Regina Catholics remember Archbishop Daniel Bohan

REGINA – Sunday Mass at the Holy Rosary Cathedral had added significance, as it’s the first Holy Day since Archdiocese of Regina Archbishop Daniel Bohan passed away at 74 on Friday.

Bohan was appointed as Archbishop in March, 2005. He was one of the final bishops appointed by the late Pope John Paul II.

“It’s a great loss for us and a lot of people and are missing him,” said Ian Espina, one of the worshippers at the Cathedral on Sunday.

While many expressed grief, not everything was sad at the church. Some looked back at fond memories they have of Bohan.

“He officiated our wedding, and unfortunately he missed the supper,” said Gerri Lasko, who was married by Bohan in 2007.

“He didn’t remember where the location was. So he sent us a card right away apologizing, and said we’ll have to get together for supper, so we had him over for supper at our house,” she said.

Bohan is remembered as a personable and reverent figure, who made a strong impression on those who worked with him.

“Well I had met Archbishop Bohan when he was a bishop in the Archdiocese of Toronto,” said Rev. Barry Wood who serves as deacon at the cathedral.

“I was impressed by his preaching, so much so when a job came open here in the Archdiocese I applied for that job.”

Bohan was originally from Yartmouth, N.S. and spent a large portion of his life in The Maritimes, but he felt right at home in the prairies.

“One of the things that always excited him is that “people from Saskatchewan are very much like people from the maritimes. Very Ordinary, very open people, and I think he enjoyed that,” said Father Lorne Crozon, rector of the Cathedral.

The Archbishop’s body will lay in state on Thursday starting a 9 a.m. and a prayer service will take place that evening at 7 p.m.

His funeral will be held on Friday at the cathedral at 10:30 a.m.