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Father Bernard Gerard “Gerry” MacInnis

Father Bernard Gerard “Gerry” MacInnis

Father B. Gerard “Gerry” MacInnis passed away on Sunday, April 9th, 2017 in St. Martha’s Hospital, Antigonish surrounded by his sister Mabel and sisters from the congregation of St. Marthas.

Born on June 5th, 1934 in Antigonish, he was a son of the late Archibald Donald and Jennie Mae (MacDonald) MacInnis.  Father MacInnis lived in Mulgrave until 1938 when his father, who was employed with the CNR, was transferred to Stellarton in 1938.  He resided in Stellarton until the death of his father in 1975. Father Macinnis attend St. Bridgets School and Our Lady of Lourdes School, Stellarton, graduating from St. John’s Academy, New Glasgow.  In 1951, he enrolled in StFX University for one year then transferred to St. Joseph’s Seminary, Edmonton and studied for the Archdiocese of Edmonton.  Father MacInnis was ordained on May 23rd, 1959 by Bishop John R. MacDonald in Antigonish.  On returning to Alberta, he was assigned to Camrose, Red Deer, Wetaskiwin, and St Pius X, Edmonton.  In 1965, he was appointed parish priest of Consort, Alberta, at which time his sister Mabel moved west to be his domestic engineer.  She was a stalwart servant in the work of Christ,  In 1968 Father was assigned to Stoney Plains, Alberta, and in 1974 to Fort Saskatchewan as Chaplain of the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Institute as a parish priest.   In 1983, he was appointed parish priest of Wainwright, Alberta and in 1990 was appointed back to Wetaskiwin.  In 1994, Father returned to Nova Scotia and spent five years at Notre Dame parish in Yarmouth.   Retirement came in 1999 and he and his sister moved to Arisaig.  In 2008 they moved to Antigonish.  Following the death of Father Neil MacKenna, he volunteered to become the Chaplain for the Sisters of St. Martha at Bethany.  He enjoyed serving the Sisters, the medical community, social work, education, and domestic services.  Father deeply appreciated the sisters for their hospitality and goodness.  Throughout “retirement” he remained active doing church work and assisting throughout northern Nova Scotia until August 2016 when ill health forced him to retire fully.

Surviving is his sister, Mabel MacInnis, Antigonish; sister-in-law, Helen MacInnis, Stellarton, niece, Ronda; nephew, Ted.  Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a sister, Mary MacNeil; brothers, Ronald and Donald; nephews, Donald Jr., Gregory, and Roderick.

Visitation was held on Wednesday, April 12th in Sisters of St. Martha Bethany Chapel, Antigonish from where Mass of Christian Burial was held at 2:00 pm with Bishop Brian Dunn presiding assisted by Father Leo Cordeau, Father Donald Boudreau the Priests of the Diocese.   Private interment took place in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Stellarton.

Donations may be made in Father MacInnis’ memory to St. Martha’s Regional Hospital Foundation the Time is Now Campaign at: https://smrhfoundation.com/st-marthas-time-now/.