Monsignor Pierre Roy is a Canadian traditionalist Catholic bishop associated with sedevacantism, a movement that considers the See of Peter to have been vacant since the Second Vatican Council due to changes perceived as heretical in the Catholic Church. Born in French-speaking Quebec, Roy grew up in the environment of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, and his trajectory reflects a commitment to preserving the pre-conciliar Catholic faith.
👣 Trajectory of Pierre Roy
Roy entered the SSPX seminary and was ordained a priest on June 17, 2011, initially serving in chapels in Quebec, such as those in Sherbrooke and Montreal. On September 12, 2013, he founded the Mission Notre-Dame-de-Joie in Dieppe, New Brunswick, starting in a modest apartment. The mission offers the Tridentine Mass and sacraments to traditionalist faithful in Canada's Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador), as well as in Quebec and Ontario. On June 3, 2016, Roy announced his departure from the SSPX through an "Open Letter to the Faithful of Quebec and the Maritime Provinces," criticizing the society's leadership for allegedly seeking a reunification with "Conciliar Rome" (the post-Vatican II Church), which he viewed as an unacceptable compromise of the faith. Since then, he has operated independently, prioritizing traditional doctrine.
On January 7, 2024, Roy was consecrated a bishop in São Paulo, Brazil, by sedevacantist bishop Rodrigo Ribeiro da Silva, also formerly of the SSPX, in a ceremony intended to preserve the Catholic apostolic succession amidst the ecclesial crisis. As a bishop, he performs functions such as confirmations and maintains an itinerant apostolate, being described as devoted to the Latin Mass and resistance to modernism. His mission is accessible through the website latinmassmaritimes.org, and he resides in Lakeville, New Brunswick. His consecration, however, is not recognized by the official Catholic Church, which considers such acts illicit.
📄 The 2016 Open Letter
The "Open Letter to the Faithful of Quebec and the Maritime Provinces," published on June 3, 2016, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, is a central document for understanding Roy's break with the SSPX and his transition to an independent apostolate. Available in English on websites like Tradition in Action and Dominicans of Avrillé, the letter reflects his concerns about preserving the traditional Catholic faith.
🤔 Context and Motivation
Written after years of observing changes within the SSPX, the letter criticizes the society's leadership, especially Bishop Bernard Fellay, for seeking a "reunification" with Rome without demanding a clear rejection of the post-conciliar reforms. Roy considers this a betrayal of Archbishop Lefebvre's principles, which advocated for separation from the "Conciliar Church." He wrote it after prayer and reflection, expressing sadness but firmness in his decision.
📝 Structure and Content
The letter is divided into thematic sections:
Announcement of Departure: Roy communicates his departure from the SSPX, stating: "For several years now, the authorities of the Society – they no longer hide it – have been engineering a reunification with apostate Rome." He bases his decision on theological reflections and the need to preserve the faith.
- Critique of the SSPX: He questions the legitimacy of aligning with authorities who do not profess the integral Catholic faith, citing Pius XI in Mortalium Animos (1928): "All know that John, the Apostle of love, [...] absolutely forbade all communion in common matters with heretics." Roy criticizes the SSPX for condemning the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter for its agreements with Rome, only to now follow a similar path.
- Fidelity to Tradition: He invokes Archbishop Lefebvre, quoting his Spiritual Journey: "It is the strict duty of every priest and layman who desires to remain Catholic to separate himself clearly from the Conciliar Church as long as she does not profess the tradition of the Church's Magisterium and of the Catholic Faith." Roy uses this to justify his independence.
- Appeal to the Faithful: He acknowledges that the SSPX still offers valid sacraments but warns of doctrinal ambiguities. He prioritizes the Maritime Provinces, where the faithful have little access to the traditional Mass, saying: "The faithful in this region are lacking in frequent access to the true Mass and the true Sacraments." Roy avoids immediate ruptures in Quebec so as not to divide communities, focusing instead on isolated groups.
- Conclusion: He ends with a call to spiritual joy ("Serve the Lord with gladness! Ps 99"), asks for prayers, and offers his apostolic blessing, signing from Lakeville, New Brunswick.
✨ Impact
The letter solidified the foundation of the Mission Notre-Dame-de-Joie, which became a point of support for traditionalists in Canada. It influenced other sedevacantists and is cited as an example of "uncompromising" resistance, though it is criticized by moderates within the SSPX as radical. In 2024, Roy reaffirmed the letter as a "logical decision," connecting it to his episcopal consecration.
🔗 References
Official website of the Mission Notre-Dame-de-Joie, founded by Monsignor Pierre Roy. It contains information about his mission, Mass schedules, sacraments, and contact for his apostolate in the Maritime Provinces, Quebec, and Ontario.
Publication of Pierre Roy's "Open Letter to the Faithful of Quebec and the Maritime Provinces" in English by the website Tradition in Action. It includes the full text of the letter from June 3, 2016.
