Pope Francis unifies 2 Canadian dioceses and appoints bishop

By Vatican News

"The Holy Father has united 'in persona episcopi' the Diocese of Mont-Laurier with that of Saint-Jérôme and at the same time has appointed Bishop Raymond Poisson of Saint-Jérôme as also Bishop of Mont-Laurier," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement on Monday. 

The Latin term “in persona episcopi” literally means “in the person of the bishop”, and is used by the Catholic Church to indicate the union of two or more dioceses, in which the structures of each diocese such as cathedrals, seminaries and curial offices are left unchanged, except with the episcopal ministry, which is exercised by a single bishop.

It is a mild form of union between dioceses and can be a temporary provision. In some cases the “in persona episcopi” acts as a transition towards full union as a single diocese, known as “aeque principaliter”.

Biography of Bishop Raymond Poisson

April 30, 1958 – Born in Saint-Hyacinthe (Quebec). He studied at the Seminary of the Most Holy Trinity in Saint-Bruno and at the Collège André Grasset.

December 9, 1983 – Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from the Theological Faculty of Montreal.

1987 to 1989 -  Studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, obtaining a Doctorate in Theology.

After 1989 – Appointed special secretary to the Bishop Bernard Hubert of Saint-Jean-Longueuil. He was also the vicar and then parish priest of Saint-Georges in the Episcopal city.

1995 to 2007 – Pastor of the co-cathedral of Saint-Antoine de Padoue.  Later, he was parish priest of the Pastoral Unit of Sainte-Marguerite-d'Younville and Rector of the Basilica of Sainte-Anne in Varennes.

May 1, 2012 – Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Saint-Jérôme and consecrated bishop on June 15.

September 8, 2015 – Appointed Bishop of Joliette.

May 18, 2018 – Appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Saint-Jérôme.

May 21, 2019 – Succeeded as Bishop of Saint-Jérôme.