Father Paschal Breau

BREAU SA - Father Paschal (Maurice)A Franciscan Friar of the Atonement. Passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 29, 2007 in Toronto, Ontario after a brief illness. He was 86 years old. Fr. Paschal was born Maurice Breau in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. He attended Sunny Brae School and St. Joseph High School in Moncton. In 1976 he received his Bachelor's of Education degree from the University of New Brunswick and his teacher's license. He entered the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement at Graymoor In 1941. He was clothed in 1943, professed his first vows in 1945 and made his perpetual vows in 1948 as Bro. Paschal, SA. After his profession, Bro. Paschal assumed administrative functions in Graymoor, Rome, Italy and Gardiner Mines, Nova Scotia, Canada. In 1956, he became Director of Brothers Vocations for the Friars of the Atonement, a position he held until 1971, when he, along with two other Friars, were assigned to Windsor, Ontario to start the Church of the Atonement Parish. He also taught at St. Anne's High School in Tecumseh. He received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal (For the Church and the Pontiff Medal) in 1971 from Pope Paul VI in recognition of his efforts to promote the religious brotherhood and encouraging others to serve the Church in this role. He was also instrumental in organizing the National Association of Religious Brothers (now known as the Religious Brothers Conference). In 1977, Bro Paschal received permission to study for the priesthood at Pope John XXIII Seminary in Weston, MA, where he earned an M.Div. degree in 1979. On June 15, 1979 he was ordained to the priesthood at his home parish, St. Bernard's Church, Moncton, NB by Bishop Donat Chiasson. After his ordination, Fr. Paschal did pastoral work in St. Francis de Sales Parish, Lumberton, North Carolina and was pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Richmond, BC. He continued to do Formation work with the Friars in Washington, DC and Vocation work in Toronto, Ontario. In 1999 he took up permanent residence in Paul Watts Friary in Toronto, Ontario. Fr. Paschal was the son of the late Edward and Elizabeth (O'Neill) Breau of Sunny Brae. He is predeceased by his brothers Frank and Bud and his sisters Helen Colepaugh and Catherine Clark. He is survived by his sister RIta Breau of Moncton, NB, sister-in-law Betty Fogarty, brother-in-law John Clark, nieces Nancy Burgess, Pat Estabrooks, Maureen Wilbur, Anne Brooks, Carol Lee Rowan, nephew John David Colepaugh, all of Moncton, Sue Trites of Heartherton, NS, and several great-nieces and nephews and cousins. A viewing will be held at St. Joan of Arc Church, 1701 Bloor Street West (East of Keele St.) Toronto on Monday, September 3, from 1-4pm. A Mass of the Resurrection will follow at 4pm. Interment will be at the Friars' Cemetery at Graymoor in Garrison, New York, U.S.A. Funeral arrangements entrusted to LYNETT FUNERAL HOME of Toronto, Ontario (416) 767-1176 and DORSEY-CAROLONE FUNERAL HOME of Peekskill, New York (914) 737-0848