ANTIGONISH: Most Rev. Wayne Joseph Kirkpatrick has been appointed Bishop of Antigonish.
Bishop Kirkpatrick comes to Antigonish from Toronto, where he has served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto since 2012. Born in St. Catharines, Ontario, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1984 and served in several parish and diocesan offices. He was administrator of the Diocese of St. Catharines in 2010, and president of the Canadian Canon Law Society from 2010-2012. He is co-chair of the Roman Catholic/United Church Dialogue and is a member of the National Christian Muslim Liaison Committee. Since 2014, he has been the president of St. Augustine’s Seminary as well as a member of the Toronto School of Theology Board of Trustees.
The seat of bishop in Antigonish has been vacant since July 5, when Archbishop Brian Dunn became Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth. Archbishop Dunn will continue to serve as Apostolic Administrator of Antigonish until Bishop Kirkpatrick is installed as the new bishop early in the new year.