Biographies
McMahon, François
Frank began his studies at Collège Saint-Jean in September 1950 where he completed a B.A. in 1955. He then entered the noviciate in SaintNorbert, Manitoba where he professed his first vows on August 15, 1956. He then studied at the oblate scolasticate in Rome Italy where he professed his perpetual vows on September 8, 1959.
In September 1961, he received an obedience for the Collège de Mazenod in Ngaoundere, Cameroun where he taught English as a second language for rwo years before returning to Rome and finally to Edmonton where he was ordained a priest by Mgr Anthony Jordan on July 13, 1963. After completing
his studies in theology at the University of Ottawa in 1963-1964, Frank returned to Collège Saint-Jean in order to complete his Alberta teaching certificate at the University ofAlberta during which time he was named interim principal of the Ermineskin School in Hobbema, Alberta. During this period he also started teaching at Saint-Jean, a position he occupied full time as of 1965 and where he stayed for his entire career.
Father McMahon replaced Father Lacerte as Rector of Collège Saint-Jean in 1967 He was in turn replaced by Paul Poirier in 1970 when François became the first dean of Collège Universitaire Saint-Jean and of Faculté Saint-Jean from 1977 to 1980.
In 1980 François left Saint-Jean in order to pursue his doctoral studies at the University de Montréal after which time he became an education professor at Saint-Jean, a position he will occupy until his retirement in 2002.
He left the Oblates in 1973 and he wed Rosemary Wykes in 1977. They have four children: Claire-Marie, Natalie, Marc-André and Tara. Since his retirement, Frank has been responsible for the Institut du patrimoine de la francophonie de l'Ouest Canadien.
Acknowledgement
Reprinted with the permission of France Levasseur-Ouimet, PhD, from Levate Oculos: En Hommage aux Pères et aux Frères Oblats de Marie-Immaculée de Saint-Jean 1908-2008 [Raise Up Our Eyes: An Homage to the Fathers and Brothers of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate of Saint-Jean, 1908-2008], unpublished manuscript, 2008. Photos are reprinted with the permission of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Grandin Province.
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