Pope merges Canadian Diocese and Archdiocese

By Vatican News

Pope Francis has ordered the merging of the Archdiocese of Ottawa and the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall in Canada and has named the current Archbishop of Ottawa, Terrence Prendergast, as Archbishop of the new ecclesiastical circumscription of Ottawa-Cornwall.

In addition, the Holy Father has appointed Bishop Marcel Damphousse as Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, transferring him from the office of Bishop of Sault Sainte Marie.

Curriculum vitae of Archbishop Terrence Prendergast (source: Archdiocese of Ottawa)

A native of Montreal, Archbishop Terrence Prendergast entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1972. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fordham University, Master of Divinity and Doctor of Theology degrees from Toronto School of Theology and a Licentiate in Theology from Regis College.

Archbishop Prendergast taught in Halifax at Atlantic School of Theology from 1975-1981, then was Rector of Toronto's Regis College from 1981-87 and Dean of Theology from 1991-1994. In 1988-89, he lectured as Daniel Hannin Professor at Campion College, University of Regina. From 1992-1994, he served as Executive Secretary of the Vatican's Apostolic Visitation of Canadian seminaries (English sector). When nominated bishop in 1995, he was Catholic Biblical Association of America Visiting Professor at the École biblique et archéologique française de Jerusalem. Named Titular Bishop of Slebte and Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto on February 22, 1995, Archbishop Prendergast received episcopal ordination in St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto, on April 25, 1995.

Appointed eleventh Archbishop of Halifax on June 30th, 1998, he was installed in St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica on September 14th that year. In January 2002, he became Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Yarmouth.  He is the Canadian member of Vox Clara, an advisory commission to the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments on the English translation of Sacramental texts. In the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, he has served on its Permanent Council, been a member of the Commission for Relations with Associations of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Laity, co-chair of the national Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue, a director of the Catholic Office for Life and the Family, and has now fulfilled three terms on the Doctrinal Commission. He now serves on the Social Communications Committee.

Archbishop Prendergast was named tenth Bishop and ninth Archbishop of Ottawa by Pope Benedict XVI on May 14, 2007. He was installed on June 26, 2007.

Curriculum vitae of Archbishop Marcel Damphousse

Archbishop Marcel Damphousse was born on March 19, 1963 in Saint-Joseph, Manitoba. After his primary studies he attended psychology courses at the Saint-Boniface University College. In 1988 he enrolled at St. Paul University of Ottawa for courses in Theology.

He was then ordained priest on June 28, 1991 and incardinated in the Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface.

After his ordination he carried out his pastoral ministry in various parishes as parish vicar, and from 1994 to 2000 as pastor of Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité in Somerset. At the same time he was appointed President of the Diocesan Commission for Vocations. In 1996 he also became pastor of Saint-Léon.

From 2000 to 2002 he was in Rome, where he obtained his Licentiate in Spiritual Theology at the Teresianum Institute. When he returned to the Diocese he carried out his ministry as a pastor and in the five-year period 2003-2008 he was again Diocesan Director for Vocations, as well as Chaplain of St. Boniface High School. In 2008 he was appointed Rector of St. Boniface Cathedral Basilica and Member of the Diocesan Council for Economic Affairs.

Appointed Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall on 16 June 2012, he was consecrated the following 2 September. He was then transferred to the Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie on 12 November 2015.

Archbishop Damphousse is one of the two Councillors of the Executive Office of the "Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario" and Member of the Commission for Education.