Venerable Ovide Charlebois

Ovide Charlebois, OMI (17 February 1862 - 20 November 1933) was a Canadian Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate who served as the Apostolic Vicar of Keewatin from his appointment in 1910 until his death. Charlebois worked in the missions first in the nation's northwest and was noted for his extensive travels across Saskatchewan to visit isolated minorities in order to teach them catechism and to minister to those who were open to converting to the faith. His appointment as a bishop allowed him greater freedom as he was able to build new chapels and schools across his apostolic vicariate which he divided into three for greater management. Charlebois was considered a pioneer for his dedication and contribution to education and infrastructure in his apostolic vicariate where he established chapels and schools. He taught catechism on a regular basis in the various schools that he visited and also established a newspaper in order to better connect the more isolated communities. The beatification process for the late prelate launched in the 1950s and he became titled as a Servant of God. It remained inactive until it was re-launched in the late 1970s thus allowing for it to continue. Pope Francis titled him as venerable on 28 November 2019. Ovide Charlebois was born in Oka on 17 February 1862 as the seventh of fourteen children to the poor Hyacinthe Charlebois and Émérente Chartier-Robert; he was baptized after his birth as "William-Ovide". He moved soon after his birth to Saint-Benoît in Mirabel and then in 1864 settled in Sainte-Marguerite-du-Lac-Masson just outside of Terrebonne. From 1876 until 1882 he attended the Collège de l'Assomption before he entered the Marian Oblate novitiate in Lachine in Montreal. He made his initial profession in 1883 and then began his theological and philosophical studies at both the College of Ottawa and the Saint-Joseph Scholasticae. Charlebois made his solemn profession into the order in 1884 before receiving the tonsure in 1886.