May 2, 2016

On April 25, a group of students from the École secondaire catholique Trillium (Chapleau) Pastoral Committee attended the episcopal ordination of Father Robert Bourgon, the newly-appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Heart. The students travelled hundreds of kilometres to the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption Cathedral, where they joined some 500 members of the Catholic community from all corners of Ontario in celebrating this grandiose event. Mr. Roger Lemoyne, CSCNO school trustee for Ward 8 (Dubreuilville et Hornepayne) also took part in the ordination.

The solemn procession of members of the clergy, led by a Knights of Columbus and Daughters of Isabelle Honour Guard and accompanied by the choir, left people breathless. With 17 bishops, 24 priests, 3 deacons, His Eminence Cardinal Thomas Collins and His Excellence the Papal Nuncio Monsignor Luigi Bonazzi on hand, the crowd, gathered to welcome Father Bourgon and see him accept his new mandate and role as Bishop of the Diocese, was in a state of enthusiastic anticipation.

The ESC Trillium students felt pride and thankfulness at having the privilege of sharing this important moment. “It’s really special, because you don’t see this every day,” explained grade 9 student Lindsay. “I am so proud to have been lucky enough to attend.” Most of the gathered crowd had never experienced such an event. It was a unique occasion for members of the community of our diocese to come together.

“It was an honour and a privilege to attend this ordination–a very special moment that gave me a great feeling of belonging to my Catholic community,” added Mrs. Isabelle Perreault, an ÉSC Trillium teacher in charge of the Pastoral Committee. 

Newly appointed Bishop Bourgon used the occasion to address the gathering with considerable emotion and even a touch of humour, to help attendees learn more about who he is.

The Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario offers a French Catholic Educational Program that is widely recognized for its excellence. The CSCNO provides a quality learning environment and academic program that runs from early childhood to adult education, with some 7,000 students in 27 elementary and 10 secondary schools.

INFO:

Paul de la Riva
Interim Assistant Director of Communications and Community Development
Conseil scolaire catholique du Nouvel-Ontario
(705) 673-5626, ext. 294
(705) 677-8195 – cell phone