Catholic leader Montague shared his faith and warmth across Niagara
Niagara’s Catholic community is mourning the death of a man described as extremely thoughtful and caring of others who came from all walks of life.
Serving at several churches in the region from 1960 to 2008, including St. Kevin’s in Welland, Msgr. Ray Montague died on June 2. He was 83.
Rev. Hugh Gibson, pastor at St. Alfred Roman Catholic Church in St. Catharines, said Montague was one of the first people he met when he arrived in Canada from Ireland in 1986.
“Immediately, he was a very warm, welcoming, friendly and generous man,” Gibson said.
Over his career, Montague served at multiple parishes in the Diocese of St. Catharines, including St. Kevin’s (1960-65), Our Lady of the Scapular (1965-66), St. Catherine of Alexandria (1966-68 and 1971-74), St. Ann’s (1968-71) St. Stephen’s (1977-78), St. Mary of the Assumption (1978-89), St. Kevin’s (1989-95), St. Vincent de Paul (1995-2001), St. Michael’s (2001-04) and Sacred Heart (200408). In 2008 Montague served as chaplain at Mount Carmel Residence in Niagara Falls. He also assisted with mass at Hotel Dieu Shaver Hospital.
Montague spent three years in the Philippines with the Scarboro Foreign Missionaries. He briefly taught religion at Denis Morris Catholic High School and was noted for composing and presenting daily brief inspirational radio messages titled “Above All Else” on CHSC radio. He was proficient in sign language and involved with the hearing impaired.
Gibson’s relationship with Montague started at St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church in St. Catharines but four years later Montague took Gibson under his wing as a servant at St. Kevin’s in Welland.
“He was the most wonderful mentor any young priest could possibly have.
“He wasn’t a one-man show, he always worked very well with other people,” said Gibson, who will serve at Montague’s funeral Saturday.
Rev. James Mulligan, the lead priest at St. Kevin’s, never worked with Montague during his career but has known him since childhood when he was a close friend of Montague’s brother.
“Since I was ordained a priest, I’ve had much affection and admiration for him.”
Montague had a “great simplicity” about him that Mulligan said he has always respected, along with his compassion for the less fortunate in both the local community and other parts of the world.
“He was a leader by the kind of person he was,” said Mulligan.
“For me, the real loss is the model of person and model of priest he was.”
Montague was born to Marguerite and Joseph Montague and was one of eight children. He grew up as a member of Star of the Sea Church, attended St. Ann elementary school and Notre Dame College School in Welland. Upon graduation from Notre Dame, he went to St. Augustine Seminary in Toronto. Montague was ordained May 28, 1960, by Bishop Thomas McCarthy.