Emmett Johns
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The Reverend Emmett Johns | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | April 3, 1928 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | January 13, 2018 (aged 89) Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Other names | Pops |
| Occupation(s) | Catholic priest, Humanitarian |
| Years active | 1988–2016 |
| Known for | Dans la Rue |
| Ecclesiastical career | |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
Congregations served | Saint John Fischer Parish, Pointe-Claire Our Lady of Fatima, Saint-Laurent |
Emmett Mathias Joseph Johns CM GOQ (April 3, 1928 – January 13, 2018), was a Canadian priest and humanitarian. He was the founder of Dans la Rue (originally known as Le Bon Dieu Dans La Rue), a homeless shelter and support group for street youth in Montreal, Quebec.
Emmett Johns, who was of Irish descent, was born on April 3, 1928 in the Plateau Mont-Royal neighbourhood of Montreal.[1][2]
He graduated with a BA from Loyola College in 1974.[3]
He served as a Catholic priest and vicar at Saint John Fisher Parish in Pointe-Claire, Our Lady of Fatima in Saint-Laurent as well as a pastor at Bishop Whelan High School in Lachine and as a hospital chaplain.[4][better source needed]
In December 1988, Johns founded Le Bon Dieu Dans la Rue. With a $10,000 loan, he purchased a used motorhome and took to the streets at night, distributing food and basic goods to street youth, and giving them a place to warm up.[citation needed]
Over time, the organization grew to include both a night shelter in 1993 and day centre in 1997, always based on the "help without judgement" philosophy of its founder.[citation needed]
Its name was eventually changed to Dans La Rue, to avoid a religious connotation, and continued to offer food, shelter and friendship to homeless youths, as well as the resources and services required to help them get off the street.[citation needed]
In 2005, he was a member of the Quebec delegation which attended the funeral of Pope John Paul II.[5]
In 2016, Johns retired from active involvement in Dans la Rue due to Parkinson's disease.[6]
