Diocese of Prince George celebrates 100

By Mary-Anne Lewis Jamin
Special to The B.C. Catholic
PRINCE GEORGE

Archbishop Luigi Ventura, the apostolic nuncio to Canada, was among eight visiting bishops who joined Bishop Gerald Wiesner, OMI, and the people of the Diocese of Prince George at Sacred Heart Cathedral on March 10 for the annual Chrism Mass and to celebrate the past 100 years.

Mary-Anne Lewis Jamin / Special to The B.C. Catholic Celebrating in Sacred Heart Cathedral are Bishops Richard Gagnon (left) and Ken Nowakowski, OSBM; Archbishops J. Michael Miller, CSB, Raymond Roussin, SM, and Luigi Ventura; and Bishops David Monroe, Gerald Wiesner, OMI, John Corriveau, OFM Cap., and Gary Gordon.

On March 8, 1908, Northern B.C. and the Yukon became the Prefecture Apostolic of the Yukon and Prince Rupert.

The celebration remembered the date when Pope Pius X separated this vast territory from the Diocese of New Westminster and charged Father Emile Marie Bunoz, OMI, with its pastoral care.

Father Bunoz made his home on the coast at Prince Rupert, and from there he travelled to the many missions for which he had responsibility. When the Prefecture was raised to the status of Vicariate Apostolic on Oct. 17, 1917, Father Bunoz was ordained a bishop and given the title of Vicar Apostolic.

On Jan. 14, 1944, the territory was divided into two vicariates. Bishop Bunoz remained as Vicar of Prince Rupert and Bishop John Coudert, OMI, formerly coadjutor bishop of the old vicariate, was transferred to Whitehorse.

In 1967 Pope Paul VI raised the Vicariate of Prince Rupert to the status of a diocese. In the meantime, Bishop Fergus O'Grady, OMI, had moved his headquarters from Prince Rupert to Prince George, as it was easier to travel to the various parts of the diocese and to the outside world from Prince George.

On June 5, 1968, the name was formally changed to the Diocese of Prince George, and Bishop O'Grady was installed as its first bishop.

The final step in the evolution took place on March 25, 2000, when the Diocese of Prince George was recognized as a fully mature diocese, rather than a missionary diocese, being transferred from the care of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith to the Congregation for Bishops.

In his homily at the celebration Archbishop Ventura noted the history of the diocese and invited the community gathered to "keep in remembrance the faith and hope of the people of the diocese who offered their lives for Christ" in establishing the Church in the region.

Describing the anniversary Mass as "a celebration of all that the Lord has done in this church" the apostolic nuncio said that the people of God, gathered around their bishop, are a powerful manifestation of unity of the entire Church.

Concelebrating with the Apostolic Nuncio and Bishop Wiesner were Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM, and Coadjutor Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver, Bishops David Monroe of Kamloops, Richard Gagnon of Victoria, Gary Gordon of Whitehorse, Ken Nowakowski, OSBM, of the Eparch of New Westminster, and John Corriveau, OFM Cap., of Nelson, along with priests currently serving in the Diocese of Prince George.

At the celebration Bishop Wiesner referred to the words of Pope John Paul II at the beginning of the new millennium: "We are invited to remember the past with gratitude, to live the present with enthusiasm, and to look forward to the future with confidence."

We are able to do this, the bishop said, "because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

In remembering the past, the bishop named former bishops: Bunoz, Anthony Jordan, OMI, O'Grady, and Hubert O'Connor, OMI, and gave special thanks to the priests who had served the diocese throughout its history.

Likening the diocese to a ship, the bishop said, "My brother priests serve us on the ship. They are anointed, sent by God, and serve generously and faithfully. They are rowing constantly when we are tired and want to quit, and for this we say thanks."

Bishop Wiesner thanked the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate for their contributions over the years: "The presence and ministry of the Oblate priests and brothers needs to be underlined. They were the pioneers, the framers of the Church in this part of the world."

Bishop Wiesner noted especially the late Monsignor Lawrence Turgeon, the lone diocesan priest for many years, for his tireless efforts in spreading the spirit of Vatican II. He also paid tribute to the religious men and women and the laity.