Monsignor Burns: 1928-2009

Monsignor Bernard J. Burns, who served a quarter-century as the beloved pastor of Precious Blood Cathedral, died tonight at Sault Area Hospital.

His passing at 8 p.m. was confirmed to SooToday.com by Father Hamish Currie, who was recently appointed to assume Monsignor Burns' duties on January 4. Monsignor Burns retired on November 1.

The following is his official biography:

************************* Bernard Burns was born on April 24, 1928 in Enterprise, Ontario.

He is the third son of Alex Burns and Madge Furlong.

He was a member of the armed forces during the Korean War and was discharged in September 1952.

He entered the seminary in 1952 and until 1955 was at Resurrection College in Kitchener, Ontario.

In 1955 he went to St. Augustine Seminary in Toronto until 1957 when he left for Regina Saskatchewan and attended the Regina Cleri Pontifical Seminary.

Monsignor Burns was ordained at St. Mary's Cathedral in Kingston Ontario by the Most Rev. J.A. O'Sullivan, Archbishop of Kingston.

His first appointment was to St. Paul's in Coniston for the summer of 1960.

In August he was appointed assistant at Holy Trinity in Sudbury.

In 1967 he became pastor at St. Kevin's in Hanmer and then in July 1979 became pastor at Holy Trinity in Sudbury.

Monsignor Burns moved to Sault Ste. Marie in September 1985 to become the pastor of Precious Blood Cathedral.

Monsignor Burns' accomplishments have been numerous, including:

- Regional news editor for the Nothern Ontario Register.

- Member of the marriage tribunal from 1960 to 1990.

- Dean of Sudbury Deanery 1978 - 1985.

- Member of College of Diocesan Consultors 1995 - 2000.

- Member of ethics committee - Sault General Hospital 1990-2000.

- Chaplain of Sudbury District Jail 1960-1985.

- Curate - Christ the King in Sudbury.

- Curate - St. Stanislaus in Copper Cliff.

- Diocesan director to the CWL.

- Bishop's representative to the Sault Ste. Marie District Roman Catholic Separate School Board.

- President of Sudbury's John Howard Society.

- Chairman of the cemetary board, library board and a member of the parks and recreation committee of Valley East.

- Member of the board of the Northern Ontario Hockey Association.

- Taught at Confederation Secondary School and nursing school in Sudbury.

- Member of the Algoma Community Action Team and the Homecoming Committee in Sault Ste. Marie.

- Visiting chaplain of St. Basil's Secondary School.

- Member of the Knights of Columbus since 1953.

- Elevated to the title of monsignor in 2004.

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