Vernon Fougere
Encyclopedia
The Most Reverend Joseph Vernon Fougère, D.D.
(b. 1943) is the Bishop
Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
, which comprises the entire Canadian province of Prince Edward Island
.
Born in Petit-de-Grat, Nova Scotia
, Bishop Fougère received his higher education from Saint Francis Xavier University and completed his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire de Montreal. He was ordained a priest
for the Diocese of Antigonish
in 1969. The Bishop also served seven years with the Diocesan Mission in Honduras
while still in the priesthood in Nova Scotia.
While in Latin America
, Bishop Fougère served on the Council of Priests for the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa and carried out extensive work forming Delegados de la Palabra (Ministers of the Word).
Following education at the Jesuit Theological Union at the University of California
, Bishop Fougère returned to Nova Scotia where he served in a number of parishes before being appointed Vicar General
and Director of Pastoral Services for the Diocese of Antigonish in 1988. Among other things, the Bishop served as Chair of the Council of Priests for the Diocese of Antigonish and served on the Board of Governors
for Saint Francis Xavier University.
On December 11, 1991, Pope John Paul II
appointed Vernon Fougère as the twelfth Bishop of Charlottetown and was Consecrated and installed at Charlottetown's St. Dunstan's Basilica
on March 19, 1992.
The Bishop has been very active in the Catholic Church. Among other organizations, he has served as member of the National Council of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace and was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Catholic Mission in Canada for the year 2000.
On July 11, 2009, Bishop Fougère resigned his post and Pope Benedict XVI
appointed as his replacement Bishop Richard John Grecco
, who up to then had been serving as Auxiliary Bishop
of Toronto
, Ontario
.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(b. 1943) is the Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown is a Roman Catholic diocese which comprises the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. It is currently led by Bishop Richard John Grecco...
, which comprises the entire Canadian province of 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...
.
Born in Petit-de-Grat, 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...
, Bishop Fougère received his higher education from Saint Francis Xavier University and completed his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire de Montreal. He was ordained a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
for the Diocese of Antigonish
Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish is a Latin Rite diocese in Nova Scotia, Canada covering the counties of Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough, Inverness, Victoria, Richmond and Cape Breton. It had previously existed under the name of the diocese of Arichat....
in 1969. The Bishop also served seven years with the Diocesan Mission in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
while still in the priesthood in Nova Scotia.
While in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, Bishop Fougère served on the Council of Priests for the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa and carried out extensive work forming Delegados de la Palabra (Ministers of the Word).
Following education at the Jesuit Theological Union at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, Bishop Fougère returned to Nova Scotia where he served in a number of parishes before being appointed Vicar General
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...
and Director of Pastoral Services for the Diocese of Antigonish in 1988. Among other things, the Bishop served as Chair of the Council of Priests for the Diocese of Antigonish and served on the Board of Governors
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
for Saint Francis Xavier University.
On December 11, 1991, 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 ...
appointed Vernon Fougère as the twelfth Bishop of Charlottetown and was Consecrated and installed at Charlottetown's St. Dunstan's Basilica
St. Dunstan's Basilica
St. Dunstan's Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Charlottetown in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is named for St. Dunstan the great Anglo Saxon saint from Glastonbury...
on March 19, 1992.
The Bishop has been very active in the Catholic Church. Among other organizations, he has served as member of the National Council of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace and was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Catholic Mission in Canada for the year 2000.
On July 11, 2009, Bishop Fougère resigned his post and 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...
appointed as his replacement Bishop Richard John Grecco
Richard John Grecco
Richard John Grecco is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the thirteenth and current Bishop of Charlottetown.-Biography:...
, who up to then had been serving as 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
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto is a Roman Catholic archdiocese that includes part of the Province of Ontario. Its archbishop is also the eccesiatical provincial for the dioceses of Hamilton, London, Saint Catharines, and Thunder Bay. The Archbishop is Thomas Christopher Collins, with...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.