I was still in high school, or perhaps in the beginning years of my undergraduate studies when Father Bernard Burns arrived in Sault Ste. Marie, having been named pastor of Precious Blood Cathedral in that city.
For the past quarter of a century, he has remained there, until just the past few weeks. On November 1, he celebrated his final Mass at Precious Blood, but until then, he remained faithful to the call to serve those who knocked at his door. He responded to phone calls at all times of the day and night, and quickly hastened to bedsides or to whatever other situations should present themselves.
Many times, the topic of retirement was mentioned (after all he was well past the 'regular' age of retirement among us), but he would never pay it much heed. He preferred to continue forging ahead, and truly couldn't fathom the possibility of being retired.
On Thursday evening of this week, while at a retirement function hosted in his honour, he collapsed and had to be taken to hospital, where he later died of what is believed to be either an embolysm or an anurysm. Many have already begun to speak their tributes for his faithfulness.
Funeral arrangements have been finalized as of late last night. The Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at Precious Blood Cathedral on Wednesday, December 2, beginning at 11:00 am.
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