Indian Priest Jesu Named Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas

Susai Jesu, a 54-year-old priest originally from southern India, was consecrated as the new archbishop of the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas on January 26, 2026, in a ceremony blending Indigenous traditions with Catholic rites. The event took place in northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, where he will lead ministry for about 49,000 Catholics, the majority Indigenous, across a vast region larger than Texas. Appointed in November 2025 by Pope Leo XIV, Jesu's elevation marks him as the first Indian-born bishop to oversee a North American diocese not primarily serving the Indian diaspora.

Born in Tamil Nadu, Jesu grew up in a small Catholic village, leading early morning prayers at 4:30 a.m. before farmers headed to the fields. He directed the choir, assisted at Mass and, influenced by his mother's devotion, joined the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate as a teenager. Ordained in 2000, he initially worked among an Indigenous group in northern India, an experience he credits with preparing him for cross-cultural ministry. In 2007, after training, he transferred to Canada and was assigned to remote parishes in Saskatchewan.

Adapting to the harsh northern winters proved challenging....