Fr. Bernard Bruneau, S.J.

By Fr. John Locke, S.J.
(From the Nepal Region’s 50th Anniversary Book, 2001)

Fr. Ben Bruneau was a latecomer to Nepal but not to Nepalis. Born in Canada in 1921, Ben entered the Society there in 1941 and was one of the first Canadians to come to Darjeeling when they took up that work in 1947. After completing his theology in Kurseong, Ben took up pastoral work which occupied his entire career in Darjeeling.

He was the parish priest of St. John’s in Kurseong for many years and was known all over the area as “Kancha Father.” Short of stature but big of heart, he was a master of Nepali and a friend arid benefactor to people all over the area, tramping up and down the hills to bring the people the word of the Gospel and his skills as a healer.

In the mid-eighties, Ben fell ill with cancer and returned to Canada for treatment. The doctors insisted he remain for two full years to make sure the cancer was gone. At the end of that time he was pronounced cured, but his residential permit in Darjeeling had lapsed, so he took up work among the native Americans in Canada.

In 1987, Msgr. Sharma asked him him if he would be interested in coming to Nepal. He jumped at the idea and came to Pokhara to serve as chaplain to the Sisters at St. Mary’s to once again take up work among the people – providing them assistance in a variety of ways and putting his medical skills to good use. He continued until 1996 when fading eyesight forced him to return once again to Canada for medical treatment. His eyes were operated on for cataracts, and once again he asked to return to Nepal. It took over a year to find a replacement for his work among the native Americans which he had once again taken up.

His second stay in Nepal was brief. He returned late in 1999 and went as Chaplain to the Sisters of Bandipur. It soon became clear that Bandipur was perhaps not the best place for a man pushing eighty. So late in 1999 he went to Godavari to take up the work of the parish priest. In his short stay there he endeared himself to the people is he had done in Darjeeling. In March of 2000, Ben suffered a stroke at Godavari and passed away after about two weeks in the hospital, thus dying among his beloved. Nepalis as was his wish.