Monsignor Rudy Villeneuve honoured at dinner

A respected priest, educator and author, Monsignor Rudy Villeneuve was honoured at a Testimonial Dinner in Cornwall Monday night. More than 250 people attended the three hour event at the Best Western Parkway Inn.

PHOTO CREDIT - David Murphy - OurHometown.ca

Cornwall - Apr. 11, 2011 - A respected priest, educator and author, Monsignor Rudy Villeneuve was honoured at a Testimonial Dinner in Cornwall Monday night.

More than 250 people attended the three hour event at the Best Western Parkway Inn. Msgr. Villeneuve was honoured by several long time friends as well as local dignitaries.

Master of Ceremonies, the Honourable Ed Lumley kicked off the evening with his usual well-timed humour and panache. Dinner Chairman Doctor Nat Shah and Bishop Paul Andre Durocher offered greetings and grace while the official toast was delivered by Mary McKenzie and Margaret Robertson-Flynn. Bishop Durocher, Reverend Gary Stokes and local humanitarian Sean Adams paid tribute to Msgr. Villeneuve who was first ordained in 1947 at St. Finnan’s Cathedral.

No less than 15 original members of the St. Francis de Sales Folk Group, led by former director Hugh McAlear lent their vocal talents in the form of a five song tribute.

The distinguished list of Msgr. Villeneuve’s honours includes being named Cornwall’s first Citizen of the Year in 1972 and the recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. The Msgr. Villeneuve Foundation provides $500 bursaries to a dozen local students on an annual basis.

A native of Maxville, Villeneuve, who also has two Ph.D. (Theology and Sociology) as well an M.A (Theology) and M.S.W (Social Work) thanked the speakers and had to choke back tears as he wrapped his speech borrowing a part of the famous Lou Gehrig speech “…today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth”.