Emmett Johns

Emmett Mathias Joseph Johns, CM GOQ[1] (April 3, 1928 – January 13, 2018), was a Canadian priest and humanitarian. He founded Dans la rue, formally known as Le Bon Dieu Dans La Rue (Dans La Rue), a homeless shelter and support group for street youth in Montreal, Quebec.

He was a member of the Quebec delegation which attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II. He was formerly a priest at Saint John Fisher Parish in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, and he served as pastor at Bishop Whelan High School in Lachine, Quebec. In 2003, he was made a Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec. In 1999, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada.

He graduated with a BA from Loyola College in 1974.[2]

In 1997, he received an honorary doctorate from Concordia University.[3]

As of 2016, Fr. Johns had retired from active involvement in Dans la rue and was in a retirement home suffering from Parkinson's disease.[4]

Death

He died peacefully in a retirement home in Montreal on January 13, 2018, aged 89.[5]

Dans la rue

He founded Dans la rue in December 1988. Based on the "help without judgement" philosophy of its founder, the organization offers food, shelter and friendship to homeless youths, as well as the resources and services required to help them get off the street. Dans la rue also runs a number of prevention programs designed to educate young people about the risks and consequences associated with living in the streets. The organization has a team of more than 65 full-time employees and 135 volunteers.[6]

References

  1. "Répertoire des membres de l'Ordre national du Québec". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  2. "Father Emmett Johns". concordia.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  3. "Honorary Degree Citation - Emmett Johns". archives.concordia.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
  4. "Legacy of Father "Pops" lives on at Dans La Rue". Montreal Gazette. 2016-03-13. Retrieved 2016-03-14.
  5. "Father Emmett Johns, dubbed "Pops" by street kids he cared for, dies at 89". montrealgazette.com. 2018-01-15. Retrieved 2018-01-15.
  6. "Father Emmett". newswire.ca. April 2008.
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