It's official

This past Saturday, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from pastoral governance submitted by the Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, Most Reverend Denis Croteau, OMI. Bishop Croteau had submitted his written resignation as of June 23, 2007 in accordance with the requirements of Canon Law (Cn 401, 1).

On the day of Bishop Croteau's 75th birthday, the Holy Father appointed then Father Murray Chatlain, OMI as the Coadjutor Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith. From time to time, the Holy Father appoints a coadjutor bishop with the right of succession, especially in cases when he delays the acceptance of a resignation.

Born in Saskatoon, SK in 1963, Bishop Chatlain was ordained a priest in 1987 and served in a number of parishes in the Diocese of Saskatoon and in Mackenzie-Fort Smith. Since the date of his episcopal ordination (September 14, 2007), Bishop Chatlain has been fulfilling this new ministry along with Bishop Croteau, who he now replaces as the Shepherd of one of Canada's northernmost dioceses.

• CCCB announcement about Bishop Chatlain's appointment
  

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the order to which both Bishops Croteau and Chatlain belong has long been present in Canada's northern areas. Other Oblate bishops presently serving in Canada include

• Most Reverend Vincent Cadieux, OMI, Bishop of Moosonee (ON) and Apostolic Administrator of Hearst (ON)
  
• Most Reverend Gilles Cazabon, OMI, Bishop of St-Jérôme (QC)
• Most Reverend Claude Champagne, OMI, Auxiliary Bishop of Halifax (NS)
• Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, OMI, Bishop of Corner Brook and Labrador (NL)
• Most Reverend Sylvain Lavoie, OMI, Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas (MB)
• Most Reverend Reynald Rouleau, OMI, Bishop of Churchill-Hudson Bay (NWT), and
• Most Reverend Gerald Wiesner, OMI, Bishop of Prince George (BC).