Pierre-Andre Fournier
Encyclopedia
Pierre-André Fournier is a Canadian
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He is the sixth and current Archbishop of Rimouski
.
, Quebec
. He attended Collège Saint-Édouard and Collège de Lévis
before entering the Grand Seminary
of Quebec in 1963, later earning a Licentiate in Theology
from Université Laval
. He was ordained
to the priesthood
by Maurice Cardinal Roy
on June 10, 1967.
He furthered his studies in English
in the United States
, after which he earned a Master's degree
in pastoral studies from Université de Sherbrooke
. He then did pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Quebec
, also serving as parish priest
of Saint-Roch (1983–1995), member of the Social Affairs Committee of the Assembly of Quebec Catholic Bishops (1987–1993), and parish administrator of Saint-Pascal-de-Maizerets (1995–1997). From 1998 to 2003, he was parish priest of Notre-Dame-de-Foy, Saint-Denys
, Sainte-Geneviève
, and Saint-Mathieu
. In August 2003, he became pastoral director and episcopal vicar
of the Quebec Archdiocese.
On February 11, 2005, Fournier was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Quebec and Titular Bishop
of Diana by Pope John Paul II
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following April 10 from Marc Cardinal Ouellet, P.S.S.
, with Bishops Jean-Pierre Blais and Eugène Tremblay serving as co-consecrators
. He was later named Archbishop of Rimouski
by Pope Benedict XVI
on July 3, 2008, and was installed
as such on the following September 28. He will receive the pallium
, a vestment
worn by metropolitan bishop
s, from Benedict XVI on June 29, 2009.
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...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He is the sixth and current Archbishop of Rimouski
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rimouski
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rimouski is a Roman Catholic archdiocese that includes part of the Province of Quebec and includes the suffragan dioceses of Baie-Comeau, and the Gaspé. It is led by Archbishop Pierre-Andre Fournier....
.
Biography
The third of nine children, Pierre-André Fournier was born to Joseph-Eudore Fournier and Jeannette Marquis in PlessisvillePlessisville, Quebec
Plessisville, Quebec is a county seat of L'Érable Regional County Municipality, Quebec, Canada. Routes 116 and 165 go through it. The city is 185 km from Montreal and 95 km from Quebec City...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. He attended Collège Saint-Édouard and Collège de Lévis
Levis
-People:*François de Gaston, Chevalier de Lévis , French soldier best known for his command in Canada in 1760*George Levis , American college basketball player and coach*Georges Lévis , French adult comic artist-Places:Canada...
before entering the Grand Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of Quebec in 1963, later earning a Licentiate in Theology
Licentiate in Theology
The Licentiate of Theology or the Licence in Theology is a theological qualification commonly awarded for ordinands and laymen studying theology in the United Kingdom, Malta, Canada, Australia and New Zealand...
from Université Laval
Université Laval
Laval University is the oldest centre of education in Canada and was the first institution in North America to offer higher education in French...
. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Maurice Cardinal Roy
Maurice Roy
-External links:***...
on June 10, 1967.
He furthered his studies in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, after which he earned a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in pastoral studies from Université de Sherbrooke
Université de Sherbrooke
The Université de Sherbrooke is a large university with campuses located in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada and Longueuil, a suburb of Montreal approximately west of Sherbrooke. It is one of two universities, and the only French language university, in the Estrie region of Quebec.In 2007, the...
. He then did pastoral work in the Archdiocese of Quebec
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Quebec
The Archdiocese of Québec is the oldest Catholic see in the New World north of Mexico. The archdiocese was founded as the Apostolic Vicariate of New France in 1658 and was elevated to a Diocese in 1674 and an Archdiocese in 1819...
, also serving as parish priest
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Saint-Roch (1983–1995), member of the Social Affairs Committee of the Assembly of Quebec Catholic Bishops (1987–1993), and parish administrator of Saint-Pascal-de-Maizerets (1995–1997). From 1998 to 2003, he was parish priest of Notre-Dame-de-Foy, Saint-Denys
Saint-Denis (electoral district)
Saint-Denis was a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1917 to 1997....
, Sainte-Geneviève
Sainte-Geneviève, Quebec
thumb|upright|left|Église Sainte-GenevièveSainte-Geneviève is a former municipality located on the Island of Montreal in southwestern Quebec, Canada...
, and Saint-Mathieu
Saint-Mathieu, Quebec
Saint-Mathieu is a municipality situated in the Montérégie administrative region in Quebec, Canada. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 1,894. It is part of the Roussillon Regional County Municipality.-Population:Population trend...
. In August 2003, he became pastoral director and episcopal vicar
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the Quebec Archdiocese.
On February 11, 2005, Fournier was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Quebec and Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Diana 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 ...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following April 10 from Marc Cardinal Ouellet, P.S.S.
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
, with Bishops Jean-Pierre Blais and Eugène Tremblay serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. He was later named Archbishop of Rimouski
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rimouski
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rimouski is a Roman Catholic archdiocese that includes part of the Province of Quebec and includes the suffragan dioceses of Baie-Comeau, and the Gaspé. It is led by Archbishop Pierre-Andre Fournier....
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on July 3, 2008, and was installed
Enthronement
An enthronement is a ceremony of inauguration, involving a person—usually a monarch or religious leader—being formally seated for the first time upon their throne. This ritual is generally distinguished from a coronation because there is no crown or other regalia that is physically...
as such on the following September 28. He will receive the pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
, a vestment
Vestment
Vestments are liturgical garments and articles associated primarily with the Christian religion, especially among Latin Rite and other Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, and Lutherans...
worn by metropolitan bishop
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
s, from Benedict XVI on June 29, 2009.