List of Roman Catholic archbishops of Vancouver

Contents

The archbishop of Vancouver is the head of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver who is responsible for looking after its "spiritual and administrative needs".[1] As the archdiocese is the metropolitan see of the ecclesiastical province encompassing nearly all of British Columbia, the archbishop of Vancouver also administers the bishops who head the suffragan dioceses of Kamloops, Nelson, Prince George, and Victoria.[1] The current archbishop is Richard W. Smith.

The archdiocese began as the Vicariate Apostolic of British Columbia,[2] which was created on December 14, 1863.[3] Louis-Joseph d'Herbomez was appointed its first bishop, and under his reign, the first parish was formed at the Holy Rosary church.[4] On September 2, 1890, the vicariate was elevated to the status of diocese by Pope Leo XIII and was based in New Westminster.[2] On account of the rapid expansion and development of Vancouver, the Holy See decided to centre the archdiocese around the city.[5] As a result, the Diocese of New Westminster became the Archdiocese of Vancouver, and the Archdiocese of Victoria was reduced to diocesan level on September 7, 1908.[2] Augustin Dontenwill became the first archbishop of the newly formed metropolitan see in Vancouver, British Columbia.[6]

Ten men have been Archbishop of Vancouver; another two were heads of its antecedent jurisdictions.[7] Of these, four were members of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI),[7] and one (Dontenwill) became the superior general of the order.[6] Neil McNeil, the fourth ordinary of the archdiocese, was the first archbishop who did not belong to a religious order.[8] James Carney, whose episcopacy spanned from 1969 to 1990, was the first archbishop born in Vancouver.[9] William Mark Duke had the longest tenure as Archbishop of Vancouver, serving for 33 years from 1931 to 1964, while McNeil held the position for two years (1910–1912), marking the shortest archiepiscopacy.[7]

List of ordinaries

Key
CSBCongregation of St. Basil
OMIMissionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate
SMSociety of Mary (Marianists)

Apostolic Vicars of British Columbia

Apostolic Vicars
FromUntilIncumbentNotesRef(s)
18631890Louis-Joseph d'Herbomez, OMIAppointed on December 22, 1863. Died on June 3, 1890.[4]
18901890Pierre-Paul Durieu, OMICoadjutor apostolic vicar[10] from 1875 to 1890.[11]

Bishops of New Westminster

Bishops
FromUntilIncumbentNotesRef(s)
18901899Pierre-Paul Durieu, OMIBecame the first Bishop of New Westminster on September 2, 1890. Died on June 1, 1899.[11]
18991908Augustin Dontenwill, OMICoadjutor bishop from 1897 to 1899.[10][6]

Archbishops of Vancouver

Archbishops
FromUntilIncumbentNotesRef(s)
19081910Augustin Dontenwill, OMIBecame the first archbishop of Vancouver on September 19, 1908, but resigned shortly after because of his election as superior general of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI). Died on November 30, 1931.[6]
19101912Neil McNeilAppointed on January 19, 1910. First diocesan priest to be archbishop. Resigned in 1912 after being appointed Archbishop of Toronto. Died on May 25, 1934.[8]
19121931Timothy CaseyAppointed on August 2, 1912. Died on October 5, 1931.[12]
19311964William Mark DukeCoadjutor archbishop from 1928 to 1931. Retired on March 11, 1964. Died on August 31, 1971.[13]
19641969Martin Michael JohnsonCoadjutor archbishop from 1954 to 1964. Resigned on January 8, 1969. Died on January 29, 1975.[14]
19691990James CarneyAuxiliary bishop from 1966 to 1969. Appointed on January 8, 1969. First archbishop born in Vancouver, British Columbia. Died on September 16, 1990.[9]
19912004Adam Exner, OMIAppointed on May 25, 1991. Retired on January 10, 2004, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75. Died on September 5, 2023.[15][16][17]
20042009Raymond Roussin, SMAppointed on January 10, 2004. Resigned on January 2, 2009. Died on April 24, 2015.[18][19][20]
20092025J. Michael Miller, CSBCoadjutor archbishop from 2007 to 2009. Retired on February 25, 2025, after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.[21][22]
2025presentRichard W. SmithAppointed on February 25, 2025.[22]

References

  1. 1.[1.2]"Archdiocese Backgrounder". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 16, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
  2. 2.[2.2][2.3]O'Boyle, WM. P. (1913). "Archdiocese of Vancouver". In Charles George Herbermann (ed.). The Original Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. Robert Appleton Company. pp. 267–268. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2012.
  3. 3.McNally, Vincent J. (2000). The Lord's Distant Vineyard: A History of the Oblates and the Catholic Community in British Columbia. University of Alberta Press. p. 51. ISBN 9780888643469.
  4. 4.[4.2]"Bishop Louis-Joseph d'Herbomez, OMI". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  5. 5.O'Boyle, William (1912). "Vancouver". Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  6. 6.[6.2][6.3][6.4]"Archbishop Augustin Dontenwill, OMI". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  7. 7.[7.2][7.3]"Former Bishops". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  8. 8.[8.2]"Archbishop Neil McNeil". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  9. 9.[9.2]"Archbishop James Carney". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  10. 10.[10.2]Under the Code of Canon Law, the coadjutor bishop has the right of succession (cum jure successionis) upon the death, retirement or resignation of the diocesan bishop he is assisting.
  11. 11.[11.2]"Bishop Pierre-Paul Durieu, OMI". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. 12."Archbishop Timothy Casey". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  13. 13."Archbishop William Mark Duke". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  14. 14."Archbishop Martin Michael Johnson". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  15. 15."Archbishop Adam Exner, OMI". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  16. 16.De Souza, Raymond J. (February 15, 2004). "A 'Roman' at Heart: Canada's Archbishop Exner Retires". National Catholic Register. Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2012.
  17. 17."Archbishop Adam Exner, OMI, dies at age 94". The B.C. Catholic. Vancouver. September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  18. 18."Archbishop Emeritus Raymond Roussin, SM". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  19. 19."Catholic Archbishop of Vancouver officially retires". Vancouver Sun. January 2, 2009. Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  20. 20."Death of the Most Reverend Raymond Roussin, S.M., Archbishop Emeritus of Vancouver". Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. April 28, 2015. Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  21. 21."Archbishop Miller Biography". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  22. 22.[22.2]"Resignations and Appointments". Holy See Press Office. Holy See. February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.