Bishop Donald Bolen named Archbishop of Regina

Bishop Donald Bolen named Archbishop of Regina

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday named Bishop Donald Bolen, currently Bishop of Saskatoon, as Archbishop of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Curriculum vitae of Bishop Donald Bolen

Archbishop-elect Donald Bolen was born on 7 February 1961 in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan – at the time an Episcopal See, and now a part of the Archdiocese of Regina. He obtained his Baccalaureate in English and in Religious Studies from the University of Regina (1982). Later, he entered the Seminary of Saint Paul in Ottawa (1986), and completed his theological studies at the University of Saint Paul in Ottawa (1993-1994), obtaining the License in Theology. He then transferred to Oxford University in England (1994-1997) to further his studies in ecumenism and the documents of the “Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC)”, completing his studies with the doctorate (2001).

He was ordained a priest on 12 October 1991 for the Archdiocese of Regina.

After his priestly ordination, Bishop Bolen served in the following offices: Associate Pastor of the parish of Estevan (1991-1993); Priest Moderator of the “Church of Our Lady” of Moose Jaw (1994); Professor of Theology at Campion College, University of Regina, and Chair of the Archdiocesan Ecumenical Commission (1997-1999); parochial Administrator of the parish of “St Jean-Baptiste” of Regina (1997-1998) and of the parishes of Milestone and of Lang (1998-1999”; Staff member at the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Rome, serving also as Co-Secretary of ARCIC (2000-2007); Vicar General and Pastor of St Joseph Parish in Balgonie, of St Agnes Parish of Pilot Butte, and of the Saint Peter Colony in Kronau, presiding at the same time as Chair of the Archdiocesan Ecumenical Commission (2007-2009).

He was named Bishop of Saskatoon on 21 December 2009, and received episcopal consecration on 25 March 2010.

Archbishop-elect Bolen is a Member of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity (from 2012), Co-Chair of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission (from 2011), and Co-Chair of the Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the World Methodist Council and the Catholic Church (from 2013).

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