Tuesday, February 2, 2016

A new shepherd for Moosonee and Hearst

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation from the office of Bishop of Moosonee and Hearst (Canada), two dioceses which have been united in persona Episcopi, presented by His Excellency, Vincent Cadieux, OMI, according to the prescriptions of Canon 401, § 1 of the Code of Canon Law.

The Pope has named Monsignor Robert Bourgon, who has until now been serving as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie as Bishop of the Diocese of Hearst (Canada) and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Moosonee.


Meet the Bishop-elect of Hearst
and Apostolic Administrator of Moosonee

Reverend Monsignor Robert Bourgon was born on March 10, 1956 in Sudbury (Ontario).  Following primary and secondary studies in Creighton Mine and at Saint Charles College in Sudbury, he was registered at Queen's University and at the University of Western Ontario where he obtained a Baccalaureate in Psychology and Philosophy.  He then entered Saint Peter's Seminary in London and Saint Paul University in Ottawa, where he completed respectively a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate in Canon Law.

He was ordained a priest on May 8, 1981 for the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie.

After his ordination, he served as Associate pastor of Holy Name of Jesus parish and Associate at the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption in North Bay (1981-1983); Pastor of Saint Bartholomew in Levack (1986-1992) and Pastor of Saint Francis-Xavier in Cartier (1988-1996).  In 1996, he was once again appointed to the parishes of Levack and Cartier as well as Dowling which were fused into one parochial entity as well as Onaping, located in the region of Sudbury.

Along with his pastoral activity, he was also entrusted with administrative and curial responsiblities: from 1984 to 1986, he was lent to the Diocese of London and the Archdiocese of Kingston in order to organize their respective diocesan tribunals.  In 1990, he was counted among the members of the College of Consultors.  In 1998, he was named Judicial Vicar of Sault Ste. Marie and Adjunct Judicial Vicar of the Toronto regional tribunal.  In 2000, he was also named Episcopal Vicar for spiritual affairs and in 2011 as Chancellor.

He has served as Vicar General of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie since April 17, 2012.

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