New Archbishop Named for Vancouver

Saturday, January 10 2004

(CCCB-Ottawa) His Holiness Pope John Paul II today named Most Rev. Raymond Roussin, S.M., current Bishop of Victoria, as Archbishop of Vancouver, succeeding Most Rev. Adam Exner, O.M.I., who has reached the mandatory age of retirement according to Canon 401 of the Code of Canon Law.

Archbishop-elect Roussin has been Bishop of Victoria since March 18, 1999; prior to that, he had been named Coadjutor-Bishop of Victoria on September 14, 1998. He was first named a Bishop in 1995 when he was appointed Bishop of Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan, a position he held until that diocese’s dissolution in 1998.

Born in 1939 in Saint Boniface, Manitoba, he graduated in theology from the University of Freiberg, Switzerland, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1970 as a member of the Congregation of Marianists. He taught for many years in Quebec, Manitoba and the United States before becoming Superior of his order from 1980-86. He was also president of the Western region of the Canadian Religious Conference from 1984-1986.

Archbishop-elect Roussin has been active within the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) serving as a member of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Education (French Sector), the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy (English Sector), the Permanent Council and also as CCCB liaison Bishop with Canadian Catholic Campus Ministry.

Archbishop Exner has served the Archdiocese of Vancouver since 1991. Prior to that, he was Archbishop of Winnipeg and Bishop of Kamloops, respectively. He is a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

The Archdiocese of Vancouver has a Catholic population of 402,310 in 94 parishes and missions, served by 89 diocesan priests, 87 religious order priests, one permanent deacon, 145 religious sisters and brothers.

Most Rev. Raymond Roussin Most Rev. Adam Exner
Most Rev. Raymond Roussin, S.M. Most Rev. Adam Exner, O.M.I.

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