Last Updated: Tuesday - 01/04/2011

Bouchard's ordination date set

ST. PAUL — Bishop-elect Luc Bouchard will be ordained and installed as the sixth bishop of St. Paul by Archbishop Thomas Collins on Nov. 9 at St. Paul Cathedral, 7:30 p.m.

Coinciding with the day of the ordination and installation will be the coming of the pilgrim World Youth Day cross to St. Paul.

"I consider that as a special grace from God," Bouchard told the WCR. "The cross is a sign of hope for all Christians."

Archbishop Emilius Goulet of St. Boniface and Bishop Eugene LaRocque of Alexandria-Cornwall, Ont., will assist in the ordination while Bishop Luigi Ventura, apostolic nuncio to Canada, will be present.

Collins is the principal ordaining minister because St. Paul Diocese is suffragan to the Archdiocese of Edmonton.

"People are happy that we now have a new bishop," said Msgr. Jean-Luc Pigeon, the 71-year-old chancellor of the St. Paul Diocese.

St. Paul has been without a bishop for more than two and a half years since Collins was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Edmonton.

Bouchard, who is from the Alexandria-Cornwall Diocese, is the present rector of St. Joseph Seminary.

The pope announced Bouchard's appointment Sept. 8, more than two weeks after the seminary community was back from the summer break.

A simple reception after the ordination and installation will follow at St. Paul's Senior Citizens Centre beside the cathedral.

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