Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011

Robert had close ties with Carmelite nuns

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Archdiocese has lost a deeply spiritual priest, who helped found a Carmelite monastery in Armstrong, B.C.

Father Lucien Robert, 77 died Tuesday, June 12. He had been suffering from cancer for almost 20 years but he fought for his life till the end.

Robert, who loved the writings of St. John of the Cross and was a great friend of the Carmelite nuns, spent his last days as chaplain at Providence Centre, where he was sought by people for spiritual direction.

The last trip he made was to visit and he spent two weeks with the sisters in the Carmel at Armstrong.

"He loved life," said Father Clement Gauthier, who has known Robert since the 1960s.

"Before his last surgery the doctor made him choose between letting it go or going through a painful surgery and long recovery," Gauthier told WCR.

"He chose the surgery and was recovering quite well until he had a bad fall. He started to deteriorate," Gauthier said.

Robert served 50 years in the Edmonton and Calgary dioceses.

"Last month, he was talking to me about celebrating his 50th ordination anniversary, but his condition was not very good," Gauthier said.

Gauthier celebrated a thanksgiving Mass marking Robert's golden anniversary, with the latter semi-conscious on his hospital bed, May 20.

"He is a man who loved the priesthood and was proud of being a priest, but he also liked art and music," said Gauthier.

"He enjoyed living, went to movies and opera, travelled to Europe a number of times."

Robert got sick when he was pastor at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Vermilion, between 1984-88.

He received cancer treatment until he was transferred to St. Pius X Parish, Edmonton.

Prayers will be Sunday, June 17, at 7 p.m. at Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home. Archbishop Thomas Collins will preside at a funeral Mass June 18 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Basilica.

Copyright © 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 -- Western Catholic Reporter