Fr. Leo Fernandes fondly remembers Archbishop Murray Chatlain when he was a fresh-faced seminarian in his early 20s studying theology at St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ont.

“He was a young man,” said the pastor of Our Lady of Angels Church in Amaranth, Man. “He was a year ahead of me, but I am about eight, nine or 10 years older than him. He was mature for his age, playful, and had a very quick wit and humour. He was easy to get along with, and he made me feel welcome. I am not Canadian-bred. I was born in Africa.”

As Fernandes recalls, Chatlain had a nose for the net during floor hockey matches.

Chatlain, who spoke with The Catholic Register several days before his April 4 installation ceremony as Archbishop of Winnipeg, warmly remembers the good times playing floor hockey in the arena and touch football outdoors.   

“I still play tennis and hockey and like all kinds of sports,” said Chatlain. “The seminary was a place where I could have connections with the guys with all those different sporting events. The camaraderie and friendship — a lot of joking and teasing that went on back and forth, which was really healthy.

“There was also some good theology,” added Chatlain with a chuckle.

The 62-year-old Chatlain, who was born in Saskatoon, moved to Winnipeg a week before formally succeeding his predecessor, the now-retired Archbishop Emeritus Richard Gagnon.

Chatlain spent most of the last three months since his appointment was announced bidding an emotional, reluctant goodbye to the vast Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas, which encompasses northern stretches of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario. He told the Register on Dec. 31 that it would be difficult to say goodbye and indeed that was the case.

“I was blessed with several farewells where people were very generous with their words, support and thankfulness,” said Chatlain. “I recognize that a lot of the powerful, positive things that happened over 12 years was God’s grace –—99 per cent of that was God’s grace and Him touching the people.”

The Dene language has become core to Chatlain. He said he began to think in Dene as he became immersed in the language. He sings Dene hymns and recites the prayers extemporaneously.

“One elder was telling me how when we spend too long in town and we’re not out on the land enough, the land misses us,” said Chatlain. “The people taught me how to connect with the land a lot more, and how to receive the gifts of walking through the forest.”

Chatlain expressed his hope to continue following this elder’s piece of wisdom by strolling the land around Winnipeg and the many rural communities with member parishes of the archdiocese. He now oversees 88 parishes and missions and nearly 60 diocesan priests.

Fernandes, who expressed admiration over Chatlain’s work with Canada's Indigenous peoples, is keen to work with his friend from seminary.

“I'm looking forward to working with him for the few years I have to work with him, especially with the Indigenous,” said Fernandes. “He’s coming with a rich background of working with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. It’s quite a challenge to balance trying to give equal attention.”

Noting that he and about seven to nine diocesan priests are currently in their 70s, Fernandes said an important responsibility for Chatlain will be to recruit replacements from overseas and develop future priests from the area to take over in the coming years.  

Echoing what he said when receiving this appointment, Chatlain said it will take about two years before he is equipped with a comprehensive snapshot of the archdiocese. He will spend the first 30-60 days in his role focused on cultivating a collaborating relationship with archdiocesan staff, priests and lay leaders.

He knows that Indigenous issues are a “very significant” piece to the urban picture in Winnipeg and intends to foster this ministry and strengthen relational ties. Chatlain is also aware there are many new Canadians among this archdiocesan flock that he hopes to welcome and serve.

Watch Chatlain’s installation Mass being live streamed on YouTube.