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Bishop Robert Bell Clune

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Bishop Robert Bell Clune

Birth
Death
6 Sep 2007 (aged 86)
Burial
Thornhill, York Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada Add to Map
Memorial ID
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One of seven brothers, Msgr. Robert B. Clune was born in Toronto, Canada, to to William and Agnes Clune, on September 18, 1920. He attended St. Vincent de Paul Separate School and St. Michael's College before entering St. Augustine's Seminary in 1938. Earning a bachelor of arts from the University of Toronto in 1941, Robert was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1945, by Archbishop James C. McGuigan at St. Michael's Cathedral.

Father Clune served as assistant parish priest at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Toronto during the summer of 1945. That September, Father Clune entered the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C., and graduated in 1948, with a doctorate and licentiate in canon law. While in school, during the summers of 1946 and 1947, Father Clune served in the Mission of Thunder Bay.

Upon Father Clune's return to Toronto in 1948, he was appointed assistant at St. Ann's Parish, Toronto, where he served until 1953. During this time he also served as assistant to Monsignor Francis V. Allen, Chancellor and, in 1951, was appointed vice-chancellor. In September of 1953 he was appointed Defender of the Bond of the Toronto Regional Tribunal and director of Catholic Cemeteries.

In January of 1959 Father Clune was appointed Archdiocesan Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He was elected treasurer of the Priests' Mutual Aid Society and Promoter of Justice and vice-official of the Tribunal in 1962. He was the founding pastor of St. Wilfrid's parish, Downsview in June of 1965, and continued as pastor until 1971, when he was appointed director of the Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada.

Awareness and support of missions, both in Canada and abroad, was always of great importance to Bishop Clune. He was an honorary member of the Christian Island Ojibwa Band with the name Min N'wah Jemonne, which translates "He who brings Good Tidings". And while president of the Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada he brought missionaries to meet students in the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese.

On May 3, 1979 Father Clune was elected Bishop of the Titular See of Lacubaza and named Auxiliary to Cardinal Gerald Emmett Carter for the Metropolitan See of Toronto by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on June 21, 1979, at St. Michael's Cathedral from Cardinal Carter, assisted by the Archbishop Emeritus of Toronto, Msgr. Philip F. Pocock and Auxiliary Bishop, Aloysius M. Ambrozic of Toronto, Future Cardinal Archbishop of the same See.

Bishop Clune became head of the Eastern Region of the Archdiocese and pastor of St. John the Evangelist parish, Whitby, Ontario. In 1982, he was appointed chairman of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Mission Fund. In the Spring of 1992, Bishop Clune moved to Barrie and became Vicar of the North-Eastern Region of the Archdiocese, Vicar for Religious Orders and for the Permanent Deacons. Upon the appointment of his successor, Bishop Anthony G. Meagher in 1997, Bishop Clune retired from active service on June 30, 1997.

Throughout his years of service, Bishop Clune viewed Catholic education as a particular priority. He blessed over fifty new schools and was an Honorary Chairman of the Durham Catholic District School Board. He was also an honorary trustee of the York Catholic District School Board and served as chaplain to the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.

Bishop Clune passed away on September 6, 2007, two weeks before his 87th birthday, whilst recovered at Toronto's East General Hospital. Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Michael's Cathedral, 65 Bond Street, Toronto on Wednesday, September 12.
One of seven brothers, Msgr. Robert B. Clune was born in Toronto, Canada, to to William and Agnes Clune, on September 18, 1920. He attended St. Vincent de Paul Separate School and St. Michael's College before entering St. Augustine's Seminary in 1938. Earning a bachelor of arts from the University of Toronto in 1941, Robert was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1945, by Archbishop James C. McGuigan at St. Michael's Cathedral.

Father Clune served as assistant parish priest at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Toronto during the summer of 1945. That September, Father Clune entered the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C., and graduated in 1948, with a doctorate and licentiate in canon law. While in school, during the summers of 1946 and 1947, Father Clune served in the Mission of Thunder Bay.

Upon Father Clune's return to Toronto in 1948, he was appointed assistant at St. Ann's Parish, Toronto, where he served until 1953. During this time he also served as assistant to Monsignor Francis V. Allen, Chancellor and, in 1951, was appointed vice-chancellor. In September of 1953 he was appointed Defender of the Bond of the Toronto Regional Tribunal and director of Catholic Cemeteries.

In January of 1959 Father Clune was appointed Archdiocesan Director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. He was elected treasurer of the Priests' Mutual Aid Society and Promoter of Justice and vice-official of the Tribunal in 1962. He was the founding pastor of St. Wilfrid's parish, Downsview in June of 1965, and continued as pastor until 1971, when he was appointed director of the Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada.

Awareness and support of missions, both in Canada and abroad, was always of great importance to Bishop Clune. He was an honorary member of the Christian Island Ojibwa Band with the name Min N'wah Jemonne, which translates "He who brings Good Tidings". And while president of the Catholic Church Extension Society of Canada he brought missionaries to meet students in the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese.

On May 3, 1979 Father Clune was elected Bishop of the Titular See of Lacubaza and named Auxiliary to Cardinal Gerald Emmett Carter for the Metropolitan See of Toronto by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on June 21, 1979, at St. Michael's Cathedral from Cardinal Carter, assisted by the Archbishop Emeritus of Toronto, Msgr. Philip F. Pocock and Auxiliary Bishop, Aloysius M. Ambrozic of Toronto, Future Cardinal Archbishop of the same See.

Bishop Clune became head of the Eastern Region of the Archdiocese and pastor of St. John the Evangelist parish, Whitby, Ontario. In 1982, he was appointed chairman of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Mission Fund. In the Spring of 1992, Bishop Clune moved to Barrie and became Vicar of the North-Eastern Region of the Archdiocese, Vicar for Religious Orders and for the Permanent Deacons. Upon the appointment of his successor, Bishop Anthony G. Meagher in 1997, Bishop Clune retired from active service on June 30, 1997.

Throughout his years of service, Bishop Clune viewed Catholic education as a particular priority. He blessed over fifty new schools and was an Honorary Chairman of the Durham Catholic District School Board. He was also an honorary trustee of the York Catholic District School Board and served as chaplain to the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.

Bishop Clune passed away on September 6, 2007, two weeks before his 87th birthday, whilst recovered at Toronto's East General Hospital. Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Michael's Cathedral, 65 Bond Street, Toronto on Wednesday, September 12.

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  • Created by: Eman Bonnici
  • Added: Jun 29, 2008
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27901487/robert_bell-clune: accessed ), memorial page for Bishop Robert Bell Clune (18 Sep 1920–6 Sep 2007), Find a Grave Memorial ID 27901487, citing Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Thornhill, York Regional Municipality, Ontario, Canada; Maintained by Eman Bonnici (contributor 46572312).