Death of the Most Reverend Paul Marchand, Bishop of Timmins, Ontario

Wednesday, July 27 2011

Ottawa – July 27, 2011 – It is with great sorrow that we announce the death of the Most Reverend Paul Marchand, S.M.M., Bishop of Timmins, on Sunday, July 24, 2011 at the age of 74 years.

Bishop Marchand, S.M.M., was born on April 17, 1937 in Lafontaine, Ontario, and became a member of the Montfort Missionaries in 1956. He studied Pastoral Theology and Sacred Scriptures at Saint-Paul University, in Ottawa, and at l’Université de Montréal. He was ordained to the priesthood in March 1962 and to the episcopate in August 1993, as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Ottawa. Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Timmins on March 8, 1999.

Bishop Marchand was a highly talented preacher and had a very pastoral approach to his work. He occupied many functions in his Religious Congregation: he served as Provincial Superior and was a member of the Extraordinary General Council of Montfort Missionaries from 1990 to 1993.

Since his Episcopal ordination, Bishop Marchand assumed several responsibilities at the CCCB: he was President of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Education (French Sector) from 1997 to 2001, member of the Permanent Council from 2000 to 2005, and member of the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications (French Sector) from 2001 to 2008.

Bishop Marchand’s remains will lie in state at Saint Anthony Cathedral Parish Church on Thursday, July 28, 2011 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Friday, July 29, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 (noon). The Funeral will follow at 12:00 noon with Metropolitan Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J., presiding and Bishop Paul-André Durocher preaching.