New Archbishop for Grouard-McLennan

Thursday, November 30 2006

Archbishop Pettipas (Ottawa-CCCB) His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on 30 November, 2006, appointed Father Gérard Pettipas, C.Ss.R., as Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan, in Alberta. succeeds Archbishop Arthé Guimond who is retiring after serving as Archbishop for the last six years, and having reached the retirement age of 75.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 6 September 1950, Archbishop-elect Pettipas studied at the University of Windsor, the University of St. Michael’s College in Toronto and at St. Thomas College in West Hartford, Connecticut, where he obtained a master’s degree in religious studies. Member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), Archbishop-elect Pettipas has been involved in a number of pastoral ministries across Canada. After his ordination as a priest in 1977, he was associate pastor at St. Teresa’s parish in St. John’s, Nfld. He was then vocation director and part of the Redemptorist parish mission team in Ontario. From 1990 to 1992, he was rector and director of Holy Redeemer College Retreat Centre in Windsor, Ontario, following which he was involved in youth missions from 1992 to 1995. In 1999, he became pastor of St. Joseph’s parish, Grande Prairie, Alberta, where he served until his nomination as Archbishop of Grouard-McLennan.

The Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan has a population of 44,000 Catholics in 66 parishes and missions served by seven diocesan priests, 19 religious priests, two permanent deacons and 34 religious Brothers and Sisters.