Appointment of bishop of Antigonish, Canada

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Wayne Joseph Kirkpatrick as bishop of the diocese of Antigonish, Canada, transferring him from the titular see of Aradi and the office of auxiliary of the archdiocese of Toronto.

Bishop Wayne Joseph Kirkpatrick

Bishop Kirkpatrick was born on 5 June 1957 in Saint Catharines, Ontario. After his elementary and secondary education in Catholic schools, he studied at the University of Waterloo – Saint Jerome’s College (1971 to 1976). He obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Seminary of Philosophy in the Resurrection College of Waterloo, Ontario, and was also awarded an “undergraduate degree” in psychology. He received a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology at the Saint Augustine Seminary of Toronto (1980 to 1984) and a licentiate in canon law from the Saint Paul University of Ottawa (1988 to 1990). He was named Prelate of Honour of His Holiness in 1999.

Before becoming bishop, he served as prison chaplain, vice chancellor, associate judicial vicar of the regional tribunal of Toronto, parish priest, chancellor, diocesan bursar, diocesan consultor, president of the presbyteral council, moderator of the Curia, consultor of the executive board of the English-speaking association of canon law, member of the executive board of insurance of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Ontario, and president of the Clergy Aid Society.

On 18 May 2012 he was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Toronto and received episcopal consecration the following 25 July.