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Bishop Richard Gagnon has been named the new archbishop of Winnipeg to replace Archbishop James Weisgerber.
Bishop Richard Gagnon has been named the new archbishop of Winnipeg to replace Archbishop James Weisgerber. Courtesy of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Gagnon to replace Weisgerber as Winnipeg archbishop

By 
  • October 28, 2013

Pope Francis has named Victoria, B.C., Bishop Richard Gagnon as the new archbishop of Winnipeg to replace Archbishop James Weisgerber.

Weisgerber had tendered his resignation to the Pope upon reaching the retirement age of 75, as required by Canon Law. A former president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Weisgerber led the Winnipeg archdiocese for 13 years.

Among his many accomplishments in a distinguished career, Weisgerber played a key role in organizing a delegation representing the Assembly of First Nations and the Canadian Church that received an audience with Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. It was a historic occasion that saw the Pope express his sorrow at what he called “the deplorable conduct of some members of the Church” in how they operated the former Indian residential schools, where thousands of native children were subjected to abuse.

Gagnon, 65,  has been the bishop of Victoria since 2004. He is currently a member of the CCCB's English commission for liturgy and sacraments and is on the board of directors of Catholic Missions In Canada. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1983 for the archdiocese of Vancouver.

A native of Lethbridge, Alta., who was raised in Vancouver, Gagnon graduated in English and history from Simon Fraser University before completing his seminary studies at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome. In addition to serving in various parishes, Gagnon held several administrative roles in the Vancouver archdiocese and was named vicar general in 2002, two years before Pope John Paul II appointed him as the 16th bishop of Victoria.

Weisgerber had a long association with the CCCB, beginning in 1990 when he was named general secretary. He held that position until he was appointed bishop of Saskatoon by Pope John Paul II in 1996. Over the years he continued to serve the CCCB in several capacities, including as a member of the permanent council, treasurer, vice-president and president from 2007-2009.

He was named archbishop of Winnipeg in 2000 and became a CCCB delegate at the 2001 Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on The Bishop: Servant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the Hope of the World. From 2001 to 2002, he was appointed by the Holy See to the International Methodist and Roman Catholic Dialogue.

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