Today we joyfully celebrate the remarkable 70th priestly ordination anniversary of Father Maurice Joly, OMI, giving thanks to God for his faithful ministry and generous response to the Lord’s call.
Fr. Maurice was born on July 5th, 1929, in St. Paul, Alberta. Drawn to a life of service in the Church, he answered God’s call and pronounced his First Vows with the Missionary Oblates on August 15, 1951 and was ordained to priesthood on 16 June 1956 at Sacred Heart Seminary in Lebret SK, by Archbishop Michael O’Neill.
Throughout his priestly ministry, Fr. Maurice faithfully served in a variety of pastoral assignments and First Nations ministries within the Archdiocese and far beyond:
- 1958 – Paroisse St-Albert, St-Albert
- 1963 – Paroisse St-Joachim, Edmonton
- 1966 – Lac Ste Anne Parish, AB
- 1968 – Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, Maskwacis, AB
- 1975 – Immaculate Conception, Standoff, AB
- 1979 – Alberta-Saskatchewan Province, Edmonton, AB – OMI Provincial
- 1986 – St. Peter Celestin Parish, Slave Lake, AB
- 1986 – St. John the Baptist, McLennan, AB
- 2000 – Holy Cross Parish, Fort MacLeod, AB
- 2008 – Foyer Lacombe, St. Albert, AB – Occasional Ministry
In addition to his parish responsibilities, Fr. Maurice generously served the Archdiocese and the OMI in numerous capacities.
To celebrate and recognize his extraordinarily long service to the Church, we were privileged to ask him a few questions:
Looking back over 70 years of priesthood, what moments stand out most vividly as turning points in your ministry?
As a young boy, seven years old, I was already aware of the poverty of the First Nations people as they passed by our place with their horses and wagons on their way to the Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage.
One day, my mother gave me two fresh loaves of bread to give to the women who were sitting on the bare, hard floors of the wagon. I never forgot the beautiful smiles on their faces.
What first inspired you to join the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and how did that calling evolve over time?
The people in the wagons were accompanied by an Oblate priest (that my dad had seen) one morning. He was living with them and eating breakfast by a fire.
How has your understanding of faith, vocation, and service changed since your ordination?
When I was assigned as Pastor in Lac Ste. Anne, it was in the middle of their Pow Wow, [with] singing and dancing. I could hear their drums not far away. I came to a man standing by his truck. A little boy was sitting on the cab. His head was bobbing to the rhythm of the drums. I told myself: I have a lot to learn from these people.
What were some of the greatest challenges you faced in your ministry, and how did you navigate them?
I knew I had to learn their native languages. Although all of them spoke and understood English, I needed to be like them and talk to them.
Can you share a memory of a parish, mission, or community that has stayed especially close to your heart?
I am not gifted to speak another language. But I tried hard to learn Cree; when I was posted to Maskwacis, one of the ladies in the school kitchen helped me to compose a homily in Cree.
How have the people you’ve served shaped your own faith?
I was so grateful for the work my predecessors did, for the respect of the priesthood, and for the church they came to belong to.
The Church and the world have changed significantly over the past 70 years—what changes have had the most impact on your ministry?
Both Pope(s) Francis and Leo have given me a new hope and fervor in the way I pray and live.
Because of my handicaps, it is the way I care about those I live with. I must love everyone as God Loves everyone, even those I don’t like, for some reason that is my ministry now. It is a challenge that I care about and will continue until….
What does being part of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate mean to you today, after so many decades of service?
For me now, I want to take time to remember the marvels the Lord God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, has done and still does for me, in me, and through me, for God’s poor and most abandoned.
Are there particular lessons or wisdom you hope younger priests or seminarians will carry forward from your experience?
“Do not be afraid,” Pope Francis tells us. God is with you and loves you; not because of the good things you do and did, but only because you simply are.
As you reflect on this milestone, what do you see as your greatest joy or grace in a lifetime of priesthood?
To celebrate the gift of priesthood which comes from Jesus.
Father Maurice retired in 2008 to the OMI’s Foyer Lacombe in St. Albert. Earlier this year, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) celebrated the congregation’s 200th anniversary.
Fr, Joly also rec’d letters of congratulation from Fr. Andrzej Stendzina, OMI Lacombe Canada Provincial, and from Fr. Luis Ignacio Rois Alonso, OMI Superior General:
- Letter from OMI ‘s Provincial (for Canada)
- Letter from OMI’s Superior General (Worldwide)
Lord, send holy and generous men to serve Your Church as faithful priests. Grant them courage to answer Your call and perseverance to follow it with joy. Amen.
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