(CCCB – Ottawa)… A priest from the Archdiocese of Ottawa, Msgr Patrick Powers, P.H., becomes the new General Secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) as of 1 March 2010. He will succeed the present General Secretary, Msgr Mario Paquette, P.H., who will leave office after completing his second and final three-year mandate, in accordance with the CCCB Bylaws. 
 
Msgr Powers was born in Montreal and lived there his early years. After studies in business at Sir George William University (today part of Concordia University, Montreal), he first worked for a major Canadian company where he served as employment and personnel services manager, among other responsibilities, before entering the Ottawa major seminary at the beginning of the 1980s. 
 
Ordained priest in 1986, Msgr Powers holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Saint Paul University, Ottawa, and a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. 
 
Given his strong background in administration, he was asked over the years to serve the Archdiocese in a number of capacities, including as executive secretary to the Archbishop, episcopal vicar for administration, general secretary of the fundraising campaign for the 150th anniversary of the Archdiocese, and Vicar General. He oversaw the restoration of Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa, and led the Ottawa diocesan youth pilgrims at the World Youth Day celebrations in Manila, Paris, Rome and Toronto. In 2005, while remaining a Vicar General of the Archdiocese, he became Rector of Notre Dame Cathedral Basilica.
 
Msgr Powers has also served outside the Archdiocese of Ottawa, including as a member of the Insurance Management Board of the Ontario Assembly of Catholic Bishops, as well as president of the Canadian Canon Law Society, 2002 to 2004.