Terrence Prendergast
Encyclopedia
Terrence Thomas Prendergast, SJ (born 19 February 1944) is Archbishop of Ottawa
, Canada. He was formerly Auxiliary Bishop
of Toronto
and Archbishop
of Halifax.
, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1972. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Fordham University
, as well as the Master of Divinity
and Doctor of Theology
degrees from Saint Mary's University, Halifax through its earlier affiliation with Regis College
, Toronto School of Theology
.
at the Atlantic School of Theology
from 1975-1981, then was Rector of Toronto's Regis College from 1981-87, and its Dean of Theology
from 1991 - 1994. From 1992-94 he assisted Bishop Frederick Henry (now of Calgary
) in conducting an apostolic visitation of English-language Canadian seminaries for the Vatican
. At the time of his nomination as Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto in 1995, he was Visiting Professor
at the Ecole Biblique
in Jerusalem.
of Toronto
on February 22, 1995, Prendergast was ordained a bishop in St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto
, on April 25, 1995. In Toronto, his duties as auxiliary included responsibility for the Western Pastoral Region (Etobicoke, part of North York and the region of Peel-Dufferin), liaison with the theological faculties and planning the preparations for the Great Jubilee.
He was installed as Archbishop of Halifax on September 14, 1998. The Archbishop of Halifax oversees dioceses in the province of Nova Scotia
and Prince Edward Island
. In addition, Prendergast served as Chancellor of Saint Mary's University, Halifax, a position granted to the serving Archbishop of Halifax until 2007, when the archdiocese and the university agreed to instead bestow the title of Visitor.
Prendergast was named as the new Archbishop of Ottawa
by Pope Benedict XVI
on 14 May 2007 and was installed on June 26, 2007.
Aside from other pastoral involvements, Bishop Prendergast is a teacher, writer and retreat giver. For several years he has written a weekly Scripture column in the Catholic Register; he has been a writer or editor for several journals, and lectured and given retreats across Canada, in the U.S. and Rome
.
, cycling, skating, foreign films and Italian cooking
.
Archbishop Prendergast is part of the Apostolic visitation to Ireland
which began in 2010.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa is a Roman Catholic archdiocese that includes part of the Province of Ontario and includes the suffragan dioceses of Hearst, Pembroke, and the Timmins. It is currently led by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast....
, Canada. He was formerly 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 Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Halifax.
Early life
A native of MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, he entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1972. He holds a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, as well as the Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
and Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
degrees from Saint Mary's University, Halifax through its earlier affiliation with Regis College
Regis College, University of Toronto
Regis College is a theological college of the University of Toronto, founded in 1930 and affiliated with the Society of Jesus. It is an entirely postgraduate college and a member institution of the Toronto School of Theology.-History:...
, Toronto School of Theology
Toronto School of Theology
The Toronto School of Theology is an ecumenical centre for graduate theological education and the largest of its kind in Canada. Affiliated with the University of Toronto, the TST comprises seven member colleges in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Reformed traditions, as well as four affiliated...
.
Professor
Prendergast taught in HalifaxCity of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
at the Atlantic School of Theology
Atlantic School of Theology
The Atlantic School of Theology is a Canadian ecumenical university which provides "graduate level theological education and research, and in formation for Christian ministries, lay and ordained, in church and society, primarily in Atlantic Canada". It is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia and its...
from 1975-1981, then was Rector of Toronto's Regis College from 1981-87, and its Dean of Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
from 1991 - 1994. From 1992-94 he assisted Bishop Frederick Henry (now of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
) in conducting an apostolic visitation of English-language Canadian seminaries for the Vatican
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
. At the time of his nomination as Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto in 1995, he was Visiting Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the Ecole Biblique
École Biblique
The École Biblique, strictly the École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem, is a respected French academic establishment in Jerusalem, founded by Dominicans, and specialising in archaeology and Biblical exegesis.-Foundation:...
in Jerusalem.
Bishop
Named Titular Bishop of Slebte and Auxiliary BishopAuxiliary 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 Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
on February 22, 1995, Prendergast was ordained a bishop in St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, on April 25, 1995. In Toronto, his duties as auxiliary included responsibility for the Western Pastoral Region (Etobicoke, part of North York and the region of Peel-Dufferin), liaison with the theological faculties and planning the preparations for the Great Jubilee.
He was installed as Archbishop of Halifax on September 14, 1998. The Archbishop of Halifax oversees dioceses in the province of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
and Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
. In addition, Prendergast served as Chancellor of Saint Mary's University, Halifax, a position granted to the serving Archbishop of Halifax until 2007, when the archdiocese and the university agreed to instead bestow the title of Visitor.
Prendergast was named as the new Archbishop of Ottawa
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ottawa is a Roman Catholic archdiocese that includes part of the Province of Ontario and includes the suffragan dioceses of Hearst, Pembroke, and the Timmins. It is currently led by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast....
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 14 May 2007 and was installed on June 26, 2007.
Episcopal roles
After serving on the Canadian Bishops' Commission for Relations with Associations of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Laity, Bishop Prendergast is now a member of the CCCB Theology Commission and co-chair of the national Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue.Aside from other pastoral involvements, Bishop Prendergast is a teacher, writer and retreat giver. For several years he has written a weekly Scripture column in the Catholic Register; he has been a writer or editor for several journals, and lectured and given retreats across Canada, in the U.S. and Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
Other
Archbishop Prendergast has a sister and three brothers, and is devoted to his many nieces and nephews, as well as to his Jesuit religious family. His hobbies include squashSquash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
, cycling, skating, foreign films and Italian cooking
Italian cuisine
Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Jewish and Arab cuisines...
.
Archbishop Prendergast is part of the Apostolic visitation to Ireland
Apostolic visitation to Ireland
The Apostolic visitation to Ireland was announced on 20 March 2010 in the pastoral letter written by Pope Benedict XVI to Irish Catholics after the publication of the Ryan and Murphy Reports in 2009...
which began in 2010.