Ottawa: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr. Susai Jesu, OMI, an Indian-born missionary priest, as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Keewatin–Le Pas in Canada. A member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Fr. Jesu currently serves as Provincial Councillor and Parish Priest at Sacred Heart of the First Peoples in the Archdiocese of Edmonton.
Born on May 17, 1971, in Pushpavanam, India, the Archbishop-designate pursued his philosophical formation at Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram in Bangalore before completing theological studies at the Khrist Premalaya Institute of Theology, Ashta. He later specialised further, obtaining a Master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling from Saint Paul University, Ottawa.
Fr. Jesu made his perpetual vows in the Oblate congregation in 2000 and was ordained to the priesthood on July 27 of the same year.
His pastoral journey spans multiple regions and ministries. He began as Parish Vicar in Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh (2000–2002) and later served as Parish Priest in Surala Kappa, North India (2002–2005). He continued his mission work as Parish Vicar in Kombadimadurai, Tamil Nadu (2005–2007) and later shepherded communities in Canada as Parish Priest of St. Gertrude Parish, Pelican Narrows, and Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, Sandy Bay (2009–2015).
Since 2017, Fr. Jesu has been leading the historic Sacred Heart of the First Peoples parish in Edmonton, and from 2019, he has also been contributing to the leadership of the Oblate congregation as Provincial Councillor.
His appointment marks another significant moment for the Indian Catholic Church, with one of its priests taking up a major pastoral and administrative role in the Canadian Church.