Flin Flon will always hold a special place in Father Denis Bourbonnais’ heart.
For 21 years the priest led St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Parish before retiring in 2008.
Born in Winnipeg, Bourbonnais has returned to his native city, where he now lives in a retirement residence.
Residence Despins is located in the heart of St. Boniface along the Red River. With the St. Boniface Cathedral across the street and a chapel in the building, Bourbonnais feels right at home.
“I don’t do any ministry outside the building,” he explained, adding that he enjoys the company of many fellow retired priests and married people who live in the building.
With 150 people living in the independent residence and an assisted living facility attached through a corridor, he said it’s easy to get around to visit friends and neighbours.
With his eyesight failing, Bourbonnais, 87, appreciates the entertainment and bus trips that are organized through the facility and the food served in the dining hall.
“Our average age is between 80 and 90 years old and we still have people coming in to talk to us about how to be healthy and live a long life,” he said with a chuckle. “It just makes me laugh.”
Bourbonnais was in great spirits when The Reminder caught up with him for a phone interview. He said he enjoys the many visits he gets from friends from Flin Flon.
Bourbonnais became a priest in 1965 and served in Ontario, Saskatchewan and across Manitoba before settling in Flin Flon in 1987.
“The people in Flin Flon are so wonderful,” he said. “The team was incomparable. They were just marvelous.”
In Bourbonnais’ view, the success of St. Ann’s is attributed to the teamwork and cooperative nature of the people.
The priest has seen many changes to the church over the years and is confident that it will continue to be an important part of community and people’s lives.
“I think it’s going to last forever,” he said matter-of-factly. “We have to continue to develop our faith and develop how we preach and develop how we pray.”
Staying current and keeping in touch with people is an important element for the church, according to Bourbonnais.
“Today there is an emphasis on the environment,” he said. “Twenty years ago you never preached about the environment, but today it’s important. We need to have respect for the environment and give credit to God for what He created.”
While some reports talk of dwindling attendance at Sunday services and worship not being the centre of people’s lives the way it once was, Bourbonnais believes it is still significant for people.
“As long as we keep preaching the truth, it will last forever,” he said of the Catholic faith. “You always have to be searching. You’ve got God in your heart, but you have to keep searching to make room for Him.”
In paraphrasing one of his favourite Psalms, his final thought was this: “What kind of a God is this that you can’t love Him without loving your fellow man.”