Rome, Italy
November 30, 2006

REDEMPTORIST NAMED ARCHBISHOP OF GROUARD-MCLENNAN, ALBERTA, CANADA

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has nominated Father Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R. as Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan, Alberta, Canada.

 Rev. Gerard Pettipas, C.Ss.R.

Father Gerard Pettipas, C.SS.R. was born on September 6, 1950 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He earned a B.A. from Holy Redeemer College, Windsor, Ontario in 1971. He began his theology studies in 1971and 1972 at the Redemptorist Formation House, Cote-des-Neiges, in Montreal. He made his first profession of vows as a Redemptorist on August 15, 1973. . After continuing his theological studies he was ordained a priest on May 7, 1977.

After ordination, Father Pettipas served in the following ministries: From 1977 to 1978 he was parochial vicar of St. Teresa’s Parish, St. John’s, Newfoundland. From 1978 to 1980 he was also Director of vocations and youth ministry at St. Teresa’s and from 1980 to 1981 served in the same capacity at Gerard House in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. From 1981 to 1987 he was Master of Novices at Holy Redeemer College, Windsor and from 1987 to 1990 as a preacher of missions out of Toronto. From 1990 to 1992 he was Rector and Director of Holy Redeemer College Retreat Center in Windsor. From there he was involved in Youth Mission Team development out of Toronto in 1992 to 1993. From 1993 to 1995 he worked with the Youth Mission Team out of St. John’s, Newfoundland. In 1995 he became Rector and Pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Toronto Canada until 1999. Since 1999 he has served as Pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, Grand Praire, Alberta, Canada.

Father Pettipas succeeds Archbishop Arthé Guimond who reached retirement age.

The Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan is situated in the province of Alberta, Canada and has a Catholic population of 44,000 out of a general population of 114,000, with 68 parishes.

There are 25 priests, 7 diocesan and 18 religious; 1 permanent deacon; 18 male religious and 17 women religious serving in the archdiocese.

Episcopal Ordination information will be announced when it becomes available. We rejoice that our brother Gerry has been called by the Church to serve God’s people as the chief Shepherd of the archdiocese.