Guigues, Joseph-Bruno

Born in France on 26 August 1805, Joseph-Bruno Guigues was the son of Bruno Guigues and Thérèse Richier. On 31 May 1828, he was ordained priest within the order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Father Guigues was appointed visiteur or acting superior in Canada in 1844. He learned English before being consecrated first bishop of Bytown on 30 July 1848, in Bytown’s cathedral, by Bishop Rémi Gaulin of Kingston. Mgr. Guigues opened a college and a seminary in Bytown in September 1848. He died in Ottawa on 8 February 1874 [Carrière 1972].