FR. CANISIUS SEIFERLING

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FR. CANISIUS SEIFERLING, O.F.M. August 30, 1916 - August 10, 2016 Father Canisius Seiferling of Cochrane, AB, passed away on August 10, 2016 at the age of 99 years. Father Canisius Seiferling, a Catholic priest in the Religious Order of Franciscans of Western Canada, was born in Sedley, SK. At the age of 17 he went to Edmonton, AB to finish his schooling at St. Anthony's College. When he finished high school, he entered the Franciscan Order, and spent the next eight years of religious formation in Quebec, after which he was ordained a priest, in Montreal, in 1943, at the age of 27. Fr. Canisius' first, longest and happiest appointment was as a teacher and physical education instructor at Saint Anthony's College. He is fondly remembered by numerous alumni who knew him as an excellent hockey player and exceptional coach. In 1963, after 20 years of teaching and coaching, he began pastoral ministry in Manitoba predominantly as a prison chaplain at Headingley and as an assistant in the parish at St. Charles. In 1973, he became assistant pastor at our Lady of Lourdes parish in Maillardville/Coquitlam, BC, where he spent six years, and then returned to Saskatchewan. For the next three years, he was director of Franciscan novices at Saint Michael's Retreat Centre in Lumsden and a faithful Saskatchewan Roughriders' fan. Fr. Canisius spent the last 34 years of his life at Mount Saint Francis Friary in Cochrane, AB, where he happily kept himself busy clearing brush, hiking with friends, visiting with alumni, and connecting with family. Fr. Canisius is survived by three sisters Mary Wade and Felicia Klein of Regina, and Sr. Herman Seiferling, IBVM, in Toronto, as well as by numerous nephews and nieces; and his Franciscan brothers. Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at St. Mary's Catholic Church (10 River Heights Drive, Cochrane), today, August 12, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will also be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Graveside Service to follow at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre Cemetery. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Franciscan Education Fund, at the Franciscans of Western Canada, PO Box 430, Cochrane, AB T4C 1A6. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com In living memory of Father Canisius Seiferling, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Cochrane, 369 RAILWAY STREET, COCHRANE. Telephone: 403-932-4740.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 12, 2016