Beaudois, Donald F. (Father)

Jesuit Father Donald F. Beaudois died on Dec. 8, 2015, at René Goupil House, Pickering, Ontario. He was 90 years old and in religious life for 70 years. Fr. Beaudois was born in Inverness, Nova Scotia, on Nov. 5, 1926, the son of Francis Beaudois and Maria Cassie MacLellan. The family moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Fr. Beaudois studied at St. Paul’s High School.

He entered the Society at Guelph on Sept. 8, 1947. After novitiate and juniorate, Fr. Beaudois did the usual philosophy studies at the Jesuit seminary in Toronto, and a three-year regency at Campion High School, Regina, Saskatchewan. He was ordained by James Cardinal McGuigan in Toronto on June 22, 1958, and later did tertianship at Port Townsend, Washington.

Fr. Beaudois was appointed to Guelph in 1960 as socius to the master of novices and was responsible for the coadjutor novices. In 1964, he moved to the new Brebeuf High School in Willowdale, Ontario. He taught chemistry, general science, Latin and Greek there for 19 years. In 1983 he accepted an assignment to St. Pius X Parish in St. John’s, NL. For five years he was the associate pastor and then became the pastor.

In 1992, Fr. Beaudois moved to Pickering while ministering at Martyrs’ Shrine during the summer open season. In 1997, he became the director of Martyrs’ Shrine for a two-year period. After a sabbatical, he remained at Pickering doing much pastoral ministry in local parishes. He also continued his long-time association every summer with a parish in New York State.

As a teacher, Fr. Beaudois is remembered by his students as tough and demanding. Fr. Beaudois amazed people with his pastoral zeal, vigour and energy, even in old age. A no-nonsense type of person, he carefully prepared homilies and talks and delivered them in a strong voice. He enjoyed singing several parts of the Mass. He possessed a sharp memory and remembered well many events in the life of the province.

For Fr. Beaudois, his priestly vocation was the bedrock of his entire life, in action, in rest, and in the diverse expressions of his daily life. He was well-read and was not afraid to tackle books that questioned his long-held ecclesial views.

His decline in health was rapid and he moved to the Jesuit infirmary in the summer of 2014.