bishop
vic was great. 5.5 weeks 'til i move back, yay!
New bishop. I know some of the people quoted, huzzah. Anyway, if you haven't read it..
http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/news/story.html?id=542f1d37-1f10-4c2c-84ee-d2f3f7c22b63
Ian Dutton
Times Colonist
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
It may have been devilishly warm Tuesday evening, but for the 750 people crammed into St. Andrew's Cathedral this was a heavenly event.
The crowd -- Roman Catholic parishioners from up and down Vancouver Island, along with friends and family from Alberta and the Lower Mainland -- were on hand to celebrate the installation of Msgr. Richard Gagnon as the 16th bishop of the diocese of Victoria.
Gagnon, 56, was named by Pope John Paul II in mid-May to fill the bishopric vacated when Raymond Roussin was named archbishop of Vancouver.
For many parishioners, the celebration also marks a turning point in the fortunes of the diocese, which has endured a financial struggle over the past five years.
Many said the installation was a sign of better things to come.
"I think the stresses are over," said Gary Goodsell, of Nanaimo. "I think that we're going forward from here."
Goodsell's wife, Anne, said events such as the installation of a bishop are important to a diocese as spread out as this one. The diocese includes all of Vancouver Island and the adjacent Gulf Islands.
"It's sort of a renewal of faith," she said. "We were very sorry to see Archbishop Ray go because we liked him very much, but Bishop Richard seems like a very good man."
Thelma Dick, who lives on the Songhees reserve, said the last few years have been tough on local Catholics.
"It has tested our faith in some ways," she said, fanning herself with an installation program. "But we have got to be strong and sustain what we have got inside, our own beliefs and faith."
Dick, who attended residential school, said religion can be a strong, sustaining force.
"We still send our children to the Catholic schools -- those beliefs can be very good for them."
Even young Catholics were impressed.
"Getting a new bishop is important for us, and I'm glad it's this one because he used to be our priest when we lived in Vancouver," said Angela Wynans, 13, of Port Alberni.
Dean Henderson, a lay pastoral assistant at the cathedral, said it's important that the Island's Catholics have something to celebrate.
"It's a wonderfully joyous occasion," he said. "A diocese is not quite whole without its bishop.
"This is just a sign of faith and hope and expectation."
Henderson said the selection of Roussin as archbishop generated mixed feelings.
"This is a man who was much admired and loved in his time here," Henderson said. "We were pleased and proud that the Holy Father recognized his abilities and chose him as archbishop, but we were also sorry to see him go."
Roussin was in Victoria about five years. Gagnon, at 56, has about 20 years of potential service here before mandatory retirement would remove him.
"We like to have him here for a good, long time," Henderson said.
Wayne Fougere, a friend of Gagnon from Vancouver, said the former vicar general of the archdiocese of Vancouver would be missed.
"You're getting a very good man here," said Fougere.
"We come to Victoria often enough that we'll still see him, but he'll be missed in Vancouver."
The installation drew more than a dozen bishops from across Canada, more than 100 priests and the Pope's representative, Most Reverend Luigi Ventura, apostolic nuncio to Canada.
Guests included Anglican Bishop James Cowan of the diocese of B.C.
The Catholic diocese of Victoria was created in 1846 and now serves nearly 95,000 Roman Catholics.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2004
New bishop. I know some of the people quoted, huzzah. Anyway, if you haven't read it..
http://www.canada.com/victoria/timescolonist/news/story.html?id=542f1d37-1f10-4c2c-84ee-d2f3f7c22b63
Ian Dutton
Times Colonist
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
It may have been devilishly warm Tuesday evening, but for the 750 people crammed into St. Andrew's Cathedral this was a heavenly event.
The crowd -- Roman Catholic parishioners from up and down Vancouver Island, along with friends and family from Alberta and the Lower Mainland -- were on hand to celebrate the installation of Msgr. Richard Gagnon as the 16th bishop of the diocese of Victoria.
Gagnon, 56, was named by Pope John Paul II in mid-May to fill the bishopric vacated when Raymond Roussin was named archbishop of Vancouver.
For many parishioners, the celebration also marks a turning point in the fortunes of the diocese, which has endured a financial struggle over the past five years.
Many said the installation was a sign of better things to come.
"I think the stresses are over," said Gary Goodsell, of Nanaimo. "I think that we're going forward from here."
Goodsell's wife, Anne, said events such as the installation of a bishop are important to a diocese as spread out as this one. The diocese includes all of Vancouver Island and the adjacent Gulf Islands.
"It's sort of a renewal of faith," she said. "We were very sorry to see Archbishop Ray go because we liked him very much, but Bishop Richard seems like a very good man."
Thelma Dick, who lives on the Songhees reserve, said the last few years have been tough on local Catholics.
"It has tested our faith in some ways," she said, fanning herself with an installation program. "But we have got to be strong and sustain what we have got inside, our own beliefs and faith."
Dick, who attended residential school, said religion can be a strong, sustaining force.
"We still send our children to the Catholic schools -- those beliefs can be very good for them."
Even young Catholics were impressed.
"Getting a new bishop is important for us, and I'm glad it's this one because he used to be our priest when we lived in Vancouver," said Angela Wynans, 13, of Port Alberni.
Dean Henderson, a lay pastoral assistant at the cathedral, said it's important that the Island's Catholics have something to celebrate.
"It's a wonderfully joyous occasion," he said. "A diocese is not quite whole without its bishop.
"This is just a sign of faith and hope and expectation."
Henderson said the selection of Roussin as archbishop generated mixed feelings.
"This is a man who was much admired and loved in his time here," Henderson said. "We were pleased and proud that the Holy Father recognized his abilities and chose him as archbishop, but we were also sorry to see him go."
Roussin was in Victoria about five years. Gagnon, at 56, has about 20 years of potential service here before mandatory retirement would remove him.
"We like to have him here for a good, long time," Henderson said.
Wayne Fougere, a friend of Gagnon from Vancouver, said the former vicar general of the archdiocese of Vancouver would be missed.
"You're getting a very good man here," said Fougere.
"We come to Victoria often enough that we'll still see him, but he'll be missed in Vancouver."
The installation drew more than a dozen bishops from across Canada, more than 100 priests and the Pope's representative, Most Reverend Luigi Ventura, apostolic nuncio to Canada.
Guests included Anglican Bishop James Cowan of the diocese of B.C.
The Catholic diocese of Victoria was created in 1846 and now serves nearly 95,000 Roman Catholics.
© Times Colonist (Victoria) 2004