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Dom Maurice Guimond

GUIMOND, DOM MAURICE, o.c.s.o.
1945 - 2015
On November 29, 2015, at the age of 70, Dom Maurice Guimond, monk, Trappist priest and retired Abbot of the Abbey of Notre Dame du Calvaire of Rogersville died peacefully at the Residence Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur in Dieppe. Born June 1st, 1945, he was the son of the late Henri and Yvonne (Martin) Guimond formerly of St. Leonard, NB.
He was the beloved brother of Julienne (Karl) Gieseler, Vancouver; Jacques (Sylvie Blain) of Moncton and George (Sherrill) from Forest City, NB. He is predeceased by four brothers, Raymond (Brigitte), Louis (Iris), Gerard (Diane) and Francis (Coleen). He was also loved by many nieces and nephews: Lyne and Julie Guimond, Monique Voorn and Marc Guimond; René and Nadine Gieseler; Natassja Hébert and Marie-France Guimond, (their mother Jacqueline Ouellette) Diane and Pierre-Luc Laforest; and Richard, Raymond and Kimberley Guimond.
Beyond his biological family, Dom Maurice was deeply attached to his religious community of the monks of the Abbey Notre-Dame-du-Calvaire. He also had a sincere friendship with the nuns of the Trappistine Monastery located in the same locality. He joined the Trappist Abbey of Rogersville on September 3, 1972, as a novice and took his permanent vows of religious profession on August 20, 1978.
The ordinary life of a monk is divided between work, contemplative seeking and prayer. He was fascinated with the rule of St. Benedict which he discerned with fervour. Brother Maurice was given varying tasks ranging from the care of the cattle, carpentry, bakery, the infirmary and accounting. He also held the offices of guest master, choirmaster, and organist. Later he would become Master of novices in Mistassini and at Calvary Abbey.
He was attracted to a more complete commitment to his vocation. He studied theology at the Benedictine monks of the Abbey Notre-Dame-du-Lac. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Donat Chiasson on November 11, 1979, and remained faithful to this commitment to the end.
He was named superior in 1993 and he began renovating the Chapel and other parts of the monastery. He was elected abbot on April 24, 1995. In spiritual and religious terms, and to counter certain confusions in the Church, he invited all of the Notre-Dame-du-Calvaire community to become a beacon of spiritual light in a time of spiritual storm, giving a mission to his monastic community to be in tune with the message of the Church.
An attentive listener and model of pastoral fervour, he was a shining light to many beyond his monastery walls.
On October 15, 2002, due to increasing health problems, he tendered his resignation as Abbot and following a period of reflection and healing with the Dominicans in Quebec, he returned to the Abbey, taking the responsibility of keeping the monastery’s financial records for several years. More recently, his increasing health problems limited his ability to serve and he transferred to the Residence Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur where he finished his days in prayer.
The viewing will be at the Notre-Dame-du-Calvaire Abbey chapel in Rogersville on Thursday, December 3rd from 2 pm. The funeral mass will be held in the Abbey Chapel, Friday, December 4th, at 2pm. Funeral arrangement have been entrusted to the care of La Colombe Funeral Cooperative ltd, Tracadie. www.cooperativefunerairelacolombe.com

 

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