A New Bishop for Pembroke and for Canada
Propitiously, on this memorial of Canada’s first, and quite saintly, bishop, a new episcopus has been announced for the Pembroke diocese, where this writer happens to reside. Bishop Guy Desrochers is currently auxiliary bishop for Alexandria-Cornwall, ordained for that munus a year ago January, in 2019. A member of the Redemptorist Order, founded in 1732 by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, himself a bishop, doctor of the Church and patron saint of moral theologians, Guy Desrochers underwent a conversion – or reversion, as they say – in his early twenties, moved by the prayers of his mother, a la Augustine of Hippo. His other wayward siblings soon followed – and he has never looked back. Bishop Desrocheres celebrated the 30th anniversary of his priestly ordination, and we will pray for much grace, courage – parrhesia – counsel, charity in his new task as bishop of Pembroke, whose patron is Saint Columbkille, apostle of Scotland and Ireland. And may the apostolic zeal of that monastic missionary fill the heart, mind and soul of our new spiritual father.
Saint Francois de Laval, ora pro ei, et pro nobis!
Here is the note from Archbishop Michael Mulhall, of Kingstson, former bishop of Pembroke:
My dear faithful of the Diocese of Pembroke,
It is a great joy for me to extend a warm welcome to His Excellency the Most Reverend Guy Desrochers, C.Ss.R., as the newly appointed Bishop of Pembroke. Bishop Desrochers, a priest of the Redemptorist Province of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, has been serving as the Auxiliary Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall. He is well known to many pilgrims who have benefited from his ministry at the Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré.
The Diocese of Pembroke has been blessed with this gift of a new shepherd. I am thankful to Bishop Desrochers for his generous acceptance of this episcopal mission. I ask that you pray in thanksgiving to the Lord for His goodness and that you begin praying for the intentions of your new Shepherd and Bishop.
May the Lord continue to bless the Church of Pembroke in this Easter season.
With prayers for Bishop Desrochers and for you, my dear people.
In Christ,
+Michael Mulhall
Archbishop of Kingston
For more details, see:
https://www.catholicregister.org/features/featureseries/item/28774-mother-s-prayers-take-fruit-in-new-auxiliary-bishop-s-life-conversion
And here:
https://ottawasun.com/opinion/columnists/prendergast-new-auxiliary-bishop-guy-desrochers-to-be-ordained-this-week
Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress
This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→
Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading→
My Name is Bernadette
April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]Continue reading→
Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→
Canonizing Sister Faustina and Divine Mercy
HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER MASS IN ST PETER’S SQUARE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF SR MARY FAUSTINA KOWALSKA Sunday, 30 April 2000 1. “Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius”; “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever” (Ps 118: 1). So the Church sings on the Octave of[…]Continue reading→
Divine Mercy Sunday – An Echo of Every Mass
Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe’… ‘My Lord and my God!’ (Jn. 20:18)). Today is Divine Mercy Sunday, and as we celebrate the end of the Easter Octave, we contemplate the wounded side of our Saviour, the Church’s source of life. On Good Friday in the[…]Continue reading→
Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→
Payette’s Payout
I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→
Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów
We celebrate Saint Stanislaus today (+ April 11, 1079), in light of this Easter Octave, a bishop and martyr who accepted the episcopacy only at the direct order of Pope Alexander II. He proved a wise and courageous leader of his flock, put to death by his own king, Boleslaus, for rebuking the monarch’s ‘immoral[…]Continue reading→