The first bishop from the Clerics of St. Viator, who ultimately served as president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and as a consultant to the pope on matters governing religious congregations, has died.

Bishop Jacques Berthelet, CSV, passed away Jan. 25. He was 84.

Bishop Berthelet served the Diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil for 24 years, including 10 as auxiliary bishop and 14 as

Bishop Jacques Berthelet CSV

bishop, before he retired in 2010 at the age of 75.

He was born Oct. 24, 1934 in Montreal and once he entered the Viatorians in 1957, his studies took off. Bishop Berthelet earned a pair of undergraduate degrees from the University of Montreal, including one in theology, before he was ordained in 1962. He went on to earn a degree in education in pedagogical studies from the University of Montreal before studying for his licenciate in theology from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, in 1964.

Bishop Berthelet devoted the early years of his ministry to education as a faculty member in the theology department at the University of Montreal before becoming involved with the administration of the Viatorians in Canada.

Over the years, Bishop Berthelet served as formation director and novice master, before moving to Rome, serving as Vicar General of the Viatorians. He ultimately was appointed Provincial Superior of Viatorians in Canada, from 1978-1984, before being named Superior General of the worldwide congregation, from 1984-1987.

Bishop Berthelet’s many years in ministry — and leadership — led him to be ordained Bishop for the Diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil in Quebec, in 1987.

As an auxiliary bishop, he was actively involved with the Assembly of Quebec Bishops, as a member of the theology and education committees, the ministry committee, the executive committee, planning committee and the interfaith and intercultural relations committee.

Bishop Berthelet’s involvement grew nationally and internationally as a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. He also served in several capacities on its executive committee, as co-treasurer, vice president and ultimately president, from 2001-2003.

With all of his experience, Bishop Berthelet was a valued consultant — for 10 years — to the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life of the Holy See.

A funeral Mass for Bishop Berthelet took place Feb. 4 at the Co-Cathedral Saint-Antoine-de-Padoue in Quebec. Fr. Robert M. Egan, CSV, Superior General attended the services as well as solemn prayers held at the Cathedral of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, where Bishop Berthelet was laid to rest in the crypt of the bishops.

At his funeral Mass, his brother, Br. Pierre Berthelet, CSV, offered this eulogy:

“The most distant memory I have of my brother Jacques goes back several years when I was a child and he was a teenager. As he was about to go to bed, he knelt at the foot of his bed and, with his eyes closed and his hands joined, he prayed. It was beautiful to see!

“All his life Jacques has been a great man of prayer. Almost every year, I had the opportunity to spend a few days off with him at a cottage. Every morning after breakfast he would ask me the same question: ‘What time do you want me to say mass?’ For him, the daily mass was sacred, even during the holidays. In the morning, around ten o’clock, he would sit by himself to read his breviary and meditate. In the afternoon, around three o’clock, the same scenario: he would pray and reflect for a good twenty minutes or so.

“When I phoned him to inform myself of his activities, he often replied that he was preparing a homily. Jacques did not improvise; he always prepared himself conscientiously,

“During his first years as a priest, he did not keep his homilies. If after three days no one had asked for his text, he would tear it up, because, as he said, next year he would have another message to deliver. The Word of God is always brought up to date.

“At the beginning of his episcopate, he was shocked. A person told him: ‘Bishop Berthelet, you are a great theologian, a great university professor, but I must tell you, that I do not understand you when you pronounce your homilies!’ Jacques had been shaken. He would tell me: ‘I absolutely have to make myself understood. I will have to popularize my thoughts, make my ideas more concrete. I will have to explain my remarks more, be a better teacher. But I must never dilute the Word of God.’

“I was invited to Saint-John the Evangelist Cathedral, a few months later, on the occasion of the national holiday of the Canadian province of Quebec. I had never seen Jacques so pragmatic, so practical and so concrete during his homily. I said to myself: even a young person can understand this! In fact, Jacques had a keen sense of perfection. He always sought to improve himself, to perfect himself.

“The arrival of Pope Francis in 2013 marked a turning point in the life of Jacques. He devoured the writings of the Sovereign Pontiff, studied them and his ministry was inspired by them, especially in the parish and sanctuary of Varennes Quebec, where he was super active until he was eighty-two years old. Influenced by the three suggestions of Pope Francis on the content of a homily, Jacques endeavored to apply them: ‘’One idea to inculcate; One image that captivates; One feeling that touches the hearts.”

“I will add that Jacques has most completely respected his episcopal motto: ‘Carry the Word of Life.’ He has done so not only through his homilies and his lectures, but also by countless writings throughout his thirty-two years of episcopacy. To conclude, I will say: as Jacques has prayed much, as he has loved and served, and as he has dedicated his life to proclaiming the Gospel and intervening time and again, he now sees the glory of God and enjoys happiness for eternity. And as one great writer put it: ‘Eternity is long, it is very long, it is very, very long, it is forever!’ ”

Pierre Berthelet, c.s.v.