Episcopal appointment for the Diocese of Thunder Bay

Friday, January 10 2025

January 10, 2025, Ottawa – Today, His Holiness Pope Francis named Father Alan Campeau as Bishop of the Diocese of Thunder Bay. At the time of his appointment, Bishop-elect Campeau was serving as Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Dryden, Ontario since 2008.

Born on 1 August 1959, Bishop-elect Campeau is the third of eight children of Leo and Betty Campeau. Raised in Belle River, Ontario, he grew up in the community of St. Simon and St. Jude Church, where he received all three sacraments of initiation.

In 1983, he entered St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario. He was ordained to the Diaconate on 26 November 1989, and to the Priesthood on 28 April 1990. During that time, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Sociology from the University of Western Ontario – King’s College in 1986, and then completed a Master of Divinity in 1990 from St. Peter’s Seminary.

Bishop-elect Campeau began his ministry in the summer of 1990 as Chaplain at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Windsor, followed by appointments as Associate Pastor at St. Gregory the Great Parish in St. Clair Beach (1990-1991) and St. Pius X Parish in London (1991-1995).

In 1995, the Diocese of London offered Bishop-elect Campeau’s services to the Diocese of Thunder Bay, where he assumed numerous pastoral roles. He was Pastor at Holy Family Parish and St. Benedict’s Chapel (1995-1997), and then at Corpus Christi Parish (1997-1999) in Thunder Bay. From 1999 to 2005, he ministered as Pastor of Notre Dame Parish in Kenora, Sacred Heart Parish in Sioux Narrows, and Our Lady of the Lake in Nestor Falls, while also serving in several missions, including Reditt, Grassy Narrows First Nation Reserve and White Dog First Nation Reserve. From 2005 to 2008, he was Pastor of Our Lady of Loretto and St. Mark’s Chapel in Thunder Bay. In 2008, he began his ministry as Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Dryden, Our Lady of Fatima in Vermilion Bay, and Immaculate Conception in Ignace, while also ministering to Wabigoon and Eagle Lake First Nation Reserves until 2024. Throughout his time in the Diocese of Thunder Bay, he also served as Dean for the Western Deanery (2008-2024) and was a dedicated member of the Presbyteral Council for many years.

The Diocese of Thunder Bay is made up of 43 parishes and missions, 31 diocesan priests, 5 priests in consecrated life, 28 permanents deacons, and some 73, 780 catholic laity.

 

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Media Inquiries:
Maribel Mayorga
Director of Communications
Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB)

Email: communications@cccb.ca

Telephone: 613-241-9461, ext. 225