Obituary of Msgr. Conrad Polycarp Girroir

GIRROIR., Msgr. Conrad Polycarp, 92 - Arichat, formerly of West Arichat, a priest of the Diocese of Antigonish, passed away peacefully at his residence in St. Anne Community & Nursing Care Centre, on Wednesday, December 2, 2009. He was the son of Jean Baptiste and Mabel Elizabeth (Girroir) Girroir. He was raised and born in West Arichat where he attended Immaculate Conception and Acadiaville School. After high school graduation, Msgr. Girroir attended St. Francis Xavier University from which he graduated in 1939 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He did his theological studies and received his priestly training at Holy Heart Seminary in Halifax where he was ordained December 22, 1945 by Most Reverend John T. McNally. Msgr. Girroir was appointed Administrator of St. Louis Parish, Louisdale, Nova Scotia in March of 1946; during which time he taught school. In 1951, with the death of the parish priest, he was named Pastor of the Parish by appointment from the Holy See. Msgr. Girroir served in Louisdale for over twenty-five years. In 1972, Msgr. was transferred to St. Joseph Parish, Petit De Grat where he ministered for 6 years before ill health forced him into temporary retirement. He returned to the active ministry as Administrator of Immaculate Conception Parish, West Arichat, always striving to bring God's Word to his beloved Acadian people. Indeed his priestly life was spent almost entirely in Acadian parishes, but this did not lessen his great love for and appreciation of the ethic people in the diocese. Msgr. Girroir's first concern was for the people of his parishes. However, he was a true priest of the diocese who served as Dean of Richmond Deanery and on the Diocesan Liturgical Commission. His wonderful sense of history, geology, geography, genealogy, astronomy , gardening and his good humour endeared him to the people and priests of the diocese. There was a lesson taught in every encounter. In 1998, Msgr. Girroir finally retired, but chose to remain among the people he loved so much and to where he really belonged in West Arichat. In 2004, he was named Msgr. He is survived by sisters, Sr. Nancy Girroir (Filles de Jesus), Moncton, Sophie Samson, Arichat; special niece Rosie Forgeron (Adolph), Halifax, brother-in-law Harry Helin Jr., California. He was predeceased by brothers, Edmund, Euclide, Raymond, Thomas and sisters, Petronille, Eva Mae, Genieve and four siblings in infancy, Sophie, Eva Mae, Thomas, Desire; brother-in-laws Adolph Babin and John F. Samson. Visitation will take place on Saturday evening from 7 - 9 pm and on Sunday from 2 - 4 pm both in the C.H. Boudreau Funeral Home, Arichat, from where his body will be transferred to the Immaculate Conception Church in West Arichat from where a Vigil Service will be held at 7 pm with visitation until 9 pm. Mass Christian Burial of Msgr. Girroir's life will be held Monday morning at 11 am in St. Joseph's Church, Petit De Grat. Interment to follow in the Immaculate Conception Parish Cemetery, West Arichat. Memorial donations can be made to St Anne Community & Nursing Care Centre or to St. Anne's Therapeutic Garden. Mon Oncle Conrad will be sadly missed by many nieces and nephews. To send online condolences to the family or to light a candle in memory of Msgr. Conrad, please visit www.chboudreau.com Euology Written and delivered by Nephew Brian Samson. Monsignor Conrad Polycarpe Girroir �" Eulogy Dec 7th 2009 Bonjour tout le monde. J'aimerais étendre un chaleureux accueil à la famille, aux amis et aux personnes distinguées à l'occasion de la célébration de vie de Mon Oncle `Msgr Conrad Polycarpe Girroir`. C'est un grand honneur pour moi de vous addresser à cette occasion. There is a sense of beauty in seeing the community gathered in such large numbers to celebrate Uncle Conrad`s life, to show respect and share precious moments; testimony to the spiritual strength and compassion of our community. We thank you for your support. There is also beauty in this historic building, built over a century ago by our ancestors, maintained by our faithful and used as a place of worship; witness to baptisms, first communions, confirmations, reconciliations, marriages and life celebrations; it is a sacred place. We thank you for this place of worship as well. Mon Oncle Conrad, né le 21 Novembre 1917, a passé une longue vie bien agréable, amusante et colorée. Il était un homme de foi avec une grande appréciation pour l'histoire, la famille, les gens, la communauté et l'éducation. Un homme simple et charitable, toujours prêt à rendre service. Un homme d'imagination et d'humeur naturel. Un enseignant qui livrait ses leçons en raconter des histoires amusantes. Il avait aussi un don pour jouer des trucs. As a man of faith, he did not judge nor did he focus on one's weakness. He accepted people for who they were. He was easy to approach and one felt comfortable around him. One always felt welcomed in his presence. He always had an interest in individuals. He was a priest of the people and for the people. He practised his Christian values by living example. He valued life as a precious gift from God. Everyone possessed a special talent. He encouraged us to discover and share this talent, no matter how small, so that we could make the world a better place to live; one person at a time. Everyone had a calling; a gift to share with the people around them. "A glass of water must first be emptied in order to be refilled; likewise, one must learn to give to others in order to receive from God." We all have a choice…Uncle Conrad chose to believe in a loving and forgiving God, he believed in the body, mind and soul. He believed that the soul did not die. He believed in heaven; a place of peace, joy and eternal life, where one is united with God, all the Saints, family and friends. A lifetime is to eternity what a single grain of sand is to all the beaches of the universe. A lifetime is but a blink of an eye and so Uncle Conrad would not want us to be sad. Our separation will be short. It will not be long before we are reunited again. Mon Oncle Conrad aimait raconter les histoires du passé. L'histoire de son père, le Capitaine Jean Baptiste qui faisait le commerce entre l'ile du Prince Edouard, Terre Neuve et le Cap Breton en voilier. Comme la fois qu'il avait été voyagé avec son père en apportant un jouet magnétique qu'il avait caché dans la boite du compas. Son père n'était pas content. Conrad avait perdu son jouet favoris. There was also the story of a famous sea captain from West Arichat who had the world record for crossing the treacherous waters of Cape Horn on the southern tip of South America more times than any other captain….he was fishing in that area and constantly crossing from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. Il y avait aussi l'histoire des 'authoctones' qui arrivaient chaque année par canot et qui campaient sur l'ile Creighton. Ils vendaient leurs paniers en passant les maisons d'Arichat Ouest. There were the stories of cold winters with heavy snow falls where everyone had to shovel the snow to open the roadways. There was also the story of his gardens. One passerby had asked "Why are you planting two of everything?" Conrad answered "One garden is for me and the other is for the thieves." Il y avait l'histoire des fantômes de Mary Ellen de Guysborough qui nous envoyait, comme enfants, courir dans toutes directions nous cacher de peur pendant qu'il poussait des cries profonds. Il trouvait ca très amusant. There was the geology lesson about the infamous Canso to Parrsboro fault line and the fascination of how the very soil below our feet, north of this fault line, was once attached to Africa. Il avait aussi les lecons de généalogie sur la famille Girroir, les recherches des volumes de Bill Girroir; les relations des Girroirs aux authoctones et notre voyage à Morgan City, Louisiane pour une rencontre de famille Girroir. There was also our lesson on astrology; about the importance of the North Star during the age of sail in guiding sailors safely to their home ports. There were the stories of how the earth was a spaceship travelling at speeds of thousands of miles per second while we all stood still! Il avait aussi l'histoire du seul marathon qu'il avait couru à l'âge de 8 ans. Son frère Euclide, qui était très athlètique n'était pas impressioné par son petit frère gâté. Euclide avait réussi à provoquer Conrad à courir de la maison jusqu'au bout de l'ile Creighton et de retour. Pauvre Conrad a couru la distance mais c'était plutôt parce qu'il était rempli de peur d'être abandonné sur l'ile tout seule que d'avoir développer des aires athlètiques. Mabel n'était pas impressionnée par les actions d'Euclide. On a more serious note; Uncle Conrad had a keen interest in the economic well being and standard of living of his parishioners. He was active in community development projects as well as the cooperative movement that swept the region in the early 40's and 50's, establishing credit unions, fisherman's cooperative and grocery stores in the area. These initiatives helped increase the standard of living of area residents. Uncle Conrad promoted a good education as an effective tool to break the cycle of poverty and to provide parishioners greater economic independence. Pendant les années passées, les gouvernements ne s'occupaient pas au niveau de santé, éducation et développement économique. C'était plutôt des programmes administrés par les organisations religieux. Les vocations religieux incluaient non seulement le niveau spirituel mais aussi les hôpitaux, les écoles et au milieu des activités de développement communautaires. In closing, Uncle Conrad chose to stay close to his family, community and Acadian roots. He watched over his flock and tended to their spiritual needs for over 64 years. He touched many lives during his lifetime; his influence helped mould us into the people we are today. How do we honour this remarkable individual who has contributed so much? Remember him as loving you. Salut Mon Oncle Conrad et à bientôt.