Louis has come to the Oblates out of a desire to serve among the poor. He was born in Quebec City, the youngest of six children and received almost all of his early education in Quebec City with the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. He had studied for the diocesan priesthood but experienced a call to religious life and entered the Oblate Novitiate, in 1980, in Quebec City.
He had already completed his theological studies and was routed in a path that prepared him for ministry within the Oblate community by working two years at the Retreat House in the Gaspe, PQ, followed by one year of ministry at Pelly Bay with Fr Meeuse, OMI. He finished his studies by obtaining a MA in Mission Studies from St. Paul’s University. He was ordained a priest in 1984.
Throughout his missionary career he has worked for sixteen years in the different missions of the Hudson Bay Diocese. This was followed by seven years of work and ministry in the countries of Bolivia, Guatemala and China. The two years in China were first spent teaching English in China as he could not function as a Christian missionary in China. During the second year he studied Mandarin Chinese.
When asked how well he has mastered Mandarin Chinese, Louis smiles: “I’m still a beginner.” He acknowledges that he is limited in his vocabulary. He concedes that he can understand the TV news in Chinese from Toronto. There are some things that he misses while watching the evening news. He chuckled when reminded that ‘he was the only Oblate in Canada that understands Mandarin Chinese.’
His interest to become involved with peoples from different cultures first lead him to the Inuit in Northern Canada. Languages were always an interest and challenge for Louis. “I like working with the poor. I like being with the people.” There was a pause as he outlined what drew him to the Northern peoples. “I would not like a job in administration.”
His experiences in the various cultures developed an appreciation of how enriching these experiences have been for his life. “The Chinese people were very open to foreigners and were very friendly. These people want to learn English. In fact, if they see a white face they want English. They are very polite and the children well behaved, especially when I worked in the schools.”
The Mayan peoples in Guatamala are a very religious people. They are very poor but they live with a strong sense of the sacred and their faith is strong. After the Sunday Mass it was not uncommon “for people to fall on their knees and thank God for the Mass they have just had.”
Now two years in Beauval, Saskatchewan, with four surrounding missions, Louis is among a Cree and Metis culture. “I find many similarities with the Inuit. These peoples are dealing with the same problems: their youth, there are a lot of addictions and there is the pain of suicide.
“These people have strong community values. I am always amazed how they help each other when someone in a family dies. They all collect money to help pay for the expenses.
“I like the peoples’ thirst for spirituality. There are quite a few people who attend daily mass and take part in the devotions. “
Ministry in North Western Saskatchewan entails a lot of driving, at times, on some very difficult roads. There is some degree of danger driving on some of these roads to the outlying communities. Louis reports that he has had two accidents. The serious accident entailed “a roll over when I hit a patch of ice and gravel.” The second accident was a minor one. Both accidents happened while he was driving to the funerals of people who had died of violence.
“I find death in violence always very difficult to deal with.” It is all the more difficult to handle when young peole have been tragically killed. Suicide, whether a young person or an older adult, is always painful for Louis. His face stiffened when he related about the tragic death of a man he knew well. The man had been killed in a robbery that netted only a pittance of money.
Although not directly involved in the Twelve Step programs he encourages people to join the AA groups, to seek help through the mutual support of the self-help groups.
Throughout his life there has been the attraction towards the contemplative life. Today, part of that same need is fulfilled through taking part in retreats. But that is part of the Oblate charism. “We are rooted in spirituality and prayer and we are out on the road with the people.”
There is a note of sadness brought on by the isolation from Oblate Community. “I miss community life.” He honestly admits that within himself there is a tension between the “attraction to the mission and the pull towards community.”

St. Eugene Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War By Nieves San Martin
(First appeared in Zenit.org, Nov. 8, 2011)
Someone, probably the mayor of Pozuelo, communicated to Madrid the risk the others were in and that same day, July 24, a guard truck arrived with orders to take the religious to the general security office. The following day, after completing certain transactions, they were unexpectedly set free.
They sought refuge in private homes. The Provincial did his utmost to encourage them and to take Communion to them.
We have been in contact with the Oblates since 1973. In 1986, we participated in a workshop on “Personality and Human Relations” directed by Father Lomer Laplante O.M.I. Through personal reflection and sharing with the other members of the group, we discovered a profound and nearly urgent desire to live a “missionary experience“ which led us to our first trip to Bolivia in 1987. We remained in Bolivia during 10 out of 15 years, because we also wanted to spend time with our family in Canada.
This first appeared in Catholic Missions in Canada, November, 2004 (Vol.8,no 2). Reprinted with permission.
“Open mind, open heart, open arms”. This was the title of our gathering and key that would bring together the 10 retreat centres of: Canada, United States, Mexico and England together at the 34 annual NACORC (North American Conference of Oblate Retreat Centres) gathering this past May gathered at “Villa Maria Immaculada” in Tepozlan, Mexico. The “town” has a population of over 14,000 and means either “the place of abundant copper or the place of broken rocks”. One thing for sure, the mountains are truly magical as they loomed over the valley and watches over the people.
Louis-Philippe
Maurice was raised, one of twelve children, on a farm in St. Paul, Alberta. He always maintained that if he had not chosen to be a priest he probably would have become an Albertan farmer but his considerate disposition would also have been suitable to a diplomatic career.
receiving a medal of recognition from his adopted country. Fr. Pochat is being honoured by Canada with the Order of Canada for his contributions during fifty years of ministry amongst the Native peoples of the Northwest Territories.
For most of his