Bishop André Vallée named to Diocese of Hearst

Monday, August 19 1996

CCCB (Ottawa) — Pope John Paul II has named Most Reverend André Vallée as Bishop of the Diocese of Hearst. The Diocese has been without a bishop since the death of Bishop Pierre Fisette in an automobile accident last December 21. The episcopal appointment of Bishop Vallée was announced earlier today in Rome.

Bishop Vallée, belonging to the Société des Missions Étrangères (Society of Foreign Missions), has been Military Ordinary with the Canadian Forces since 1987. He was born in Ste- Anne-de-la-Pérade in 1930 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 24, 1956. In 1959 he was sent to the Philippines to work as a missionary where he did parish work. He also taught and later became rector of the Seminary in Davao. In 1968, he returned to Canada and became Superior at his order’s seminary in Pont-Viau for two years. From 1973 until 1979, Bishop Vallée was Superior General of the order.

Bishop Vallée was named the CCCB French-language General Secretary in 1979, a post he held until 1985. During his term at the CCCB Secretariat, two years before being appointed Military Ordinary, he co-ordinated the two visits of Pope John Paul II to Canada in 1984 and 1987. As Bishop, he has served on the Episcopal Commission for Canon Law/Inter-Rite, the Episcopal Commission for Missions and as a member of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue Committee. Details of his installation will be released shortly.

The Diocese of Hearst has a population of 35,000 Catholics in 30 parishes served by 37 priests and 26 religious.