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Biographies

Roux, Philippe

Roux, Philipe, was born at Bichenholtz, Moselle, France on August 6th, 1883. His parents were Nicolas Roux and Marie Boucher. He died in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 24th, 1962.

He studied at the juniorat Saint-Charles at Valkenburg, Holland, and novitiate of Saint-Gerlach, Houthem, Holland, in 1903, and made his profession on August 15th, 1904. He made his perpetual vows at the Scolasticat of Huenfeld, Germany, on August 15th, 1907, and was ordained a priest at Fulda, on August 10th, 1910 by Mgr Damian Schmitt, Bishop of Fulda.

Fr Roux studied the Ruthenian Rite with the Basilian Fathers at Buczarcz in Galicia (1911-13), where he was known by the name “Ruh.” He was the first Oblate to change Rite and came to the Canadian West in 1913 where he spent all of his life in service to the Ukrainian community. He worked at Stry and Eldorena, Alberta; Kerrobert, Saskatchewan; Mountain Road, Manitoba; Radway Center and Saddle Lake, Alberta (from 1913-30). Finally, he worked at Cook’s Creek, Manitoba (1930-62). where he constructed a magnificent church in the Eastern-Rite style under the name the “Cathedral of the Plains.” He prepared, as well, the plans for the Basilian monasteries at Mundare, Alberta and Grimsby, Ontario.

During the first 10 years of his ministry in Northern Alberta, he served 12 missions in an area of 200 square kilometers. He constructed many small churches, in particular, at Leduc, Alberta. Within this area, he worked at Valet, Cask Lake, Flat Lake, Downing, Beles, Smoky Lake, Cooksville, Red Water and Sundland.

From 1938, he became “the architect of God” and his talents were drawn on for many chapels built in this period. In 1960, the Pope awarded him the medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. He was buried at Cook’s Creek, Manitoba.¹

Acknowledgement

Reprinted with the permission of Les Archives Deschâtelets and the publisher from Gaston Carriere, o.m.i., Dictionnaire de Marie Immaculée au Canada, tome III (Ottawa: Éditions de l’Université d’Ottawa, 1979), p 143.

Resource

1. Philippe Roux, o.m.i., 25 ans chez les Ruthènes, in Missions ... des ... Oblats de Marie-Immaculée. 72 (1938). p. 113-115; Chez les Ruthènes à Cooks Creek, Ibidem. 72 (1938), p. 115-119; E. PASCHAK, o.s.b.m., The Late Father Ruh, O.M.I., dans [Svitlo, The Light], December 1942; Stanley PUCHNIAK, o.m.i., Roux, Philip. 1883-1962, in Polish Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, p. 404-405; archives provinciales O.M.I., Mayence, Allemagne; archives du scolasticat de Huenfeld, Allemagne.

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