“In Memoriam” for Bishop John Beahen

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The following picture and text are taken from the April 1988 edition of The  Church  of  Ottawa  Today.

Bishop John Michael Beahen, Titular Bishop of Ploaghe and Auxiliary Bishop of  Ottawa, passed away suddenly last Monday, March 14, 1988, at the age of 66, of a cerebral hemorrhage, while preaching a retreat in St. Gregory’s Parish, in Sault Ste. Marie.

Bishop Beahen was born inOttawa. on February 14, 1922, the son of the late John Patrick Beahen and the late Elizabeth Whelan.

He attended High School at the  University  of  Ottawa  and studied theology at  St. Augustine’s Seminary in  Toronto.

He was ordained to the Priesthood in Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica in  Ottawa, by the Most Rev. Alexandre Vachon, on June 15, 1946.

His first appointment was as Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of Fatima Parish, in  Ottawa.

He then pursued post graduate studies in  Rome, from 1950 till 1952, when he obtained his Doctorate in Canon Law. On his return to  Ottawa, he was appointed as Advocate and Attorney at the Regional Tribunal of Ottawa. While exercising his function at the Tribunal, he assumed successively the pastoral charge of the following parishes: St. Jude’s Hawkesbury, St. Isidore’s  Kanata, St. Elizabeth, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Patrick’s Parish, in  Ottawa.

In 1976, he was named Vicar General and on November 30, 1976, was made a Prelate of Honour by Pope Paul VI.

On May 11, 1977, the Holy Father named him as Auxiliary Bishop to the Archbishop of Ottawa. His Episcopal Ordination was held in Notre Dame Basilica and was conferred by Archbishop Plourde of  Ottawa, on June 21, 1977.

At the time of his death,  he was Senior Vicar General with special responsibility at the Chancery and in other administrative matters of the Archdiocese.

After his death. he lay in State at St. Patrick’s Church on March 17, on the Feast of St Patrick, from 2:30 p.m. until 10:30 a.m. the following day. On Friday morning he was transferred to Notre Dame Basilica for 11 a.m. where he lay in State until the Funeral Pontifical Mass at 2:00 p.m. This Concelebration of the Eucharist was presided over by the Most Rev. J.A. Plourde, Archbishop of Ottawa, who was assisted by Bishop Gilles Belisle and Bishop Brendan O’Brien, Auxiliary Bishops of Ottawa. The Most Reverend Angelo Palmas, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to  Canada, was present and expressed the condolences of the Holy Father. At this con-celebration participated 22 bishops, more than 100 priests, many faithful from the Archdiocese and other Dioceses, the family and relatives and friends of the deceased. In an inspired homily, Archbishop Plourde best expressed the sentiments of all those assembled: “Bishop John’s pilgrimage of faith and hope is over. His journey of love is not.”

Msgr. Roger Morin, P.A.

1 Response to “In Memoriam” for Bishop John Beahen

  1. Sylvia says:

    And here is the answer to where exactly Bishop John Beahen was when he suffered a massive stroke: he was preaching a retreat at St. Gregory’s in Sault Ste. Marie.

    Now take a look at what Ottawa’s Archbishop Joseph Aurele Plourde had to say at Beahen’s funeral: “Bishop John’s pilgrimage of faith and hope is over. His journey of love is not.”

    And look at what Monsignor Roger Morin had to say about that: “In an inspired homily” Plourde “expressed the sentiment of all those assembled.”

    Really? Not a single soul knew Beahen had been sexually abusing young boys? Not a soul? Not Archbishop Plourde? Not Monsignor Morin? No one knew?

    The police knew.

    And Mike Gibbons knew.

    And Beahen’s victims knew.

    “Bishop John’s pilgrimage of faith and hope is over. His journey of love is not.”

    How utterly revolting!

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