Death of the Most Reverend Jean Gagnon, Bishop Emeritus of Gaspé

Friday, December 23 2016

(CCCB – Ottawa)… The Most Reverend Jean Gagnon, Bishop Emeritus of Gaspé, died early this morning, December 23, 2016, at hospital in Lévis, Quebec, at the age of 75. After 15 years as Bishop of the Diocese of Gaspé, he submitted his resignation to the Holy Father upon reaching the age of 75, as required by the Code of Canon Law, and which was accepted on July 2, 2016.

Bishop Gagnon was born on May 21, 1941, in St-Joseph-de-Lauzon, Quebec. He was ordained a priest in 1966 for the Archdiocese of Québec. On December 4, 1998, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Québec. Appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Gaspé on July 21, 2001, he was named Bishop of the same diocese on November 15, 2002. As a member of the CCCB, Bishop Gagnon has served as member and Chairman of the former Commission for Social justice of the French Sector (1999-2003), member of the former Committee for programs and priorities (2001-2003), member of the former Commission for Christian education of the French Sector (2003-2005), and member of the Commission for Liturgy and Sacraments of the French Sector (2011-2016). Bishop Gagnon has also been the CCCB representative on the Board of the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) (2005-2007) and was its Chairman (2007-2009).

The remains of the Most Reverend Jean Gagnon will lie in state in the parish church of Saint-Joseph-de-Lauzon, Lévis, Quebec, on December 29, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm and from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm as well as from 9:00 am on the day of the funeral. The Funeral Mass will be presided by His Eminence Gérald Cyprien Cardinal Lacroix, Archbishop of Québec and Primate of Canada, on December 30, 2016, at 11:00 am. He will be assisted by the Most Reverend Gaétan Proulx, O.S.M., Bishop of Gaspé.