Catholic Saskatoon News
With files from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), and the Archdiocese of Edmonton, photos by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada.
Archbishop Susai Jesu, OMI, was ordained as Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas Jan. 26, 2026, during a celebration at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in The Pas, Manitoba.
The previous Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas, Archbishop Murray Chatlain – who was appointed to the Archdiocese of Winnipeg a year ago — was principal consecrator at the episcopal ordination Mass for Jesu, joined by a number of other bishops and priests from across the country. Representatives of Indigenous communities across Keewatin-Le Pas Archdiocese were among the special guests at the celebration.
The ordination Mass begins Jan. 26, with Archbishop-Elect Susai Jesu seated with his sister Lily, a religious sister working in Papua New Guinea. (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
The litany of saints is sung. (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
With the Book of the Gospels held by Fr. Robert Laroche, OMI, and Fr. Andrzej Jastrzebski, OMOI, Archbishop Murray Chatlain prays for the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
Archbishop Susai Jesu’s head is anointed with sacred chrism. (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
Archbishop Susai Jesu is presented with the Book of the Gospels, symbolizing his duty to preach. (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
The new bishop, is given his ring, a call to fidelity. (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
, Archbishop Susai Jesu is blessed by Elders from communities in the Keewatin Le Pas Archdiocese (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
Archbishop Susai Jesu is blessed by Elders from communities in the Keewatin Le Pas Archdiocese (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
, Archbishop Susai Jesu is blessed by Elders from communities in the Keewatin Le Pas Archdiocese (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
The newly-ordained Archbishop Jesu conveys a blessing, (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
Words of gratitude from Archbishop Jesu. (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
Archbishop Jesu and friends. (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
Fr. Ken Thorson, OMI, Archbishop Susai Jesu, OMI, and Fr. Jack Herklotz. (Photo by Dan Friedt, courtesy of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate -OMI Lacombe Canada)
Appointment announced in November
Pope Leo XIV’s appointment of Jesu was announced in November. The Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas spans some 725,000 square kilometres across northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
When the appointment was announced, Jesu was serving at parishes in Indigenous communities in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. He said of the appointment: “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.”
“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,” he added.
“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.”
Biography of Archbishop Jesu
Most Rev. Susai Jesu was born in Pushpavanam,Tamil-Nadu, India, in 1971. He attended seminary in India and was ordained to the priesthood on June 27, 2000 at the Church of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, India by Most Rev. Lawrence Pius, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Madras Mylapore.
He received a Master’s Degree in psychology while in India, and holds a Master’s Degree in Counselling and Spirituality from St. Paul University, Ottawa.
A member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, in 2007 Archbishop-elect Jesu was invited to Canada by the Oblate’s Lacombe Province, and he eventually became a Canadian citizen.
He served as pastor at St. Gertrude Parish in Pelican Narrows, Saskatchewan, and later at the Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows in Sandy Bay, Saskatchewan, both within the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas.
From July 2017 to July 2025, Archbishop-elect Jesu served as the pastor of the Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples in Edmonton, where he welcomed Pope Francis on the first day of his Apostolic Journey to Canada in 2022. Besides ministering to Indigenous and other Catholic communities, he attended to the pastoral needs of the Ge’ez Rite (Eritrean) community from 2014 to 2023.
He has also served the Edmonton Catholic Tamil community, which gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his ordination on Aug. 7, 2025.
In 2018, during a Mass for the First Peoples, Archbishop-elect Jesu was honoured with an Eagle Feather by the Indigenous Catholic community at a ceremony conducted by seven prominent elders because of his strong interest in the culture of the First Nations, his ability to speak the Cree language, and his efforts to involve Indigenous people in a revived Parish Pastoral Council.
On May 9, 2025 he was appointed as a Councillor of the Lacombe Province of the Oblates.
In July 2025, Archbishop-elect Jesu became the Pastor of Lac Ste-Anne Parish as well as parochial administrator of Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Enoch First Nation, the Catholic Community of Alexander, Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Alexis First Nation, and the Catholic Community of Paul First Nation.
Archbishop-elect Jesu served the Most Rev. Richard Smith, then the Archbishop of Edmonton, as a pastoral advisor on Indigenous relations, healing, and reconciliation, as well as advising on the pastoral needs of at-risk and inner-city populations.
About the Archdiocese
The Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas began as the Keewatin Vicariate (established in 1910); the first Jesuit missionaries came between 1694 and 1697. The first mission was established at Ile-à-la-Crosse in 1860 by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. At the same time, the Grey Nuns of Montreal arrived and established institutions for education and healthcare. The Vicariate became the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas in 1967.
The Archdiocese has a Catholic population of 52,000. It covers a land mass of 430,000 square kilometers across northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and a small corner of north-west Ontario. Métis, First Nations, including Cree, Oji-Cree, and Dene, as well as non-Natives, all contribute to the richness of the territory’s cultural diversity. The Archdiocese comprises 15 parishes with resident priests, 35 missions, and one institute of consecrated life.
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