Photos by Juan Emilio Hernandez/CJI
About 70 people attended the funeral mass for Br Paul Desmarais SJ on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at St Ignatius Chapel (Manresa) at Pickering, Ont.
Br Paul passed away on August 16, 2023. He was 78. Remembered by many for his transformative work at the Jesuit-run Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre (KATC), Br Paul belonged to the newly formed Southern African province, after many years of service in Zambia.
(L to R): Archbishop Emeritus of Ottawa-Cornwall Terrence Prendergast SJ, Fr Henk van Meijel SJ, and Fr Nicholas Penge SJ
Fr Henk van Meijel SJ, the director of the Manresa Jesuit Renewal Centre, concelebrated the mass with Fr Nicholas Penge SJ of the Jesuit Southern Africa province, and the Most Rev. Terrence Prendergast SJ, Archbishop Emeritus of Ottawa-Cornwall.
Members of Br Paul’s family, Jesuits, including those from the René Goupil House, Canadian Jesuits International (CJI) supporters and staff attended the mass, which was also streamed live via Zoom.
CJI Executive Director Jenny Cafiso, who delivered a reflection at the mass, noted that Br Paul was “a man of faith” and “a man of justice.” He was also “a witness,” she said. “Even though he had a jovial nature, Brother Paul’s commitment was unrelenting and strong. He was uncompromising in his pursuit of ecological justice.”
Br Paul’s family with Jesuits, supporters and CJI staff
Br Paul worked for decades at KATC and was “committed to development work,” said Cafiso. “During those years he changed his approach to the work, he moved from conventional agriculture to organic agriculture, but what did not change was his commitment to a faith that does justice,” she said. “His work was guided by two unchanging principles rooted in his faith: first to be at the service of the poor. He believed that organic agriculture would benefit mostly small-scale farmers, those who have less than five hectares of land, and who are among the poorest people in Zambia. Secondly, he also believed that organic agriculture was a way to protect the environment, our common home.”
Br Paul was “a man of prayer and of deep faith,” said Cafiso. And while he would have wanted to keep working at KATC, he accepted that “God knows best,” and was grateful for the blessings in his life, she said.
CJI Executive Director Jenny Cafiso
His understanding of God has changed over the course of his life, he told Cafiso. Pressed further, he said, “It is just to be aware of God’s presence. It is really very simple. God is good. God is full of Mercy. That is it.”
In memory of Br Paul, donations may be made to the Kasisi Agricultural Training Centre (KATC), c/o CJI, 70 Saint Mary Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 1J3 [email protected] | Online (Please indicate it is in memory of Br Paul Desmarais SJ).
