Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Grouard–McLennan is a particular church
Particular Church
In Catholic canon law, a Particular Church is an ecclesial community headed by a bishop or someone recognised as the equivalent of a bishop.There are two kinds of particular Churches:# Local particular Churches ...

 of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...

 in Canada. Its ecclesiastic territory includes the northwest section of the Province of Alberta, the boundaries of which are, on the north the 60th parallel north
60th parallel north
The 60th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 60 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....

, separating it from the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...

 and the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith
Roman Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie–Fort Smith is a Roman Catholic diocese that includes part of the Northwest Territories of Canada. It is currently led by Bishop Murray Chatlain....

. To the south the 55th parallel north
55th parallel north
The 55th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 55 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....

, separating it from the Diocese of Saint Paul
Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Paul, Alberta
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Paul in Alberta is a Roman Catholic diocese that includes part of the Province of Alberta. It is currently led by Bishop Joseph Luc André Bouchard....

. On the east the 113th meridian west
113th meridian west
The meridian 113° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....

, separating it from the Diocese of Saint Paul (to the 58th parallel north
58th parallel north
The 58th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 58 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....

) and the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith (to the 60th parallel north
60th parallel north
The 60th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 60 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....

). To the west the 120th meridian west
120th meridian west
The meridian 120° west of Greenwich is a line of longitude that extends from the North Pole across the Arctic Ocean, North America, the Pacific Ocean, the Southern Ocean, and Antarctica to the South Pole....

, separating it from the Province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, and the Diocese of Prince George
Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George was created as the Vicariate Apostolic of Prince Rupert on January 14, 1944, when the Vicariate Apostolic of Yukon-Prince Rupert was split. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vancouver...

. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Roman Catholic Church in northwestern Canada. The archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...

 is the Most Reverend
Most Reverend
The Most Reverend is a style applied to certain religious figures.*In the Roman Catholic Church , all bishops are styled "The Most Reverend", as well as monsignors of the rank of protonotary apostolic de numero.*In the Roman Catholic Church , archbishops are styled "The...

 Gérard Pettipas, C.Ss.R.
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...

. As archbishop, Pettipas also serves as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....

 of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, the mother church of the archdiocese. Also serving are 7 diocesan priests
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....

, 18 religious priests, 2 permanent deacons, 21 religious brothers
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...

 and 25 religious sisters
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...

 who are members of various Roman Catholic religious order
Roman Catholic religious order
Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular ; monastics ; mendicants Catholic religious orders are, historically, a category of Catholic religious institutes.Subcategories are canons regular (canons and canonesses regular...

s. These priests, deacons and religious serve a Catholic population in northwestern Alberta of 47,899 in 67 parishes and missions.

History

The Archdiocese of Grouard–McLennan was erected on April 8, 1862 as the Apostolic Vicariate
Apostolic vicariate
An apostolic vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries that do not have a diocese. It is essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more...

 of Athabaska Mackenzie with territory taken from the Diocese of Saint-Boniface
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint-Boniface is a Roman Catholic archdiocese that includes part of the Province of Manitoba. It is currently led by Archbishop Albert LeGatt....

. A month later on May 8, 1862, Henri Faraud
Henri Faraud
Henri Faraud, , a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, was the first Vicar Apostolic of Athabasca-Mackenzie in western Canada....

, O.M.I.
Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a missionary religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It was founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France on August 1, 1782. The congregation was given recognition by Pope...

 was appointed as Apostolic Vicar. Bishop Faraud served until March 20, 1890 when he resigned. He was succeeded by Emile Grouard, O.M.I. who was appointed Apostolic Vicar on October 18, 1890. Bishop Faraud and later Bishop Grouard were assisted by Isidore Clut
Isidore Clut
Isidore Clut was a Canadian Roman Catholic priest, Oblate of Mary Immaculate, and Auxiliary Bishop of Athabaska Mackenzie from 1864 to 1903.- External links :...

, O.M.I. who was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...

 on August 3, 1864 and who served until his death on July 9, 1903. On July 3, 1901, the territory of the Vicariate was split into the Apostolic Vicariate of Athabaska, which comprised what is today the northwestern area of the Province of Alberta, and the Apostolic Vicariate of Mackenzie, which comprised what today is the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...

 as well as northeastern area of the Province of Alberta. Bishop Grouard remained as the Apostolic Vicar of Athabaska and Gabriel Breynat, O.M.I. was appointed Apostolic Vicar of Mackenzie. A few years after the death of Bishop Clut, Celestine Joussard, O.M.I. was appointed Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar on May 11, 1909. On March 15, 1927, the name of the Vicariate was changed from the Apostolic Vicariate of Athabaska to the Apostolic Vicariate of Grouard. Bishop Joussard never ended up succeeding Bishop Grouard as Apostolic Vicar of Athabaska and both Bishop Grouard and Bishop Joussard retired on April 18, 1929. Following the retirement of Bishop Grouard, Joseph Guy, O.M.I. was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Grouard on December 19, 1929. Bishop Guy served until June 2, 1937 when he was appointed the Bishop of Gravelbourg. The following year on March 30, 1938, Ubald Langlois, O.M.I. was appointed Apostolic Vicar of Grouard. On June 15, 1945, Henri Routhier, O.M.I. was appointed Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar. In 1946 Bishop Langlois transferred the seat of the Vicariate from Grouard to McLennan
McLennan, Alberta
McLennan is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located north of High Prairie on Highway 2.The town lies on the southern shore of Kimiwan Lake, and north of Winagami Lake...

. The Town of Grouard, taking its name from Bishop Grouard when it was incorporated as a town on September 27, 1909, was a thriving community of approximately 1,200 people. This changed when the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway
Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway
The Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway was an early pioneer railway in northwestern Alberta, designed to open up the Peace River district....

 built its new line south of Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake
Lesser Slave Lake is a lake located in central Alberta, Canada, northwest of Edmonton. It is the second largest lake entirely within Alberta boundaries , covering and measuring over long and at its widest point. Lesser Slave Lake averages in depth and is at its deepest...

 instead of going through Grouard which was on the north shore of Lesser Slave Lake. The majority of Grouard’s population moved to High Prairie, the newly established town on the railway. Bishop Grouard had originally established a mission at the Lesser Slave Lake settlement, the original name of Grouard, under the patronage of Saint Bernard, in 1872. Shortly after the Seat of the Vicariate was transferred to McLennan, work began on a new Cathedral dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Bishop Langlois served as Apostolic Vicar of Grouard until his death on September 18, 1953. Upon Bishop Langlois death, Bishop Routhier immediately succeeded him as Apostolic Vicar of Grouard. On July 13, 1967, the Apostolic Vicariate of Grouard was elevated to the Archdiocese of Grouard–McLennan and made the Metropolitan See
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...

 of northwestern Canada with the newly elevated Dioceses of Prince George
Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince George was created as the Vicariate Apostolic of Prince Rupert on January 14, 1944, when the Vicariate Apostolic of Yukon-Prince Rupert was split. It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vancouver...

, Mackenzie-Fort Smith
Roman Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie–Fort Smith is a Roman Catholic diocese that includes part of the Northwest Territories of Canada. It is currently led by Bishop Murray Chatlain....

, and Whitehorse
Roman Catholic Diocese of Whitehorse
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Whitehorse is a Roman Catholic diocese that includes part of the territory of Yukon. It is currently led by Bishop Gary Gordon....

 as suffragans
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...

, (the Diocese of Prince George was later transferred to the Ecclesiastical Province of British Columbia). On this date all the Apostolic Vicariates in northern Canada were elevated to dioceses. Archbishop Routhier served until his resignation on November 21, 1972, he was succeeded by Henri Légaré, O.M.I., who had been Bishop of Labrador-Schefferville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Labrador City-Schefferville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Labrador City–Schefferville was a Roman Catholic diocese that included part of the Province of Québec. The diocese was suppressed in 2007 with its territory being divided among the dioceses of Amos, Baie-Comeau, and the newly renamed Corner Brook and Labrador...

. Archbishop Légaré served until his retirement on July 16, 1996. On the same day Henri Goudreault, O.M.I., who had also served as Bishop of Labrador City-Schefferville, was appointed to succeeded him. Archbishop Goudreault died suddenly of a heart attack on July 23, 1998. The Archdiocese of Grouard–McLennan remained vacant until the appointment of Arthé Guimond, who had served as Archdiocesan Administrator, on June 9, 2000. Archbishop Guimond retired on November 30, 2006 and Gérard Pettipas, C.Ss.R. was appointed to succeed him on the same day.

As of 2006, the archdiocese contains 65 parishes and missions, 1 archbishop, 7 active diocesan priests, 16 religious priests, and 46,355 Catholics. It also has 19 Women Religious and 2 permanent deacon.

Bishops

The following is a list of the bishops and archbishops of Grouard–McLennan and their terms of service:
  • Henri Faraud
    Henri Faraud
    Henri Faraud, , a bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, was the first Vicar Apostolic of Athabasca-Mackenzie in western Canada....

    , O.M.I.
    Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
    The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a missionary religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It was founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France on August 1, 1782. The congregation was given recognition by Pope...

     (8 May 1862 – 20 March 1890)
  • Emile Grouard, O.M.I.
    Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
    The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a missionary religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It was founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France on August 1, 1782. The congregation was given recognition by Pope...

     (18 October 1890 – 18 April 1929)
  • Joseph Guy, O.M.I.
    Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
    The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a missionary religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It was founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France on August 1, 1782. The congregation was given recognition by Pope...

     (19 December 1929 – 2 June 1937)
  • Ubald Langlois, O.M.I.
    Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
    The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a missionary religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It was founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France on August 1, 1782. The congregation was given recognition by Pope...

     (30 March 1938 – 18 September 1953)
  • Henri Routhier, O.M.I.
    Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
    The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a missionary religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It was founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France on August 1, 1782. The congregation was given recognition by Pope...

     (18 September 1953 – 21 November 1972)
  • Henri Légaré, O.M.I.
    Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
    The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a missionary religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It was founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France on August 1, 1782. The congregation was given recognition by Pope...

     (21 November 1972 – 16 July 1996)
  • Henri Goudreault, O.M.I.
    Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
    The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is a missionary religious congregation in the Catholic Church. It was founded on January 25, 1816 by Saint Eugene de Mazenod, a French priest born in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France on August 1, 1782. The congregation was given recognition by Pope...

     (16 July 1996 – 23 July 1998)
  • Arthé Guimond  (9 June 2000 – 30 November 2006)
  • Gérard Pettipas, C.Ss.R
    Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
    The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...

    (30 November 2006 – Present)
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