Archdiocese of Keewatin – Le Pas: resignation of Archbishop Sylvain Lavoie, O.M.I.

Monday, July 16 2012

(CCCB – Ottawa)… On July 16, 2012, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Sylvain Lavoie, O.M.I., Archbishop of Keewatin – Le Pas, Manitoba, according to canon 401, §2, and at the same time appointed Father William Stang, O.M.I., as Apostolic Administrator of the same Archdiocese.

Archbishop Lavoie was born on April 22, 1947 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan.  He was ordained to the priesthood as a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1974.  In addition to assuming various pastoral appointments within his Religious Institute, he worked in numerous parishes of the Archdiocese of Keewatin – Le Pas, whose territory includes parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  On July 11, 2005, he was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of the same Archdiocese, when he succeeded the Most Reverend Peter Sutton, O.M.I., as Archbishop of Keewatin – Le Pas on March 25, 2006.

As mentioned above, Father William Stang, O.M.I., who, until now, has served as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Keewatin – Le Pas, has been appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese. There are approximately 37,000 Catholics in the Archdiocese which includes 45 parishes and missions, with 15 diocesan and religious priests and seven women who are members of religious institutes.