Capuchin installed as Bishop of Nelson

By Laureen McMahon

Father John Corriveau, OFM Cap., a former Minister General of the Capuchin branch of the Franciscan order, was ordained Bishop of Nelson Jan. 30 at Immaculate Conception Parish in Kelowna by Archbishop Luigi Ventura, the Apostolic Nuncio.

The Castlegar News Bishop John Corriveau, OFM Cap., is greeted by Margaret Ann and Adam Kowalyshyn after his installation in the Diocese of Nelson. Kowalyshyn is a member of the Nelson Knights Council 1560.

He was installed as the sixth Bishop of Nelson at the Cathedral of Mary Immaculate in Nelson the next day.

Bishop Corriveau succeeded Bishop Eugene Cooney, who retired after 47 years of priestly ministry, including almost 12 years as bishop. Bishop Cooney's resignation was accepted by the Pope at the end of November.

As a member of the Capuchins, Bishop Corriveau was ordained a priest on Oct. 23, 1965. He served as pastor and assistant pastor at St. Philip Neri Parish in Toronto and was chosen to lead the Central Canadian Province of Capuchins, based in Toronto.

After several terms as Minister Provincial, he was elected to

Both Vancouver bishops attended

serve as a Definitor General in Rome. He was later elected to serve two terms as Minister General of the Capuchin-Franciscan Order, one of three branches of the Franciscan First Order, and was based in Rome.

Bishop Corriveau's years at the international level as a Capuchin have made him well known throughout the world; four Capuchin bishops and over four dozen members of the order attended the ceremonies in Kelowna and Nelson.

Twenty Canadian bishops were also on hand, including Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM, of Vancouver (Metropolitan Archbishop) and Coadjutor Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, of Vancouver.

The Diocese of Nelson, which is about 650 kilometres east of Vancouver and borders the Archdiocese of Vancouver, has 28 diocesan priests, four priests belonging to religious communities, and 18 religious sisters serving over 67,000 Catholics in 53 parishes and missions.