Nomination of Coadjutor Bishop for the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith

Friday, June 22 2007

On 23 June, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI named Reverend Murray Chatlain as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.

As Coadjutor Bishop, Father Chatlain will become the successor to Most Reverend Denis Croteau, O.M.I., who has been Bishop of the diocese for more than 21 years.

On 23 June, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI named Reverend Murray Chatlain as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.

As Coadjutor Bishop, Father Chatlain will become the successor to Most Reverend Denis Croteau, O.M.I., who has been Bishop of the diocese for more than 21 years.  When a Bishop is close to retirement, a coadjutor Bishop (from the Latin adjuvare, to help) is sometimes named to assist and succeed him in accordance with canon 403 of the Code of Canon Law.

Father Chatlain was born in Saskatoon, 19 January 1963.  He obtained a Master’s of Divinity upon completion of his studies at St. Peter’s Seminary, London, Ontario.  Ordained to the priesthood in 1987, he served a number of parishes in the Diocese of Saskatoon, following which he was pastor of Black Lake, Fond-du-Lac, Stony Rapids, Uranium City and Camsell Portage in the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith.  At the time of his appointment, he was pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Saskatoon.

The Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, whose largest urban centre is Yellowknife, is served by seven diocesan and religious priests, two permanent deacons, 15 religious Brothers and Sisters, and 16 pastoral workers serving a population of approximately 20,000 Catholics in 40 parishes and missions.