With deep sadness Kingston Archbishop Brendan O'Brien announced the death of one of his predecessors, the Most Rev. Francis John Spence, Archbishop Emeritus, on Wednesday, 27 July 2011:
Archbishop Spence was born in Perth, Ontario, on 3 June 1926. He was ordained a priest on 16 April 1950 and ordained a Bishop on 15 June 1967. Archbishop Spence served as Auxiliary Bishop to the Military Vicar from 1967-1982, Bishop of Charlottetown from 1970-1982, and Ordinary for the Military Vicariate of Canada from 1982-1989. He was installed as Archbishop of Kingston on 30 June 1982 and served until his retirement on 13 August 2002. Archbishop Spence was President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1995-1997.
As an Archdiocese, we thank God for the gift of Archbishop Emeritus Spence and his unfailing service and witness throughout the years of his priesthood and episcopal ministry.
Archbishop Spence will lie in state at St. Mary’s Cathedral, 279 Johnson Street, in Kingston (Ontario), on Tuesday, August 2, 2011, from 1:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m., with a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, at the Cathedral in Kingston, with a reception to follow. Interment will take place on Thursday, August 4, 2011, at 11:00 a.m. at the family plot in Perth. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Priests’ Benefit Fund of the Archdiocese of Kingston would be appreciated.
Let us pray for the Spence family, and for the people of the Archdiocese of Kingston, in this time of grief.
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