Father Gilles (Gilbert) Lague, C.S.C, a veteran missionary from Canada and the last of a long line of Canadian missionaries to the Work of Bengal, died in Dhaka on November 9, 2023. He was a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province, Bangladesh. He was 84 years old and served for well over 50 years here.
Besides his native French, he was totally fluent in English and Bengali. His early work was in different mission stations, Gournadi, Narikelbari, and Noakhali. He was also, at one time, director of the Pastoral and Retreat Center at Sagardi in Barishal.
He is, however, best remembered for his work in helping others to form their spiritual lives. He was a man with a deep prayer life and he helped so many to develop theirs. He was a sought-after spiritual director and frequent retreat director.
This led to a long term as Novice Director for the Holy Cross seminarians and Brothers at the novitiate in Barishal. This was followed by another long stint as Spiritual Director at the National Major Seminary, Banani, Dhaka (Now Holy Spirit Major Seminary). Father was also deeply involved in a program of the Bangladesh Conference of Religious, the Spiritual Direction Course, which trains priests, Sisters, and Brothers to be spiritual directors. His contribution to the Church in Bangladesh through these ministries is immense.
He also had a life-long relationship with the Congregation of the Little Handmaids of the Church as a chaplain, spiritual guide, and advisor. In later years, he also served the Missionaries of Charity in a number of ways. When our Province first sent seminarians to Canada for Theological studies, Father spent one year and six months with them helping in their seminary formation there as someone familiar with Canadian and Bengali culture and language. In his last years, as he grew older and had some health problems, he lived at Moreau House, Banasree, Rampura, Dhaka. We could all see how often he was in the Chapel praying and how faithful he was to community life. He was an avid reader of spiritual books
When it was learned that he had kept all of his homily notes from Mass, there was a desire to see them published and we now all have this two-volume work, full of spiritual insight.
We thank God for Fr. Gilbert’s life. We thank God for his life’s work. We thank God for his life’s work’s fruit. That fruit is and will remain among us.
Biography of Father Gilles (Gilbert) Lague, CSC
Name: Fr. Gilles Lague, CSC
Father’s name: Alfred Laguë
Mother’s name: Aldéa Lablante
Birth Place: St Valérien, Co. Milton
Parish & Diocese: St Valérien. Dioc. St Hyuacinthe
Date of Birth: 29-11-1939
Reception at Novitiate: 15-08-1959
First Vows: 16-08-1960
Date of Perpetual Vows: 31-08-1963
Date of Diaconate Ordination: 1965
Date of Priestly Ordination: 18-12-1965
Formation Life
Petit Séminair de Sainte Croix (7-12),
Nociciate (15.08.59-16.08.60)
BA ( Moreau Seminary) 60-62,
Theology in Rome 62-66
Education
I to VII grade in 4 different schools
Matriculation to Rhetoric at Holy Cross Minor Seminary
BA at Collège Saint Laureent
Licentiate in Theology at the Gregorian University, Rome.
Bangla Language Learning, Assignments & Other Activities
1966-1967: Bangla language one-year course, Oriental, Barishal
1967-1971: Assistant Priest in Narikelbari
1971-1972: Pastoral Theology At St Albert le grand
1972-1974 : Parish Priest, Narikelbari
1974-1980: Parish Priest, Noakhali
1980-1985 : Parish Priest, Gouronodi
1985-1990 : Novice Master, Sagordi
1990-1991: One year Ignatian Sprituality Quebec City
1991-1994: Novice Master, Holy Cross Novitiate, Sagordi, Barishal
1994-2002: Spiritual Director, Banani Major Seminary, Dhaka
2002-2009: Director, Pastoral and Retreat Center, Oriental Institute, Sagordi, Barishal
2009-2011: 2 years in Montreal with two Bengali Seminarians
2011-2020: Spiritual Director Moreau Seminary
Retirement & Residence
2021-2023: Moreau House, Banasree, Rampura, Dhaka
Died on: November 09, 2023, at Square Hospitals Ltd. Dhaka, Bangladesh.
