Canadian Bishop Emeritus Among Candidates Moving Toward Canonization

Thursday, December 5, 2019

On Thursday 28 November 2019, Pope Francis authorized Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, to promulgate 11 decrees on 26 men and women to bring them a step closer to sainthood. Among the individuals cited was Bishop Ovide Charlebois, O.M.I. former Apostolic Vicar of Keewatin (now the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas). Bishop Emeritus Charlebois received a decree on his heroic virtues which promoted his cause for sainthood from “servant of God” to “venerable”. With this decree, he has completed another step in the process to become canonized.

Born in Oka, Québec on 17 February 1862, Bishop Emeritus Charlebois was consecrated the Apostolic Vicar of Keewatin (Manitoba and Saskatchewan) on 30 November 1910 and served the missions of this northern vicariate until his death on 20 November 1933.

What is canonization and the steps leading toward sainthood?