Bishop Paul Marchand

Bishop Paul Marchand of Timmins, Ont., died July 23 while on summer vacation.

He was 74.

Described as a humble priest with a collaborative pastoral approach, Marchand headed the Diocese of Timmins for 12 years during a challenging time of declining numbers of parishioners and priests.

A Montfortain priest, Marchand was vacationing at his religious community's summer camp near Gatineau, Quebec. On July 23, he celebrated morning Mass, had breakfast and returned to his room.

When he failed to show up at lunch, people went to check on him and discovered he had died in his room.

He had been bishop of Timmins since 1999.