Bill Irwin (priest)
Encyclopedia
Monsignor
William "Bill" Irwin, OC
(1928 – August 29, 2004) was a Canadian
Roman Catholic priest who founded, in 1961, what has become the largest multi-function social service
agency in Canada, the Catholic Social Services.
In 1988, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
and was promoted to Officer in 1998. In 1990, he was appointed an honorary prelate with the title of monsignor by Pope John Paul II
.
In May 2008 plans were announced by the Edmonton Catholic School District
for the construction of a French immersion
elementary school in Monsignor Irwin's name. September 2010 will mark the inaugural school year for the elementary school. The school was opened on October 7, 2010 with his nieces and nephews present.
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
William "Bill" Irwin, OC
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(1928 – August 29, 2004) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
Roman Catholic priest who founded, in 1961, what has become the largest multi-function social service
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
agency in Canada, the Catholic Social Services.
In 1988, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
and was promoted to Officer in 1998. In 1990, he was appointed an honorary prelate with the title of monsignor by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
In May 2008 plans were announced by the Edmonton Catholic School District
Edmonton Catholic School District
The Edmonton Catholic School District is the Catholic school board in Edmonton, Canada.-Size and transportation:In size the School Board is medium with 33,441 students, 1,858 Certificated Staff, and 1,191 Classified Staff. There are a number of schools operating under the board, 84 schools in...
for the construction of a French immersion
French immersion
French immersion is a form of bilingual education in which a child who does not speak French as his or her first language receives instruction in school in French...
elementary school in Monsignor Irwin's name. September 2010 will mark the inaugural school year for the elementary school. The school was opened on October 7, 2010 with his nieces and nephews present.