Most Reverend Albert Thevenot

Most Rev. Albert Thévenot, M. Afr.

Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Prince Albert

November 6, 1945 – April 13, 2025

It was a stormy day, at 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday November 6, 1945 in Treherne Manitoba when Albert took his first breath and opened his eyes to the world.  Born to Paul and Yvonne (Girouard) Thévenot, he was the eleventh child of twelve.  He was raised in Somerset Manitoba where he attended Richard School from Grades 1 to 8.  He then attended Junior Seminary at the Jesuit College in Saint Boniface the following four years.

His vocation to the priesthood began in his childhood.  As a young boy, he  began playing mass using white peppermint candy, serving as hosts.  Needless to say, the young congregation had communion quite often!  When he was a little older, Albert became an Altar Server.  His Pastor in Somerset believed in his vocation and contributed to his schooling as did other people from the community.

Albert contracted polio at the age of seven and this would affect his ability to participate in sports for the rest of his life.  He enjoyed his years at the seminary and the idea of becoming a priest began to grow on him until his mother died when he was seventeen.  This devastated his life plans and temporarily shook the foundation of his vocation.

He came to realize that he still wanted to help the poor in far off lands and Africa attracted him.  The Missionaries of Africa had come to his home parish and showed the parishioners films on their missions.  It was then that Albert decided to become a brother with the Missionaries of Africa and so he completed his years of formation in eastern Canada near Sherbrooke and Montreal.  He continued his studies in St. Boniface and obtained a Bachelor of Arts and a certificate in teaching.  He also served as the bursar of the house.

Once he was certified to teach, Albert was sent to Katoke Seminary in Tanzania.  He enjoyed teaching very much but the interest in being a priest resurfaced.  After three years, he returned to Canada to enter in the premaster’s program.  He became a cleric student and was sent to Totteridge at St. Edward’s College in London UK.  He was ordained to the priesthood on August 2, 1980 in his hometown of Somerset, Manitoba.

He returned to Tanzania to do parish work in Bushangaro then was transferred to the Student Center in Tabora.  After suffering a back injury, he returned home to Canada for treatment and remained in St. Boniface for seven years doing chaplaincy work for the Oblate Sisters, doing replacement ministry in parishes and providing mission awareness in the Catholic schools of Western Canada.

Returning to Tanzania, he was involved in parish work in Kaliua in the Archdiocese of Tabora and where he relearned the language of the people.  These were happy years for him and the time there gave him the opportunity to visit many corners of Tanzania.

In 1998 Albert was chosen to go to the Society’s Chapter and was elected to be on the General Council.  This gave him the opportunity to get to know more about the Society of the Missionaries of Africa.  Having been appointed to Nairobi Kenya to work with the poor he met Mme. Huguette Leblanc who asked if he might be interested in working for the Propagation of the Faith in French Canada.  He began doing mission awareness work and creating programs for parishes and school which led to Albert being elected provincial for the White Fathers (Missionaries of Africa) of North America.

He was ordained Bishop for the Diocese of Prince Albert in Saskatchewan on August 6, 2008.  The people of the Diocese were honoured to have a Bishop who was loved and well known for his caring nature.  Bishop Emeritus Thévenot’s motto “That they may have life” expressed his desire and hope to bring about growth of our own strengths and faith in order to create a better world around us.

Bishop Albert took his last breath and died very peacefully at his home on Sunday April 13, 2025.  He once said: “Giving one’s life to God is to give every aspect of life to Him.  We must choose to be gifts to one another.  May we do all things for the glory of God.”

Bishop Emeritus Albert Thévenot leaves to mourn his biological family: his siblings Adrien, Maurice, Romeo, Sister Juliette sgm, Cécile and Eva and his sisters-in-law Noëline, Ruth, Shirley, Mary, Ilene and Ellen and many nephews and nieces as well as extended family members. He was predeceased by his parents Paul and Yvonne (Girouard) Thévenot; his siblings Yvonne, Raymond, Paul, Roger, and Jerome; his sister-in-law Doreen and brothers-in-law  Nelson, Antoine and Hervé.  He also leaves to mourn his religious community of the Missionaries of Africa and his diocesan family which includes Most Rev. Stephen A. Hero, Bishop Emeritus Blaise Morand, the clergy, the religious and the People of God of the Diocese of Prince Albert.

An anticipated Funeral Vigil Mass will be celebrated at Notre Dame de la Nativité Parish in Somerset Manitoba on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. with Most Rev. Albert LeGatt presiding.

On Thursday, April 24, 2025 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Prince Albert, a time of Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The Vigil of Prayer will be held at 7:00 p.m. with Most Rev. Stephen A. Hero presiding.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 25 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral with Most Rev. Stephen A. Hero presiding followed by a lunch and refreshments to be served at École St. Mary High School.  The Internment will take place later that afternoon at South Hill Cemetery in Prince Albert.

If you are unable to attend the Vigil of Prayer or the Mass of Christian Burial here in Prince Albert, you may view the Funeral Vigil on Thursday evening, April 24 at 7:00 p.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial on Friday April 25 at 11:00 a.m.  You may livestream from the links below:

Funeral Vigil: https://youtube.com/live/ISRULO8lm64?feature=share

Mass of Christian Burial: https://youtube.com/live/7g448t_6Jx4?feature=share

In lieu of flowers, donations to the “Missionaries of Africa” or to “The Knights of Columbus Vocation Fund” would be greatly appreciated.