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Archbishop Gervais\u2019s family, along with bishops, priests, religious sisters and lay people, paid tribute to this man of God who devoted his life to the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe come together to pay our last respects to a dear friend, a great leader within our church and within this archdiocese, and to pray for the soul of Archbishop Marcel Gervais,\u201d said Archbishop Marcel Damphousse, archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall and current president of CNEWA Canada\u2019s board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, archbishop emeritus of Ottawa-Cornwall, gave the homily, honouring his immediate predecessor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe showed his preoccupation for the Eastern churches and Christians in the Middle East by the establishment here in Ottawa of Catholic Near East Welfare Association Canada,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMay Mary the mother of Jesus and our mother obtain from her Son, that whatever sorrow and sadness we feel at our loss of a spiritual father, brother, friend may be changed into consolation and joy,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hymns chosen and sung by the Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica choir invoked powerful images of a beautiful reality that awaits in the next life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe was a spiritual man with a love for Scripture,\u201d the funeral Mass program reads. \u201cHe was a man of goodness and kindness. His decisions were people focused, carefully considered and made with care. He was deeply and lovingly committed to Jesus, his church and her people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CNEWA offers continued prayers and gratitude to God for the gift of Archbishop Gervais. May he rest in God\u2019s great peace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"