New Nuncio to Canada - Death of Two Ottawa Priests - Weekly Photo Round-Up of Recent Confirmations, et cetera

Pope Benedict XVI today named a Spaniard serving as the Nuncio in India, with responsibilities in Nepal as Apostolic Nuncio to Canada.

Archbishop Pedro López Quintana was born in Barbastro, Spain, on July 27, 1953 and was ordained priest by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, for the Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela. He holds a Doctorate in Canon Law from the Angelicum and did post-graduate studies in Dogmatic Theology at the Gregorian; he entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See on February 1, 1984.

His Excellency served in Apostolic Nunciatures in Madagascar, the Philippines and in India. In 1998, he was appointed Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See and on December 12, 2002 was elevated titular Archbishop of Agropoli and Apostolic Nuncio. On January 6, 2003, he was consecrated Archbishop by Pope John Paul II for service in the Republic of India and in the Kingdom of Nepal.



Congratulations, best wishes and welcome, Your Grace!

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Father William Lunney (October 8, 1928-December 8, 2009)

Two priests who had served the People of God in the Archdiocese of Ottawa passed away in recent days, Abbe Charles Clement (born September 28, 1927, ordained June 20, 1954, died December 3, 2009) and Father William (Bill) Lunney (ordained May 25, 1968), brother of Msgr. Leonard (Len) Lunney.

Father Lunney's funeral will be celebrated at St. Peter Celestine Church, Pakenham on Friday morning at 11AM, with burial in the Parish Cemetery at Indian Hill.

At the request of his family, Abbe Clement's funeral and burial are being held privately. I will celebrate a Memorial Mass at Eglise St. Isidore on Monday, December 21 at 10AM.

Please remember these servants of God called home by the Lord in this Year of Priests.

R.I.P.

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Weekly Photo Round-Up

Here are some shots from the last of the fall's Confirmation celebrations held last week and on Monday:

Paroisse St-Gregoire de Nazianze, Vankleek Hill (Wednesday, December 2)







Paroisse St-Jean Baptiste, L'Orignal (Saturday, December 5)





Paroisse St-Remi, Ottawa (December 6, 7)







On Sunday, after the Confirmations at Paroisse St-Bonaventure (unfortunately the photos taken on the occasion are blurry), I visited the convent of the Capuchin friars who direct this church and Paroisse St-Francois d'Assise, always a pleasant occasion:





Then, I drove to Montreal for a seasonal family gathering at my sister-in-law's new apartment:



My youngest nephew Paul and his sister Clara enjoy the decorations in the apartment lobby