Father Susai Jesu, an Indian Oblate priest, has been appointed the new archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas, Canada, marking a significant milestone in his long-standing commitment to Indigenous communities.
Father Susai Jesu, an Indian Oblate priest, has been appointed as the new archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas in Canada. This appointment fills a vacancy that has existed since December 2024. Pope Leo XIV announced the decision on November 17, 2025. Currently, the 54-year-old archbishop-elect serves as the provincial councillor and parish priest of the Sacred Heart of the First Peoples in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Edmonton.
Since 2007, Father Jesu has dedicated his ministry to serving Indigenous communities in Canada. He is particularly recognized for his advocacy work during the 2022 papal visit to Canada, where he played a vital role in addressing the needs and concerns of these communities.
Born on May 17, 1971, in Pushpavanam, a village in the Vedaranyam subdistrict of Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu, southern India, Father Jesu pursued his philosophical studies at the Pontifical Athenaeum Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram in Bengaluru. He later studied theology at the Khrist Premalaya Institute of Theology in Ashta, Madhya Pradesh. He was ordained as a priest for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate on July 27, 2000, after making his final profession earlier that same year. Additionally, he earned a Master’s degree in Pastoral Counselling from Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada.
Following his ordination, Father Jesu served in various pastoral roles across India, including parishes in Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh), Surala Kappa (Odisha), and Kombadimadurai (Tamil Nadu). In 2007, he was invited to Canada to engage with First Nations communities. He undertook a year-long orientation focused on Indigenous ministry and took on pastoral responsibilities in northern Saskatchewan before relocating to Edmonton.
In Edmonton, Father Jesu pastored the Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples, where he served both Indigenous and non-Indigenous members. His leadership earned him respect within these communities, particularly for his involvement in highlighting the struggles of residential school survivors during the 2022 papal visit, where he met Pope Francis in Rome to discuss healing and reconciliation.
From 2009 to 2015, Father Jesu also served as parish priest in Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay before returning to Sacred Heart Church in Edmonton in 2019. He was appointed provincial councillor in the same year and celebrated his 25th anniversary as a priest in July 2025.
The Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas, which Father Jesu will now lead, spans 430,000 square kilometers across northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and a portion of northwestern Ontario. Its population includes a mix of Métis, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dene peoples, and non-Indigenous residents. The term “Keewatin” means “North Wind Blowing,” reflecting the territory west of James Bay that the archdiocese encompasses.
Serving 47,841 Catholics from a total population of 109,558, the archdiocese operates 50 parishes, supported by 15 priests, a deacon, and 11 religious brothers and sisters. The vast geography, challenging climatic conditions, and social issues, including some missions accessible only by air, present unique difficulties in administering pastoral care.
Father Susai Jesu’s appointment signifies a continuation of his dedicated service to Indigenous populations and highlights his deep connection to the communities he has served over nearly two decades in Canada. His leadership will guide the archdiocese through ongoing challenges while fostering reconciliation and growth among the diverse peoples within his jurisdiction.
Source: Original article