Rev. Raymond Jean-Marie Carignan
Deceased: 2011-12-26
Diocese: REGINA (CANADA)
ICTE Spring: 2007
Reverend Ray Carignan was killed in a two vehicle collision, December 26, 2011while travelling to Gravelbourg on his way eventually to visit his sister in Moose-Jaw. “The highway was like a skating rink,” said the RCMP Sergeant at Ponteix who attended the accident scene about one mile west of Kincaid on highway 13. The accident investigation had not been completed and he could not say anything other than the two vehicles collided. “He was on his way to Gravelbourg where he was going to administer the last rites to someone there and from there go to Moose Jaw to pick up his sister Alineâ said long time friend Guy Roberge of Ponteix.
Carignan was born and raised in the Ponteix area, attended elementary and secondary school there then attended St. Boniface College, University of Manitoba, where he obtained degrees in theology and philosophy. He was ordained priest, March 31, 1969, by Bishop Aimi Decosse in his home parish of Notre Dame dâ Auvergne, Ponteix in what was then the Diocese of Gravelbourg. Most of his service was as parish priest in French speaking communities in south Central Saskatchewan and he continued to serve mostly in those communities when the Gravelbourg Diocese was suppressed and became part of the Regina Archdiocese and Saskatoon Diocese in 1998. He was serving as parish priest at Notre dâ Auvergne, as well as Our Lady of Confidence, Cadillac, St. Ann at Lac Pelletier and St Joseph, Vanguard.
Roberge described his friend as one of almost perpetual motion. He was bubbly, fill of zeal, always full of energy. He was a really good figure skater with his sister Aline. We skated a lot of hours together. He was the same type of person after he became a priest, said Roberge. He was go go go all the time, you couldn’t slow him down. He loved to be in groups. He always wanted to do a potluck for some gathering. Roberge said Carignan took his ministry very seriously. I would say he was a saintly priest. We prayed a lot of rosaries together. We travelled to a lot of meetings together and often would pray the rosary. He was very devout. He loved Jesus and what Jesus taught us he sure tried to put into his life.
Prayers are scheduled for Monday, January 2, Visitation at 5:00, p.m. Prayers at 7:00, Notre Dame dâ Auvergne Parish and the funeral for Tuesday January 3 is at 1:00 p.m. also in Notre Dame Auvergne with Most Reverend Daniel Bohan Archbishop of Regina as principal celebrant with several priests as con-celebrants. Internment will place following the funeral mass in the family plot of the parish cemetery.
He was predeceased by his parents and one brother, Albert. He leaves to mourn his sisters Aline McCloy of Moose Jaw and Nicole Proust, of Strathmore, Alberta, as well as many cousins, nephews and nieces.
