It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Monsignor Lionel Joseph Mondor on Tuesday, September 28, 2010 at the Foyer St. Joseph Nursing Home in Ponteix, SK. He was born to Phillepe Mondor and Marie Louise Granger of Willow Bunch, SK on September 27, 1913. He is survived by his brother Laurien and sister-in-law Alice Mondor and sister-in-law Marguerite Mondor of Willow Bunch, SK and sister Laurette Novatney of BC. He was predeceased by his brother Laurent, sister-in-law Helene, Marcel and sister-in-law Annie, Paul Emile Mondor, sister Re-jeanne and brother-in-law Renald Proust, sister Laurianne and brother-in-law Paul Lapaire as well as many nieces and nephews. He attended College Mathieu in Gravelbourg for his seminary studies 1935-1939. He was ordained on June 29, 1939. He commenced his ministry in his home town of Willow Bunch, SK. His many talents and dedications led him to the Cathedral in Gravelbourg. In 1945 he embarked on a 31 year ministry in the parish of Sacred Heart in Swift Current, taking over for Father E. Cabanel as pastor until 1976. He was then appointed at the parish of St. Lawrence in Maple Creek, SK for 10 years and retired a while in Maple Creek, remaining until 1985. In 1986 his services were re-activated in Swift Current plus missions in Vanguard, Lake Pelletier, Success and Herbert. With the permission of the Sovergne Pontiff, Bishop Decasse promoted Father Mondor to a Monsignor Mondor in 1966. His celebration was surrounded by his love for God’s people. A prayer vigil was held on Friday, October 1 at 7:30 pm from the Christ The Redeemer Roman Catholic Church, Swift Current, SK with Father Andree officiating.
Fr. Rodrigue died June 6, 2007. He was born in Willow Bunch, SK in 1922. He attended highschool at College Mathieu and entered the Major Seminary of Gravelbourg in 1941 and later the Seminary in St. Boniface, MB. He was ordained in Gravelbourg in 1948 then was sent to Rome where he obtained a Licentiate in Theology, `Magna cum Laude`. He began his active ministry in France but returned to Canada and Gravelbourg in 1950 where he served in the parishes of St. Victor, Maxstone, Assiniboia, Shaunavon, and Mossbank. He was named the Chancellor and later the Vicar General of the Gravelbourg Diocese. When Gravelbourg Diocese amagalmated into the Regina Archdiocese he was the second Vicar General presiding over the transfer of files and assets until his retirement to Assiniboia in 2001.
Father Fernand Ducharme passed away peacefully at the age of 91 in the Cypress Regional Hospital, Swift Current, SK on May 9, 2012. The Prayer Service was held on Friday May 11, 2012 and the Celebration of Life Mass on May 12, 2012, both from Notre Dame d’Auvergne Roman Catholic Church, Ponteix, Sask. The Most Rev. Archbishop Daniel J. Bohan D.D. was the presiding celebrant and co-celebrated by 14 of his confrère priests. The Homily was proclaimed by Rev. Father Guy Amédee Ainenon parish priest of Ponteix. An Honor Guard was formed by the 3rd and 4th degree of the Knights of Columbus from various surrounding parishes. The organist was Claudette Begin on Friday night for the prayer Vigil and Daniel Roberge for the funeral mass service on Saturday. The Parish choir lead the congregation in Father’s favourite hymns. The internment was held in the Parish Cemetery, Ponteix, SK. Father Ducharme was born at St. Victor, SK, February 3, 1921, the seventh child of a family of ten born of Eugénie Légaré and Siméon Ducharme. The family was blessed with two priests and two religious sisters. After completing his Classical and Theology courses, he was ordained on June 29, 1948 in Willow Bunch, SK by Bishop J. Lemieux O.P. of Gravelbourg, SK. In a bilingual diocese, he ministered in ten parishes and fifteen missions. Father served as Diocesan Director for the Rural Catholic Action and the ladies of St. Anne; later became Diocesan Director for the Immigration and Charismatic Renewal. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1949 and was initiated as 4th degree 25 years ago. He was an active member of Les Amis de Ponteix reporting at each monthly meeting a chronicle of Good News. He was instrumental in organizing a group of singers and musicians to prepare a Polka Mass. It was such a success that the groups travelled to adjoining parishes to perform and record on cassette and C.Ds. While in Swift Current, the Parish was the first in the diocese to initiate the R.C.I.A. program after Vatican 11. After celebrating his 25th anniversary of priesthood, he was offered a sabbatical year which he spent in Quebec City where he received a Masters Degree in Theology. At age 70, he retired from parish work and moved to Ponteix. He was the first tenant in the new Cooperative apartments. He celebrated mass at the nursing home and helped local neighbourhood priests in clerical duties. In 2004, the Sisters of Notre Dame d’ Auvergne welcomed him as a chaplain in the convent where he resided until his death. He was predeceased by his parents Eugénie and Simeon, three brothers, Rolland, Victor and Father Roger Ducharme, three sisters Sr. Simone Ducharme, Sr. Thérèse Ducharme and Mme Cécile Loiselle, and two infant sisters. He leaves to mourn a brother, Conrad Ducharme of Assiniboia, SK, many nephews, nieces, his religious family and many friends acquired through his ministry. He will be missed by all those who knew and loved him. Lemieux Funeral Home, Ponteix, SK were entrusted with the arrangements. For further information call (306) 625-3925 : 1-800-267-6606 or visit our website at www.lemieuxfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members in our book of condolences.
To view Fr. Ducharme’s interview about his vocation for the 2010 “Year of the Priest”, click here: https://youtu.be/9o-nu_BBqCo
Reverend Ray Carignan was killed in a two vehicle collision, December 26, 2012, while travelling to Gravelbourg on his way eventually to visit his sister in Moose-Jaw. “The highway was like a skating rink,” said the RCMP Sergeant at Ponteix who attended the accident scene about one mile west of Kincaid on highway 13. The accident investigation had not been completed and he could not say anything other than the two vehicles collided. “He was on his way to Gravelbourg where he was going to administer the last rites to someone there and from there go to Moose Jaw to pick up his sister Aline” said long time friend Guy Roberge of Ponteix.
Carignan was born and raised in the Ponteix area, attended elementary and secondary school there then attended St. Boniface College, University of Manitoba, where he obtained degrees in theology and philosophy. He was ordained priest, March 31, 1969, by Bishop Aimi Decosse in his home parish of Notre Dame d’Auvergne, Ponteix in what was then the Diocese of Gravelbourg. Most of his service was as parish priest in French speaking communities in south Central Saskatchewan and he continued to serve mostly in those communities when the Gravelbourg Diocese was suppressed and became part of the Regina Archdiocese and Saskatoon Diocese in 1998. He was serving as parish priest at Notre d’Auvergne, as well as Our Lady of Confidence, Cadillac, St. Ann at Lac Pelletier and St Joseph, Vanguard.
Roberge described his friend as one of almost perpetual motion. “He was bubbly, fill of zeal, always full of energy. He was a really good figure skater with his sister Aline. We skated a lot of hours together.” He was the same type of person after he became a priest, said Roberge. “He was go go go all the time, you couldn’t slow him down. He loved to be in groups. He always wanted to do a pot luck for some gathering.” Roberge said Carignan took his ministry very seriously. “I would say he was a saintly priest. We prayed a lot of rosaries together. We travelled to a lot of meetings together and often would pray the rosary. He was very devout. He loved Jesus and what Jesus taught us he sure tried to put into his life.”
He was predeceased by his parents and one brother, Albert. He leaves to mourn his sisters Aline McCloy of Moose Jaw and Nicole Proust, of Strathmore, Alberta, as well as many cousins, nephews and nieces.
To view Fr. Carignan’s interview about his vocation for the 2010 “Year of the Priest”, click here: https://youtu.be/R3p5MgAP4Po
A fall and broken hip led to the November 30, 2012 death of Reverend Richard Lariviere. Reverend Lariviere had slipped and fallen the day previous in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan and was transported to Moose Jaw where he was scheduled for surgery but died two hours before scheduled surgery to repair the broken hip.
Reverend Lariviere was born September 24, 1921 in Gravelbourg where he received most of his education. He worked on the family farm with his father until 1949 when he entered the St. Boniface, Manitoba seminary to begin studies to the priesthood. Following ordination he returned to what was then the Gravelbourg Diocese and served in parishes there until his retirement.
He loved working with youth and it was through his efforts that Camp Lemieux was established south of Swift Current. “He worked a lot with kids in trouble,” said his nephew Alain Clermont, Regina. “He would often meet with the judge the night before a court appearance and work something out so the kid didn’t have to appear in court.” Archdiocesan Vicar General Reverend Lorne Crozon remembers that Reverend Lariviere loved to camp and owned an Airstream trailer.
Retired former Gravelbourg Bishop Noel Delaquis remembers him as a man who loved being a priest. “He was always enthusiastic about his ministry to his people.” He also had a fondness for horses, said the Bishop. “I remember he had a small place when he was at Coderre and there were always two or three horses behind his place.” He didn’t ride them, said the Bishop, it was a hobby to breed and sell them.
Prayers were held December 6 at Our Lady of Assumption Co-Cathedral, Gravelbourg and the funeral mass is today, celebrated by Archdiocesan Vicar General, Very Reverend Lorne Crozon along with several brother priests.
Reverend Lariviere was pre-deceased by his parents, four sisters, one brother and is survived by one sister, Juliette Beauchamp of Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Rev. Alfred W. Bouchard, 83, of Manchester, passed away on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at Villa Crest Nursing and Retirement Center.
Alfred was born June 1, 1930, in Manchester, the son of Alfred Bouchard and Georgianna (Gregoire) Bouchard Proulx. He graduated from St. Joseph’s High School, Manchester in 1948, and then attended St. Anselm College, Manchester from 1948-1950. Alfred entered the seminary in 1950 and studied philosophy at St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, MD (1950-1952) and theology at Grand Seminary, Montreal, Quebec and St. Boniface Seminary, Winnipeg, Manitoba (1952-1956). He received a Masters in Pastoral Theology – Laval University, Quebec, Quebec (1971-1972).
Fr. Bouchard was ordained a priest on May 26, 1956 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Manchester, NH. He served in the Diocese of Gravelbourg in Saskatchewan (SK), Canada from 1956 to 1997, first as assistant pastor at Ponteix, Willow Bunch, La Fleche, Maple Creek, Hodgeville and Gravelbourg from (1956-1972), then as pastor at St. Patrick Church, Eastend, Consul and Claydon (1972-1977), Christ the King Parish in Shaunovan and Mission Church in Scotsguard, SK (1977-1985), Sacred Heart Church, Swift Current, SK (1985-1992), and Gravelbourg Cathedral, Gravelbourg, SK (1992-1997).
Fr. Bouchard returned to New Hampshire in 1997. He served as Chaplain at Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH (1997-1998), and as senior priest at St. Patrick Parish and St. Aloysus of Gonzaga Parish, Nashua, NH (1998-2007), where he was honored with a beautiful 50th Anniversary Mass and celebration.
Fr. Bouchard was known for his ebullient sense of humor, joie de vivre, and his tireless service to his parish communities. He loved children, and his nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews always looked forward to seeing “Uncle Alfred.” Many of them were treated to month-long camping trips, touring Western Canada and the United States. In the 1980’s and 90’s Fr. Bouchard was the Director of Camp Lemieux, a Catholic summer camp in Southern Saskatchewan. While in Nashua, he adopted the second grade class at St. Christopher School, teaching the children about the Eucharist.
Fr. Bouchard was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus and served as spiritual director in Canada, and more recently for Council 11907 in Nashua. He was the spiritual director of the Daughters of Isabella at St. Aloysus of Gonzaga, Nashua. Fr. Bouchard’s family would like to thank the Knights of Columbus for their dedication over the past 6 years, and for visiting him every Monday evening and, when he was in better health, bringing him to Bishop Peterson House to enjoy the companionship of his fellow priests.
Alfred is predeceased by his sister, Georgette Pruneau and his brother Henri “Butch” Bouchard. He is survived by his sisters Pauline Biron of Oxnard, CA and Lorraine Brisson and her husband, Guy, of Plymouth, NH; his brother-in-law Robert Pruneau of Manchester, NH; his sister-in-law Pauline Bouchard of Goffstown, NH; his fourteen nieces and nephews and their children.
