Archbishop Named for Ottawa

OTTAWA, MAY 14, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI named Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Halifax to lead the Archdiocese of Ottawa. He succeeds Archbishop Marcel Gervais, 75.

The Vatican press office also reported today that the Holy Father appointed Archbishop Gervais as apostolic administrator of Ottawa until his successor takes possession of the episcopal see.

Terrence Prendergast was born in Montreal in 1944. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1972.

In 1995 he was named auxiliary bishop of Toronto. Four years later, he was appointed archbishop of Halifax, and in 2002 also became apostolic administrator of Yarmouth.

Archbishop Prendergast holds a bachelor's degree from Fordham University, a master's degree and a licentiate in theology, and a doctorate in Scripture, from Regis College, Toronto, where he taught and was also dean.

He has served as visiting professor of Scripture in various institutions, including the École Biblique et Archéologique of Jerusalem.

The Archdiocese of Ottawa has 142 diocesan priests, 175 religious priests, 70 permanent deacons, 879 religious brothers and sisters and 18 lay pastoral workers, serving some 400,000 Catholics in 111 parishes and missions.