Gatineau Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher preaches his first homily in his new diocese after his installation Nov. 30. Photo by Deborah Gyapong / CCN.Paul-Andre Durocher installed as the second Archbishop of Gatineau
By Deborah Gyapong
The Canadian Catholic News

GATINEAU (CCN)--In a celebration filled with historic and symbolic significance, Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher was installed as the second Archbishop of Gatineau Nov. 30, on the Feast of St. Andrew.

Archbishop Durocher shared with his new flock that he wore the Episcopal ring of Bishop Aldophe Proulx, a former Gatineau bishop who died in office after ten years. The ring had been given to Bishop Proulx by Pope Paul VI at the close of the Second Vatican Council, where he participated.

Archbishop Durocher explained Bishop Proulx’s family gave him the ring 15 years ago. The family told Archbishop Durocher that they wanted the ring given to a new bishop who came from Northern Ontario and had served in French Ontario. He said he accepted the gift in great humility.

"The ring of the Council which Bishop Proulx received is proof of my commitment to welcome the richness of the past, celebrate the present and to discern with you the future," he said in French.

Archbishop Durocher noted that soon the world will mark the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council.

“Now we have our Pope announce the Year of Faith; he has also called a Synod of Bishops on theme of the new evangelization to be held next October,” he said. “This will be the occasion for the Universal Church to reflect on the challenges of sharing of the faith, which is our hope and joy.”

On the diocese’s 50th anniversary, he said: “Certainly this will give us the opportunity to ask ourselves how we can take up the challenge of the new evangelization here in the Outaouais.”

More than 800 people packed St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Gatineau’s Hull district, including 46 bishops, among them many archbishops from across Canada, as well as Cardinal Jean-Claude Turcotte.

Archbishop Durocher’s parents and many siblings, nieces and nephews and friends joined the faithful of Gatineau for the joyous occasion.

The Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana represented the Holy Father at the installation and, after reading the Papal announcement, led Archbishop Durocher to his cathedral chair.

In his homily, Archbishop Durocher noted that the Nuncio’s presence reminded them the diocesan bishop’s ministry has no value unless it is lived in communion with the Bishop of Rome, the Successor of Peter.

Archbishop Durocher, who served five years in Sault-Ste-Marie and ten years as Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall, explained in his homily how he arrived at his episcopal motto “Canta et ambula”—or in English “Sing and Walk.’

Though usually mottos are lifted from Scripture, Archbishop Durocher took his from a homily of St. Augustine who wrote of the Alleluia that is sung again on Easter and compared to the singing of the Saints in heaven. The archbishop noted that Augustine made an entertaining comparison, noting the saints sat while singing their alleluias, while those on earth sang it while they walked as pilgrims.

"We must sing to encourage ourselves along our road, to support one another, to lift hearts when the effort required makes us want to pack up and go home," he said. "That led Augustine to conclude his homily with the words 'Canta et ambula.'”

Archbishop Durocher, who had spent five years training as a classical singer, abandoning a promising career as an opera singer for the priesthood, says he found in Augustine’s words a confirmation of his vocational discernment.

“I would not stop singing,” he said, noting he found a new way to express it, especially through the celebration of the liturgy.

"Now it is with you, the people of God who are in Gatineau, that I am invited to sing and walk," he said.

Archbishop Durocher also described the significance of the Feast of St. Andrew for his personal ministry.

“I carry his name, but I have the impression I carry also a little of his spirit,” he said, adding that Andrew was the brother of Peter and both responded rapidly to the call of Jesus Christ.

In the Gospel of John, it is recounted that Andrew led his brother Peter to Jesus.

Archbishop Durocher described St. Andrew as the intermediary between Jesus and others, as one who leads people to Christ. He was an evangelist before any of the Gospels were written.

“The image of St. Andrew, the evangelist to facilitate the encounter with Jesus may be an image that can help us to outline our future tonight,” he said.

Archbishop Durocher told his new flock that he would spend the next several months visiting the pastoral regions of the diocese. But before that, as vice president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), the archbishop will accompany CCCB president Archbishop Richard Smith and a representative of the Canadian Religious Conference on a Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace solidarity and familiarization mission to Haiti Dec. 14-22.