Obituaries

In the Flannery O'Connor short story "Good Country People," a mother ruefully wishes her offspring had chosen another career path than philosophy because, "You could not say, 'My daughter is a philosopher.' That was something that had ended with the Greeks and Romans."

The 12-year papacy of Pope Francis has been like a freight train. It began slowly with more smoke than movement. However, as time passed, the Pope built a full head of steam and rumbled through the Catholic Church in ways that will not be easily halted.

Long-time Prince Albert Bishop Albert Thévenot passed away April 13. He was 79.

The disgraced former cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, removed from the clerical state in 2019 after revelations of credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors and misconduct against adults, has died in Missouri. He was 94.

Bishop Frederick Bernard Henry fulsomely lived out his episcopal motto, Dabo Vobis Pastores, a quote from the prophet Jeremiah which translates, “I will give you pastors.”

His Excellency Frederick Bernard Henry, Bishop Emeritus of Calgary, died on 3 December 2024, at the age of 81.

Cardinal Renato Martino, the former Vatican observer at the United Nations and former president of the pontifical councils for justice and peace and for migrants and travelers, died Oct. 28 at the age of 91.

Perseverance, fortitude, grit and calm in the face of a storm often accompany the description of prominent athletes. At the funeral Mass of deceased brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau Sept. 9 however, it was their wives who emulated the aforementioned attributes as they took turns giving words of remembrance for their fallen husbands.

Broadcaster and TV personality Phil Donahue, who died Aug. 18 at age 88, was once busted by Catholic News Service.

Abbot Peter Novecosky, OSB, who for more than a quarter century shared the news, and the good news, with Catholics in Western Canada through The Prairie Messenger newspaper, has died at 79.