization. 

It was just over a month ago that Lobo was chosen to lead the order during the Companions' General Assembly in Detroit. Although he had a sense he might have been on the shortlist, having served on the previous executive council for six years, he still recalls the weight of the moment that would bring him to the forefront of an order he’s known his whole life. 

“ After the reading of a series of ballots, it became clear that the necessary majority had been reached, and that is when it really sank in,” he said. 

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The gravity of his calling only intensified upon coming forward to read the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity, a lengthy and substantial acceptance and expression of faithfulness to the Church.

 “I remember thinking, this is no joke. I wanted to say the words and mean them, and that is when the reality of everything sank in, that my life was about to change. I couldn't even bring myself to lift my eyes over the sheet of paper to make eye contact with the brothers. It was such a huge honour and privilege to be asked to serve the community in this way.” 

Honoured and privileged undoubtedly, but a bittersweet moment as Lobo had to depart his beloved St. Benedict’s in Halifax. It was there that he served faithfully more than 10 years, the first two as associate pastor under his mentor Fr. James Mallon of Divine Renovation Ministries, the next eight as pastor. 

Having now returned to Ottawa and the Companions' home base, it also marks a homecoming for the  moderator himself, having grown up in the city. This Ottawa  upbringing saw the roots of Lobo’s expertise in parish renewal and evangelization bloom, two core components of the Companions of the Cross and elements directly inspired by founder Fr. Bob Bedard. 

“ My history with the Companions has basically been throughout my whole life, as my family started going to St. Mary's Parish in 1987, which is the home base of the Companions. I received my first Holy Communion from Fr. Bedard, and it was 20 years later, almost to the week, that I was ordained a Companion of the Cross priest,” he recalled. 

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“To see St. Mary's in Ottawa as this really dynamic parish growing up, and then years later as a priest at St. Benedict's in Halifax... so it’s come full circle.”

Lobo succeeds Fr. Roger Vandenakker, who led the Companions since 2020. He praised Vandenakker for six years of consistent stabilizing, fatherly leadership and for bringing peace during a needed time for the order. 

Now in his mentor's shoes, he hopes for a mission based on continuation rather than an entirely new direction. 

“The executive council worked extensively on leadership development, making that a top priority and investing in ongoing formation. We need to invest in young men, get them into the seminary, form them to become priests, and, with the particular flavour of what it means to be a Companion, send them off into an assignment once they're ordained — we definitely want to keep building on that,” he confirmed. 

Lobo’s love of parish renewal looms large. Having authored the book Divine Renovation Apprentice on the subject and co-authored Preaching on Purpose on parish communications practices, combined with his upbringing beside the Companions' mission and recent passion for making parishes alive for Jesus through Divine Renovation, the order appears primed for a perfect storm of further growth through evangelization. 

“ I believe in Fr. Bedard’s conviction that the Catholic Church is like a sleeping giant and that God wants to wake her up, and when she does, watch out, she's going to have such a profound impact on the world for good,” he said. “Our founder would have said 98 per cent of Catholics are in parishes, so while there are other beautiful movements, the heart of us is that parishes need to learn how to become dynamic and evangelized to help other people enter into a relationship with Jesus.” 

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Lobo looks forward to working with his new executive council team of Fr. Alex Colautti, Fr. David Bergeron, Fr. Brian Sabourin and Fr. Jorge Alvarado. Close friends and colleagues, he now looks forward to the future of the Companions as one of renewal above all else. 

“ I really believe that God has, through the brothers, elected this particular team for the next chapter. With our mandate lasting from 2026 to 2032, we'll finish on the eve of this great Jubilee of 2033, 2,000 years since the death and resurrection of Jesus, since Pentecost, the release of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church. God is going to prepare this team for whatever small part this band of brothers is to play in helping to bring about the renewal of the Church in our day,” he said.