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to Keep in Touch!
Fr. Gerard Comeau, M.S.(Photo Copyright © BGZ)My name is Fr. Gerard Comeau, M.S., and I come from American-Canadian ancestry. I was born on January 14, 1934 in Nashua, New Hampshire, USA. I'm the only boy and have three sisters. My father was born in the United States and my mother in Canada in the Province of Quebec. My father worked as a laborer in a nearby Paper Mill. I attended Grammar Scholl with the Holy Cross Sisters and the Brothers of the Sacred Heart.
My Connection with La Salette
My first contact with a La Salette was when Fr. Roland Bédard, M.S., came to my home parish to preach a Mission on Our Lady of La Salette. Our parish priest, Fr. Gérard Comtois, would have loved to see me become a Diocesan Priest but, instead, I chose to go to High School at the La Salette Minor Seminary in Enfield, NH. One reason my family chose the Enfield Seminary was because the La Salettes offered to provide half on my tuition because my parents could not pay for everything.
Enfield is a small paradise next to Lake Mascoma. I felt very much at home in La Salette and after four years, I decided to continue my seminary studies with them. Of course, my pastor was disappointed.
In 1958, I was sent to Rome to our International Scholasticate for studies and I received a Licentiate Degree (S.T.L.) in Theology. My eyes and my heart were opened to the world with my colleagues from across the world.
During summers, I spent the month of July on the Holy Mountain of La Salette in France. We were doing a bit of everything: haying, making beds, serving or attending at Mass, taking part in the recitation of the Rosary or in Evening Prayer with the pilgrims. This is where I fell in love with the Beautiful Lady, captivated by mountain grandeur, her Message and everything about La Salette.
I "married" Spain…
La Salette Bronze Statue by
Bro. Juan Magro Andres, M.S. (Photo: Fr. Ron Gagne, M.S.)After I was ordained on Sept. 24, 1961, in the new Parish Church of Our Lady of La Salette in Monte Verde Nuovo, Rome, in October of 1962 I went to Spain with Fr. Elmeric Dubois, M.S. For this appointment, Fr. Alfonse Dutil, then our La Salette Superior General, offered me the opportunity to serve in Spain but did not give me much time to think. I said “yes” and I've never regretted my decision.
My Spanish mission was very simple. My first job was in the School of Santa Maria de Nieva, Segovia, which had just opened in October 1962, teaching and ministering to youngsters from the ages of 11-15 years of age. Those fifteen years were profoundly beautiful for me.
Then in 1978 I was asked to serve in our community of Valladolid. I was known the "guitar priest" and it helped me a lot with young people in parishes. In the summer I often ministered at the Holy Mountain of La Salette, lunching with Spanish volunteers.
Our Shrine in Siador
In 1984 I came to Siador-Silleda (Pontevedra) with Bro. Juan Magro Andres, M.S., a sculptor colleague and well-known artist of many versions of statues of Our Lady of La Salette all over the world. I was in charge of the Parish and the Shrine.
In 1986 I founded the Brotherhood of La Salette, in continuity with the La Salette Confraternity that already existed. We have adapted to modern times, with a lay president and myself as an attendant priest. I'm still minister to them. I have also assisted in nearby parishes and schools with Sacramental Preparation of First Communion and Confirmation, and have celebrated special Masses with children. They also know me as the priest with the guitar.
Today I am actually pastor of two parishes and assist in two other parishes. I am also Superior of our Community of Spain.
In This Year of Mercy
The Great News that Mary brought brought to “her people” at La Salette has always included words of mercy and reconciliation. Today her words are more necessary than ever with the present reality of the large immigration of oppressed peoples from various war-torn countries and those suffering from persecution. They have abandoned all ties to their homelands and are arriving in great numbers from Africa and Asia with nothing but their hope for the future. Mary’s opening invitation at La Salette to “Come near” certainly includes these needy members of “her people”.
Fr. Comeau (2nd from right) with Bishop
(center) and other guests at the Shrine
(Photo Copyright © BGZ)
(Reprinted with permission from the La Salette publication, Les Annales, novembre-decembre, 2015, p. 18; translated and edited by Fr. Ron Gagne, M.S.)