EDMONTON – Father Mike Mireau has posted video blogs about everything from terrorism to whether dogs go to heaven. But recently, Mireau’s blogs have become very personal; documenting his battle with cancer.
“As a priest, my job is to take my own journey, whatever journey that is, and to kind of live it publicly, so that other people can listen to it and relate to it,” he says.
Mireau was diagnosed with cancer in early February, after finding a hard mass in his abdomen that was later determined to be a large, fast-growing cancerous tumour.
“This is where I’m at right now. I’m called to be a priest dealing with cancer. So my job is to deal with that publically and to show others how to suffer as well with it and continue to maintain their faith.”
Mireau says he never questioned talking about his diagnosis and treatment so openly with his audience.
“I felt the need to kind of bring them through the journey so that they can understand it so that they can deal with their own reaction to it…and not just drop it all together.”
As District Chaplain for Edmonton Catholic Schools, many of those following Father Mike’s journey are students.
“The way he says things, the way he acts about it, it just relates to all of us teenagers because he’s a kid at heart,” says Elena Maiorana, a Grade 12 student at St. Francis Xavier.
They know him personally, and also follow his blogs.
“He’s probably one of the most caring people I’ve ever met in my life,” she adds. “You can say anything to him and he won’t judge you.”
“He’s really an exceptional person. He is so just non-judgmental to whatever your problem is. You can honestly tell him anything,” says Christopher Moreau, another Grade 12 student. “He’s caring, understanding, funny – he’s the funniest guy.”
Mireau has documented the entire experience on his website, www.fathercatfish.com , and even injects some of his signature humour into his blogs.
A video that shows Mireau getting his hair shaved off is put to a montage of funny music, captures him saying he “looks like Lex Luther”, and shows him dancing around the salon with his old ponytail.
The Great Shave from FatherCatfish on Vimeo.
But, it’s not just his humour that makes Mireau so popular.
His blog posts don’t shy away from the reality of a cancer diagnosis, and Mireau freely addresses the fear, frustration and sadness that come with the disease.
“How have I stayed positive?” he asks in one video. “Well the answer is is that I haven’t, at least not always. I’ve had quite a few times of quite significant darkness, and fear and frustration. And nausea ain’t no picnic, take my word for it.”
He shares his thoughts on what his future holds. Mireau says there are two possibilities, and one is that he’ll get better.
“The second possibility is that I’m not going to get better. But what that means is that God’s calling me home, and that doesn’t really sound so bad either.”
“Ultimately, whatever happens, it’s going to be OK. It might be sad, it might be difficult, chemo sucks, and so on, but it’s going to be OK.”
That honesty is something his audience – and his students – appreciate.
“I’ve never seen a priest connect to the people as well as he does,” explains Matias Munoz, a Grade 12 St. Francis Xavier student.
“He connects to us in a very good level, and makes us understand everything that he wants to make us understand.”
Munoz has been closely following Mireau’s blog, and says Father Mike is inspiring.
“If anybody sees his videos, they watch them; they’ll see how strong he’s being.”
“He’s been very strong, and we’re there 24/7 if he ever needs anything… we’re always there to help him, and we’re very happy that he’s noticed that about us.”
“These kids … they have literally been the face of Christ to me and given me the encouragement and the faith to continue,” says Mireau.
“They have no idea how much they’ve strengthened me.”
The admiration is mutual.
“The things he’s gotten me through, I can’t… you can’t repay that,” shares Christopher Moreau.
“I was going through some things, and because of his struggle I just felt we could relate better…It’s a real inspiration to see him keep fighting on, even when things are stacked up the way they are.”
“He’s bigger than you can say in words,” adds Moreau. “I could go on forever just talking about all the qualities he has and everything, but I think to really sum it up who Father Mike is… he is a saint.”
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