Monday, July 11, 2016

New Archbishop of Regina, SK

This morning, the Holy Father appointed a new Metropolitan Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Regina (Saskatchewan) in the person of His Excellency, Donald Joseph Bolen, formerly the Bishop of Saskatoon.


His Excellency, Donald Joseph Bolen
Metropolitan Archbishop of Regina

His Excellency, Donald Joseph Bolen was born in Gravelbourg (Saskatchewan), then an Episcopal See but now part of the Archdiocese of Regina, on 7 February 1961.  He obtained a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Religious Studies at the University of Regina (1982).  He then entered Saint Paul's Seminary in Ottawa (1986) and completed his Theological studies at that Seminary (1993-1994), eventually obtaining a Licence in Theology.  He then transferred to Oxford University in England (1994-1997) in order to continue studies in Ecumenism and the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC) documents, eventually concluding his studies in 2001 with a Doctorate.

He was ordained a priest on 12 October 1991 for the Archdiocese of Regina.

Following his priestly ordination, he fulfilled the following responsibilities: Associate Pastor at the parish in Estevan (1991-1993); Moderator of the Church of Our Lady in Moose Jaw (1994); Lecturer in Theology at Campion College (University of Regina) and Chair of the Archdiocesan Commission for Ecumenism (1997-1999); Parochial Administrator of Saint-Jean-Baptiste parish in Regina (1997-1998) and of the parishes in Milestone and Lang (1998-1999);  Official at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, while also serving as Co-Secretary of ARCIC (2000-2007); Vicar General and Pastor of Saint Joseph parish in Balgonie, Saints-Anges parish in Pilot Butte and Saint Peter Colony parish in Kronau, while presiding over the Archdiocesan Commission for Ecumenism (2007-2009).

He was appointed Bishop of Saskatoon on 21 December 2009, and received Episcopal Consecration on 25 March 2010.

He currently serves as a member of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (since 2012), as Co-Chair of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (since 2011) and as Co-Chair of the Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the World Methodist Council and the Roman Catholic Church (since 2013).

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