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Calgary Bishop Emeritus Fred Henry, pictured, died 3 December, 2024.
Photo courtesy Canadian Catholic News
December 5, 2024
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Below is the press release from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding the death of the Most Rev. Frederick Bernard Henry, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Calgary on 3 December, 2024.
His Excellency Frederick Bernard Henry, Bishop Emeritus of Calgary, died on 3 December 2024, at the age of 81.
His episcopal motto was Dabo Vobis Pastores (“I will give you pastors”).
A native of London, Ontario, Bishop Henry was born on 11 April 1943, the eldest of five sons in the family of Leo and Noreen Henry. After finishing high school, he entered St. Peter’s Seminary, London. On 25 May 1968, he was ordained to the presbyterate by His Eminence G. Emmett Cardinal Carter. From 1968-1970, he served as Associate Pastor at Christ the King Parish in Windsor, Ontario.
In 1971, he earned a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, and in 1973 a Licentiate in Theology with a specialization in Fundamental Theology from the Gregorian University of Rome. He was Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy at St. Peter’s Seminary from 1973-1986 and Dean of Theology and Rector of St. Peter’s Seminary from 1981-1986.
In 1985, he received the title of Prelate of Honour (P.H.) by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. On 23 April 1986, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of London. He was ordained to the episcopate on 24 June 1986 by the Most Rev. John M. Sherlock, then Bishop of London. On 24 March 1995, Bishop Henry was appointed the fourth Bishop of Thunder Bay. In January 1998, he was named seventh Bishop of Calgary, with his installation taking place on 19 March 1998. He served as Bishop of Calgary until 3 January 2017, when his resignation was accepted by His Holiness Pope Francis.
Bishop Henry served in many positions over the course of his priestly and episcopal career. While he taught at St. Peter’s Seminary, he was a member of the Priestly Life and Pastoral Ministry Committee of the Diocesan Senate of Priests and a Judge on the Matrimonial Tribunal, among other positions. In 1990, he was one of the Canadian Delegates to the 8th Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the Formation of Priests in the Circumstances of the Present Day.
He served on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Health Association of Ontario and he was a member of the Board of the Catholic Church Extension Society. He was on the Board of Directors of Southdown Institute. He served on the Executive Committee of the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops (now the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario), on its Education Commission as well as on its Health/Medical Ethics Committee.
As Bishop of Calgary, Bishop Henry was a member of the Western Catholic Conference (now the Assembly of Western Catholic Bishops), where he served as Vice-President. He served as Chancellor and Member of the Board of Governors of St. Mary’s University, as Liaison Bishop to the Alberta Catholic School Trustee Association and the Catholic Council of Supervisory Officers of Alberta. Among other positions, he was a member of the Calgary Development Committee Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness and a member of the Board of Directors of the Calgary Homeless Foundation
As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Henry served on numerous Commissions and Committees. He was Liaison Bishop to the English-speaking Seminary Rectors, and Coordinator of the Apostolic Visitation of Canadian Seminaries. He was a member of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Education, serving as Chair 1991-1993. From 1996-2000, he was a member of the National Council of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, and from 2011-2013 he was a member of the Standing Committee for Development and Peace. He was the Western Regional Representative on the CCCB Permanent Council 2007-2009. Between 2007 and 2013, Bishop Henry served as Liaison Bishop to the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities of Canada, among other positions.
For information about the visitation and funeral Mass, please contact the Diocese of Calgary (www.catholicyyc.ca).
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