Archbishop-elect presently serving as pastor of parishes at Lac Ste. Anne, Enoch, and Alexander First Nation in Alberta
By Andrew Ehrkamp, Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
Republished with permission
[Edmonton – Canadian Catholic News] – Pope Leo XIV has appointed Rev. Susai Jesu, OMI, as the next Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas, a territory encompassing 725,000 square kilometres across northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The announcement from the Holy See was made on Nov. 17, 2025. Archbishop-Elect Susai will be ordained at the end of January at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in The Pas, Manitoba.
Reflecting on his appointment, Archbishop-Elect Jesu shared: “As I reflect on my feelings at this memorable moment, the words of the Blessed Virgin Mary come to mind: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior. God lifts up the lowly and fills the hungry with good things.’ It is a humbling experience to receive God’s calling to serve as a bishop. I truly realize that God chooses the weak to make them strong in faith and love. My heart is filled with gratitude and joy.”
He added: “I am grateful to Archbishop Emeritus Sylvain Lavoie, OMI, who invited me to serve the First Nations in Canada, and for the Oblates who brought a young missionary to this country. They provided me with essential orientation for ministry in Canada and wonderful formation in counseling.”
Fr. Susai Jesu, OMI (Photo courtesy of the Archdiocese of Edmonton, CCN)
“I am also grateful to my parents and family—especially my late mother, whose constant prayers that I might become a priest have now been fulfilled and more. I am thankful as well for Archbishop Richard Smith and the Archdiocese of Edmonton, particularly for their support during the papal visit,” Jesu said.
“I was very happy learning Cree and accompanying Indigenous communities in Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan, and later at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton, where I had the privilege of welcoming Pope Francis. My passion is to bring people to Jesus and to evangelize the poor, fulfilling the Oblate charism of our founder, St. Eugene. I was blessed to have a brief new start in Lac Ste. Anne, and I am now happy to serve with the priests and pastoral workers of the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas. Thank you all for your support and prayers.”
Fr. Paul Kavanagh, Administrator of the Archdiocese of Edmonton, offered prayerful congratulations on behalf of the people of the Edmonton Archdiocese. “Fr. Susai is a deeply respected priest and pastor whose ministry in the Archdiocese of Edmonton has been marked by a profound love for God and for the Church. His dedicated service as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish of the First Peoples in Edmonton and, most recently, as Pastor of Lac Ste. Anne Parish, Lac Ste. Anne; Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Enoch; Our Lady of the Lake Parish, Alexis Reserve; and at St. Alexander Mission, Alexander First Nation has been a faithful witness of love, hope, and healing. Fr. Susai has walked closely with Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit peoples, accompanying them on our shared journey of reconciliation.
“We offer our sincere prayers for Fr. Susai as he begins his new episcopal ministry, trusting that the Holy Spirit will guide and sustain him in this important mission.”
Fr. Susai Jesu, OMI, with Pope Francis during the 2022 papal visit. (Photo courtesy of Archdiocese of Edmonton, CCN)
Archbishop Murray Chatlain of Winnipeg, who has served as the previous Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas and then as Apostolic Administrator since Dec. 30, 2024 also offered his congratulations.
“We are very excited and pleased with the news of the new archbishop,” Chatlain said. “Rev. Susai Jesu, OMI, served here for seven years and knows our communities well. He learned the Cree language and formed many friendships in the North. Many continued to follow him—especially during COVID—through livestream Masses from Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples parish in Edmonton.”
The Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas is rich in cultural diversity, home to Métis, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dene, and non-Indigenous peoples. The region west of James Bay has long been known as “Keewatin,” meaning “North Wind Blowing.”
Biography of Archbishop-Elect Susai
Rev. Susai Jesu, OMI, was born on May 17, 1971 in Pushpavanam, Tamil Nadu, India. Drawn early to a life of religious service, he entered the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and was ordained to the priesthood on July 27, 2000 at the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu. His ordination was conferred by Archbishop. Lawrence Pius of Madras–Mylapore Archdiocese.
A gifted linguist who speaks English, Cree, and Tamil fluently, Jesu combines his pastoral calling with academic training, having received a Master’s Degree in Psychology in India, and later a Master’s Degree in Counselling and Spirituality from St. Paul University in Ottawa.
In 2007, he was invited to Canada by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate – Lacombe Province, a move that ultimately led him to become a Canadian citizen and a dedicated servant to Indigenous and inner-city communities.
Jesu served in northern Saskatchewan in the Archdiocese of Keewatin–Le Pas, where he was pastor of St. Gertrude Parish in Pelican Narrows and of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Parish in Sandy Bay. His work in these remote communities deepened his commitment to Indigenous ministry and informed his pastoral approach in the years that followed.
(Photo courtesy of Archdiocese of Edmonton, CCN)
On July 2, 2017, Jesu began his appointment as Pastor of Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton, a ministry he carried out until July 15, 2025. During this period, he also served the pastoral needs of the Ge’ez Rite (Eritrean) Catholic community from 16 January 2014 until 10 August 2023, when the Eparchy of Keren was able to send its own priest.
At Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, he became a central figure in the parish’s healing, reconciliation, and inner-city outreach efforts. He oversaw and supported numerous initiatives, including bagged lunch programs, a parish food bank, warm clothing drives, and regular community meals for Edmonton’s most vulnerable.
His leadership extended beyond the parish. Jesu was appointed to the Provincial Council of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate – Lacombe Province and served as a pastoral advisor to Archbishop Richard Smith on Indigenous relations as well as on the needs of the inner-city and those at risk.
He played an important role in the national journey toward healing and reconciliation, participating in the papal delegation to Rome that brought Indigenous representatives to meet Pope Francis.
In 2022, he welcomed Pope Francis to Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples during the Holy Father’s penitential visit to Canada and contributed to the work of the local organizing committee.
Fr. Susai Jesu, OMI, with Pope Francis during the 2022 papal visit. (Photo courtesy of Archdiocese of Edmonton, CCN)
Following his years at Sacred Heart, Jesu began a new chapter of ministry July 16, 2025 within the Archdiocese of Edmonton to serves as pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Enoch First Nation; Lac Ste. Anne Parish in Lac Ste. Anne; St. Paul Parish in Paul Band First Nation; Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Alexis First Nation; and at the St. Alexander Mission in Alexander First Nation.
Through more than two decades of priestly ministry, Jesu has become known for his compassion, cultural sensitivity, and unwavering dedication to reconciliation, community building, and the accompaniment of those most in need.
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