PERE ARTHUR LACERTE

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PERE ARTHUR LACERTE, o.m.i. 1915 - 2000 Le Pere Arthur Lacerte, o.m.i. est decede paisiblement, a Ottawa, ON le 17 juin 2000 a lage de 85 ans. En plus de sa famille religieuse, les Oblats de Marie Immaculee, il laisse dans le deuil son frere Rheal (Jacqueline), sa belle-soeur, Madame Rita Lacerte ainsi que plusieurs neveux et nieces. Pere Arthur Lacerte, est ne a Marcellin, Saskatchewan le 7 janvier 1915, fils dArthur Lacerte et de Leona Aquin. En aout 1934 il est entre chez les Missionnaires oblats de Marie Immaculee et il a prononce ses premiers voeux le aout 1935 a Saint-Laurent. Apres des etudes au Scolasticat international a Rome, il est ordonne pretre a Ottawa le 15 juin 1941. Cest en education et en administration que le pere Lacerte a fait valoir ses nombreux talents. Dabord, au College Mathieu a Gravelbourg ou il remplissait successivement ou simultanement les fonctions de professeur, prefet de discipline, doyen des etudes, directeur de la fanfare et de chant, responsable des Cadets militaire et entraineur dans les sports, predicateur de retraites specialisees et vice-recteur. De 1957 a 1967, il est recteur et professeur au College Saint-Jean dEdmonton. Cette nomination, totalement imprevue, lui permis detre le principal agent de lintegration du College a luniversite de lAlberta. Cette entente assurait la survie du college qui autrement ne serait devenu quune ecole secondaire sans avenir. Il a ete le premier franco-phone a etre membre du Senat de lUniversite de lAlberta. A Edmonton il a egalement fonde la paroisse Saint-Thomas. De 1967 a 1976 il est superieur provincial du Manitoba. Durant ce temps il enseigne au College universitaire de Saint-Boniface. Apres son troisieme terme comme provincial on le retrouve a Ottawa ou il est professeur a lUniversite Saint-Paul, directeur-adjoint puis directeur de lInstitut de Pastoral. Il siege au conseil dadministration et est vice-administrateur adjoint. En 1979 il est nomme gouverneur de lUniversite dOttawa. En 1990, lUniversite Saint-Paul lui accorde la medaille du centenaire pour sa contribution a lInstitut de Pastorale. Il recoit un doctorat honorifique du College Saint-Boniface en 1991. En 1997, le gouvernement canadien reconnait sa contribution dans le domaine de lEducation en Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba et Ontario en ladmettant dans lOrdre du Canada. En 1985 il prend sa retraite chez sa soeur en Colombie Britannique. Au debut des annees 90 il rejoint la communaute oblate de la Casa Bonita a Saint-Boniface. En fevrier 1999 il se rend a Ottawa ou il fut admis a infirmerie des Oblats de la Residence Deschatelets. Les Oblats de la province oblate du Manitoba ainsi que la famille Lacerte desirent remercier les Oblats de la province Saint-Joseph ainsi que le personnel de linfirmerie Deschatelets pour leur devouement envers le Pere Arthur Lacerte. Ils desirent aussi exprimer leur sincere reconnaissance envers les membres du personnel de la Casa Bonita qui ont su entourer le Pere Lacerte de leurs soins et leur affection durant son sejour a la Casa Bonita. La messe de la resurrection sera celebree pour le p. Arthur Lacerte, o.m.i. en la cathedrale de Saint-Boniface le samedi 24 juin a 10h. La dapouille mortelle sera exposee a partir de 9h30. Linhumation suivra lieu au cimetiere de Saint-Boniface. Une messe de funerailles, presidee par Mgr Henri Legare, o.m.i. a ete celebree en leglise Sacre-Coeur dOttawa le mercredi 21 juin. FATHER ARTHUR LACERTE, o.m.i. 1915 - 2000 Peacefully, after a long illness, Father Arthur Lacerte o.m.i., died in Ottawa on June 17, 2000. He was 85 years old. As well as his Oblate family, he leaves to mourn his passing, a brother Rheal (Jacqueline) and a sister-in-law Mrs. Rita Lacerte, as well as many nieces and nephews. Born on January 7, 1915 in Marcellin, SK, Arthur Lacerte entered the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in St. Laurent, MB in 1934. After his First Vows, on August 15, 1935, he studied at the Oblate International Scholasticate in Rome. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 15, 1941 in Ottawa. It was in the fields of education and administration that Father Lacertes many gifts and talents were showcased. At the College Mathieu in Gravelbourg, SK, he simultaneously or successively held the posts of professor, prefect of discipline, dean of studies, band conductor, sports coach, retreat master, responsible for the military cadet corps, and vice rector. From 1957 to 1967, he was rector and professor at College Saint-Jean, in Edmonton. This totally unexpected nomination placed him in the very centre of the move to integrate the College into the University of Alberta. The agreement that Fr. Lacerte negotiated with the University guaranteed the survival of the College, which otherwise would have become a secondary school with an uncertain future. From 1957 to 1967 he was provincial superior of the Oblate Province of Manitoba. During this time he continued his career in teaching, at the College Saint-Boniface. After his third term as provincial, he took a position at St. Paul University, in Ottawa. There he was professor and assistant director - later director - of the Institute of Pastoral Studies. He sat on the administrative council of the University and was assistant vice-administrator. In 1979 he was named one of the governors of the University of Ottawa. In 1990, Saint-Paul University awarded him the Centennial Medal for his contribution to the Pastoral Institute. He received an honorary doctorate from College Saint-Boniface in 1991. In 1997, the Government of Canada recognized his contribution in the advancement of Education in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, by enrolling him in the Order of Canada. In 1985 he retired to the home of his sister in British Columbia. At the beginning of the 1990s he came back to Manitoba, where he joined the Oblate community at the Casa Bonita in St. Boniface. In February, 1999, he was admitted to the Oblate infirmary at the Residence Deschatelets. The family of the deceased and his Oblate brothers would like to thank the Oblates of St. Joseph Province and the staff at the Deschatelets Residence for their care and devotion to Father Lacerte. They would also wish to express their heartfelt appreciation to the staff at Casa Bonita for their care and affection for Father Lacerte during the time he spent at the Casa. A funeral mass for Father Arthur Lacerte o.m.i. will be celebrated on Saturday, June 24 at 10:00 a.m. in the St. Boniface Cathedral, with viewing beginning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow in the St. Boniface Cemetery. A funeral mass, presided by Bishop Henri Legare o.m.i., was celebrated in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 21. Cropo Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements; 586-8044.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 22, 2000