Father Bob Bedard

A Word From Our Founder
Fr. Bob Bedard

Before Jesus returned to the Father, after his triumph over sin and death, he threw out the Gospel challenge to his followers: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Mt. 28:19). On the day of Pentecost, over three thousand responded to the saving message when Peter preached it.

In the beginning the Church grew quickly. It has always been God's intention, as I read it, that the Church grow, at least steadily, if not in spectacular fashion.

God has, and always has had, a variety of strategies to promote the advancement of the Gospel. He raises up great saints and mystics. He calls both men and women into communities of contemplative prayer. He initiates strong apostolates to challenge the current social order. He calls all the baptized into their proper positions. And, most of all, he inspires powerful ministries of evangelization which have the potential to draw multitudes of people into fervent commitment to him, to the Church, and to the Gospel, and he plants within them the burning fire of the Holy Spirit which transforms them and opens them up to being called into service.

As we know, too, he also gives vision to new communities to engage in the active work of the Kingdom. The Companions of the Cross is one of these. Although finding our roots and home in the Archdiocese of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, the Companions of the Cross believe the vision the Lord has given them is something he wants them to share with the wider Church.

fr bob at desk
Finding our strength in the brotherhood that community affords us, we have a profound devotion to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power and wisdom that flows from it. We surrender to the Lord, individually and personally, daily, in and through his Holy Mother. Our essential mission is to evangelize in the many apostolic works that we do, whether they be in parishes, other more specialized works, or with the poor and alienated. In our life together we try to live simply, detached from material things. Our prayer and ministry is, at times, characterized as being 'charismatic' and 'Eucharistic' in both style and focus. We are committed to cooperating with the bishops of the dioceses we are in, as well as always seeking to think according to the mind of the Church.

It is our fond and prayerful hope that The Companions of the Cross can play even a small part in the renewal of the Church as surely desired by the Lord and enunciated clearly at the outset of the Second Vatican Council by His Holiness, Pope John XXIII: "Send upon the Church again, 0 Lord, as at the beginning, the fullness of your Holy Spirit - a new Pentecost for our day." And just as the entire assemblage of bishops responded "Amen', so do we. Come, Holy Spirit!

Our Roots

The Companions of the Cross trace their roots back to January of 1984 when four men began to meet on a weekly basis. The group comprised a priest, Fr. Robert Bedard, a seminarian, and two others who were planning to enter the seminary that September. Initially, the primary purpose of the group was to provide mutual spiritual support. Nothing further was foreseen. Over the course of the next year, however, as the men remained faithful to their weekly gathering, a sense began to develop that God had additional plans.

As of May 1985, it seemed clear that they were to become a distinct community of priests. By this time, a vision for ministry had crystallized to the point that they felt they had a fairly good idea of what they were to say "yes" to. The foundation of their 'vision' can be delineated as participation in the renewal of the Church through an effective evangelization founded on looking to the Cross - the power and wisdom of God. Concretely this entails: (1) trusting in the Lord and giving him permission to move as he pleases; seeking his wisdom, his "now" word, and waiting upon it, with proper discernment, not making any major moves without it; (2) profound openness to the Holy Spirit, the power of God, and the various ministry gifts through which the Church is empowered; a strong conviction that God desires to touch and inflame the lives of all his people; (3) the renewal of the Church through the renewal of the person. Personal conversion, discipleship, empowerment, and 'calling forth" of individuals to ministry comprise the chief strategy for renewal. Social and institutional changes will flow more easily from a renewed people. Personal conversion is the necessary first step.

The components of this vision included: a fully Catholic spirituality imbued with an evangelical heart and Pentecostal fire; surrender to the Lordship of Jesus; adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit; evangelization; consecration to Jesus through Mary; fidelity to the Magisterium; simplicity of lifestyle; some form of community; concern for the poor; ministry and hospitality to priests and seminarians.

Fr. Bob Bedard's project was, in response to God's call and initiative, to establish a community of priests to address their human and spiritual needs, and especially to provide for mutual support, in a common life and ministry, and thus to fulfill the intentions as formulated above.

In January 1988, after having reviewed the proposed statutes, then Archbishop J. A. Plourde of Ottawa granted the Companions of the Cross recognition as a public clerical association of the faithful according to the norms of Canons 302, 312 and following.

Frs. Bob and JohnIn June 1994, the Most Reverend Marcel Gervais, current Archbishop, and other diocesan officials met with the Companions of the Cross. There being sufficient evidence of a distinct charism, the Archbishop of Ottawa agreed to allow the Companions to move towards becoming a Society of Apostolic Life. For the next several years the Companions engaged in a community wide process of articulating new constitutions and rule, which spell out the vision of the community its nature, purpose and organization. These constitutions and rules were eventually submitted to the Holy See in Rome for approval. Canonical approval came from Rome in the Fall of 2002. This provided Archbishop Marcel Gervais with the necessary means to formally establish the Companions of the Cross as a new Society of Apostolic Life during a solemn Eucharistic celebration held at Notre Dame Basilica on May 2nd 2003. The Companions give thanks to God for this milestone moment in their history. The Companions believe that the best years are yet to come. Now that we are “official” we believe the Lord can anoint our ministry and life with even greater graces. Deo Gratias!

Next: Father Bob Celebrates 50 Years as a priest...