“Death of The Most Reverend Eugène Philippe LaRocque Bishop Emeritus of Alexandria-Cornwall” & related articles

December 17, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2018

Most Reverend Eugène Philippe LaRocque
March 27, 1927 – December 16, 2018
Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall 1974 – 2002

The Most Reverend Eugène Philippe LaRocque, Emeritus Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall, after a long and generous life in the service of the Gospel, died on Sunday, December 16, 2018. Bishop LaRocque was born in 1927 in Windsor, Ontario, one of five children of Eugène J. LaRocque and Angeline Monforton. He remained proud of and attached to his Windsor roots, and in fact retired to the area.

Following his elementary and secondary school studies, Bishop LaRocque entered St. Peter’s Seminary in 1945. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1952. He later did graduate studies at Toronto’s St. Michael’s College and Laval University where he obtained his Masters in French. He then served as registrar for the King’s College of the University of Western Ontario where he also taught French and religion.

On September 3, 1974, he was ordained a bishop by his Excellency Emmett Carter, for the Diocese of Alexandria, as it was then known. He became the Diocese’s sixth bishop.

During his 27 plus years as bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall, Bishop LaRocque oversaw the accomplishment of numerous projects and events.  While Bishop Adolphe Proulx can be credited with initiating Synod ‘72, it was largely left to Bishop LaRocque to implement the approximately 100 resolutions of the Synod. Almost 20 years later, on the advice of his council of priests, he once again convened a diocesan synod, EKKLESIA 2000. The synod extended over three years and involved thousands of parishioners.

In 1976, under Bishop LaRocque, Cornwall was added to the name of the Diocese. At the same time, the Holy See approved the raising of La Nativité to the rank of Co-Cathedral.

An important role of a bishop and one that was near and dear to Bishop LaRocque’s heart, was the promotion of vocations. He always encouraged young people to consider the priesthood and religious life, even during his retirement years he continued to visit and support our seminarians. During his tenure as bishop, Bishop LaRocque ordained seven priests. He also welcomed the Legionaries of Christ, who established a novitiate in Summerstown and who worked in the Diocese for 20 years.

Another significant part of the clergy is that of permanent deacons and it was Bishop LaRocque who instituted the diocese’s program for the permanent diaconate, a program that continues to bear fruit today. He himself ordained 12 men as permanent deacons for the Diocese.

In speaking about his own vocation, Bishop LaRocque once stated, “To be aware that one has been chosen to serve the Lord by being at the service of his brothers and sisters, especially those most in need, gives great purpose and fulfillment to my life as a priest and bishop.”

One of the most important tasks of a bishop is to confirm the many young people in his charge. Bishop LaRocque always made it a priority to meet all the families as well as the hundreds of children being confirmed prior to confirmations. With respect to young people, he was also a strong supporter of the Journey to the Father Conferences which took place each summer in St. Raphael’s.

Under Bishop LaRocque, the Diocese was active in promoting the treatment and education program on drugs and alcohol by providing the building (the former Bishop’s Residence in St Raphael’s) for the Mount Carmel Treatment Centre and in encouraging both financial and spiritual help. He recruited Sr. Jeannine Bissonnette and Sr. Georgette Thibault to establish the Shalom Retreat House, likewise located in St. Raphael’s, and which continues to operate today, though out of Alexandria.

Bishop LaRocque was a vocal proponent of extending full funding to Ontario’s separate schools, something that was achieved in 1984. He strongly encouraged the establishment of St. Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School in Cornwall.

In 1977, Bishop LaRocque became the State Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus of Ontario, a post he would hold for 10 years. That same year, he became the first chairman of the tripartite liaison committee between the Canadian Jewish Congress, the Canadian Council of Churches and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. He showed great interest in ecumenical dialogue and encouraged his clergy and lay people to be truly involved in ecumenism. From 1992 to 1994 he served as the president of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario.

Bishop LaRocque was a strong supporter of the Cornwall Children’s Treatment Centre, a cause that the Diocese continues to financially assist.

In his downtime, Bishop LaRocque was an avid gardener who especially loved his roses. He was a very good cook, often inviting his priests for summer BBQs. He was also a wonderful host, welcoming his parishioners to his home for his annual New Year’s Levy.

Unfortunately, his episcopate was not without some controversy and dark moments. During his last 10 years, the Diocese was faced with a number of allegations and lawsuits involving sexual abuse by some of the priests working in the Diocese. Bishop LaRocque participated fully in the Cornwall Public Inquiry, which helped to shed light on this tragic reality. Although the Diocese’s first protocol and the first committee for dealing with sex abuse allegations were begun during his tenure, the inquiry did find that there was still more work to be done. The recommendations of the inquiry have since been implemented in the Diocese.

At this time, funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized.

The Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall is made up of the counties of Glengarry and Stormont and includes more than 56,000 Catholics, 26 parishes and 29 priests. The current bishop is His Excellency Terrence Prendergast assisted by an auxiliary bishop, Bishop-elect Guy Desrochers.

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For further information please contact
Kimberly Walsh
Chancellor
Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall
613-933-1138, ext. 32 or 613-571-4282