Many of you knew Carl personally or came to know CNEWA Canada through his faithful leadership and witness. As the founding National Director of CNEWA Canada, Carl devoted nearly two decades of his life to building bridges between Canadian donors and the suffering churches and peoples of the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe.
Carl was a true fighter – a man of profound faith, humility and courage. He spearheaded CNEWA’s mission in Canada with tireless dedication and gave so much of his life striving to be the Lord’s hands and feet in the world. Through more than 30 mission journeys to places marked by war, poverty and displacement, Carl carried the suffering of others in his heart and worked ceaselessly to bring hope, dignity and peace to those most in need.
He often spoke of the extraordinary generosity and compassion of Canadians, and he remained deeply grateful for the prayers and support of our donor family. Thanks to your faithful partnership throughout his years of leadership, countless lives were touched through the work of the Eastern churches and CNEWA’s humanitarian mission.
Carl once reflected that what moved him most was witnessing courage, resilience, sacrifice and strong faith among the people he encountered through CNEWA’s work. Those same qualities defined his own life and service.
At this difficult time, we ask you to please keep Carl and his loved ones in your prayers. We also wish to thank you sincerely for the support, trust and generosity you shared during his years with CNEWA Canada. Your compassion helped sustain a mission that was deeply close to his heart.
May the Lord grant Carl eternal rest and reward him for his faithful and selfless service.
Thank you for your generosity,
Adriana Bara, PhD
National Director
CNEWA Canada
In Memoriam Messages
It is with deep sadness that I received the news of Carl’s passing. Carl was truly a leader and man whose faith was put into action.
Please join me in praying for the repose of his soul, and for comfort and strength for his family, friends, and all who mourn him.
May the Lord rest his soul in peace.
✠ Most Reverend Marcel Damphousse, Archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall
Chair of the CNEWA Canada Board of Directors
It was a privilege for me to work with Carl Hétu from the time of my arrival as Archbishop of Ottawa in 2007 until my retirement in 2020. His passion for the Church’s mission and love for the people of the Holy Land in need—without distinction of creed—came from his deep faith and love of God and neighbor.
I pray the Lord rewards this faithful servant of His with eternal life and grants his loved ones and all who grieve his passing consolation and peace.
✠ Most Reverend Terrence Prendergast,
Emeritus Archbishop
With great sadness, I mourn the passing of Carl Hétu, who served as Director of CNEWA Canada for 18 years.
Carl was an extraordinary servant of the Church and a true disciple of Christ. I had the blessing of succeeding him as Director after he, together with the bishops of Canada, founded the CNEWA Canada office and helped this mission grow in such a beautiful and meaningful way.
I will miss Carl deeply, his wise advice, his generous heart, and his kind friendship.
May the Lord welcome Carl in His Kingdom, and may He comfort his family, friends, and all who loved him.
With sadness and gratitude,
Dr. Adriana Bara, National Director, CNEWA Canada
Carl will be remembered with deep gratitude and affection. Carl was a man of great integrity, mission and commitment to the social justice doctrine of the church who made a great impression on all CNEWA staff, in whatever office, during his visits. He played an important role in establishing the presence of CNEWA in Canada and in his representation to the bishops of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Please accept my heartfelt sympathy, and prayers … [and] know that his wife Lorraine, children, family and all who have worked and continue to work in CNEWA’s Ottawa office are in my prayers, especially at Mass.
Msgr. Peter I. Vaccari, President CNEWA
I had the privilege of working with Carl Hetu for nearly two decades as we established the Canadian offices of CNEWA. From the beginning, Carl was passionate about social justice, about the suffering of people all over the world, and educating Canadians about CNEWA’s mission.
He was a great leader – he thought outside the box and was the motor behind all our accomplishments during this time. Carl had big ideas, and he wasn’t afraid to speak them passionately. Through his hard work, he would bring them to fruition.
Carl was first and foremost a man of faith. It is this faith that guided him to the very end while he fought cancer valiantly, never giving up, continuing to work, even consulting with us at CNEWA, even though he had moved as the Executive Director of Development and Peace- Caritas Canada.
Carl was above all a family man, dedicated to his wife Lorraine, their children, and grandchildren. He spoke of them often and with the greatest affection. They were, he would say, his greatest accomplishment.
I had the chance to spend a few hours with Carl the day before his passing. He was surrounded by his family, friends, and colleagues. Even in these moments, his fighting spirit never wavered.
The CNEWA family is feeling a great loss with his passing. May his soul rest in peace, and may God grant consolation to his family and all those who mourn him.
Judith Poitevien, CNEWA Canada Office Manager