Obituary

REV. FR. JAMES WHALEN

National Director Priests for Life Canada 

Fr. Jim Whalen, National Director of Priests for Life Canada died suddenly while conducting a Pro-Life Parish Mission.

Whalen, Reverend Father James: On Sunday, February 24, 2008, at the age of 68. Fr. Jim Whalen, National Director of Priests for Life Canada and son of the late Rita ( Leblanc) and the late James Whalen, passed away suddenly while conducting a Pro- Life Parish Mission in Thorold, ON ( near Niagara Falls)

Father Jim has been pastor of Saint Margaret Mary Parish in Cumberland, ON since 1992 and has been a priest with the Ottawa Archdiocese since his ordination in 1972. He also served as Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary Senatus and the Ottawa area Catholic Home Schoolers Association. He has been the founding National Director of Priests for Life Canada since 1996.

Fr. Jim contributed thirty years assisting the native people of Canada as Chaplain for Native Peoples of Ottawa and founded the Odawa Native Friendship Center. He will always be remembered as a strong advocate for the unborn, believing strongly in building a culture of life and civilization of love, truth and justice.

Fr. Jim is survived by his three sisters: Isabelle Patry, Montreal, Quebec, Joanne Taylor, North Bay Ontario, and Patricia Whalen, North Bay, Ontario.

Wake services were conducted at Fr. Jim's own Parish of St. Margaret Mary's, Cumberland, Ontario, on Thursday, February 28th. The funeral was held on Friday, February 29th. at Divine Infant Church, Orleans, Ontario with a capacity crowd of over 750. Msgr. Kevin Beach presided in the absence of Archbishop Terrence Prendergast. Fr. Paul Burchat, former chairman of Priests for Life Canada presented the homily. A reception followed the Mass. Interment followed the funeral mass at Hope Cemetery, Ottawa. Fr. Jim was laid to rest alongside his mother.

The pro-life movement will greatly miss one of the greatest Canadian advocates for life.