The passing of Archbishop Emeritus Marcel André Joseph Gervais of Ottawa Aug. 6 brought to a close 65 years of faithful service to the Catholic Church and beyond.
The late archbishop is remembered for his contributions ranging from reconciliation with Canada’s Indigenous people to education, ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, multicultural inclusion, social justice and aid to Middle Eastern churches.
After lying in state at Ottawa’s Basilica of Notre Dame on Aug. 14, and following a requiem Mass, he was laid to rest in the crypt of the basilica.
Gervais’ multifaceted contributions are fondly remembered by the many whose lives he touched. In Ottawa, he deftly bridged the two solitudes that comprised the Anglophone and Francophone congregations of the time.
Archbishop Emeritus Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa-Cornwall, who succeeded Archbishop Gervais, shared fond personal recollections of his predecessor.
“I have always held Archbishop Gervais in high regard. He was supportive of me as a young bishop in the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario when I was an auxiliary in Toronto from 1995 to 1998,” he told The Catholic Register. “He welcomed me warmly as his successor in May 2007.”
The renovation of the historic Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica was a major accomplishment under his leadership.
“The restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica was a highlight of his episcopate,” said Prendegast. “It had fallen into disrepair and its refurbishment brought out all its glory. He commissioned the statue of Jacob-Israel at the entrance of the church. We determined that it would honour his respect for the Jewish community and be a testament to his ecumenical and interfaith labours.”
Evangelization and education were major focuses of Gervais’ life work.
“Fr. Gervais was truly a passionate evangelist,” Prendergast said. “In 1976, he began what was to be a major achievement of his ministry — the writing of a set of 40 lessons on the Bible, known by the title Journey which became widely used in parishes and adult faith formation programs, and translated into 14 languages, making the Word of God accessible to God’s people.”
Gervais’ commitment to education spanned both adults and youth.
“He had a zeal for youth, encouraging World Youth Day participation; for education in French as well as English, and led the curriculum development of Fully Alive, the health education program taught in Ontario’s Catholic schools,” Prendergast said.
Archbishop Gervais also served as Chancellor of Saint Paul University for 18 years.
He convened the Diocesan Synod of 1992, focused on youth ministry and adult faith development, which led to structural changes at the archdiocese and parish levels, and greater lay participation in decision-making processes.
Indigenous people were dear to Archbishop Gervais’ heart as well, and he encouraged the establishment of the Kateri Native Ministry, a charitable organization in the Ottawa area named after St. Kateri Tekawitha. It offers music and worship, culture and leadership training to Indigenous Christian communities in Ottawa and across Canada.
Recognizing the changing cultural fabric of the capital region, he was the first bishop to incardinate African priests who came to serve in the archdiocese.
Being the capital of the country and the seat of the federal government, Ottawa presented its own unique challenges. Gervais had the difficult task of ministering to Catholic prime ministers and members of parliament who supported policies contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Remaining steadfast in his own faith, he publicly disagreed with Liberal Prime Ministers Paul Martin and Jean Chretien. He decided, however, not to deny them Holy Communion, as other bishops were doing in dioceses in the United States in particular, citing the realities of party politics in a democratic system.
In addition, Archbishop Gervais was the driving force behind the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) Canada, the pontifical charity which is a lifeline for marginalized Christians of the Middle East, North Africa, India and Eastern Europe. At the invitation of the Holy See, Archbishop Gervais established its office in Ottawa, served as the first chair and recruited a dynamic staff led by Carl Hetu, which raised awareness and garnered Canadian support for the humanitarian and pastoral needs of the Eastern churches.
“Archbishop Gervais’s passing is an incredible loss for CNEWA Canada as well as the Canadian Church,” said Archbishop Marcel Damphousse, Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall and chair of the CNEWA Canada board, in a written statement. “We give thanks to God for the gift of his life and ministry and for the important work he did in supporting our sisters and brothers from the Eastern churches. In his name, we will continue our important mission in bringing hope, peace, and prosperity to those in our world who so desperately need it.”
A member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, he served in many different capacities, including as Chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Education and member of the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs. He was president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1991 for a two-year term.
Born in St. Elie, Man., in 1931, Archbishop Gervais studied for the priesthood at St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ont. He was ordained a priest in 1958 and was sent to study sacred Scripture in Rome and Jerusalem.
He returned to London to teach at St. Peter’s Seminary and in 1974 took over as director of the Divine Word International Centre of Religious Education.
He was ordained an auxiliary bishop of London in 1980 and subsequently was made Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie. After four years he was named Archbishop of Ottawa, where he retired in 2007.