On this Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, His Holiness Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Msgr, André Gazaille, 6th bishop of Nicolet, and appointed his successor, Msgr. Daniel Jodoin. At the time of the appointment, Msgr. Jodoin was bishop of the diocese of Bathurst in New Brunswick.

Msgr. Gazaille had been the bishop of Nicolet since September 11, 2011. He submitted his resignation to the Holy Father when he reached 75 years of age, as prescribed in the Code of Canon Law (Can. 401) 

Msgr. Daniel Jodoin was born in Granby on March 2, 1957. Following his years of primary school at Saint-Luc school (1962-1969) and secondary school at the Séminaire du Verbe Divin in Granby (1969-1974), he studied at the Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in Montréal (1974-1976) and the Université de Montréal’s École des Hautes Études commerciales, where he acquired a BA (1979) and an MBA (1982). Having passed the entrance examinations and completed a professional internship in a Montreal chartered accounting firm, he became a member of the Ordre des Comptables Agréés du Québec (CA) on November 6, 1981. Msgr. Jodoin joined the Missionnaires du Verbe Divin (Divine Word Missionaries) from 1982 until 1986, and entered the Séminaire Saint-Paul in Ottawa, where he received a BA in theology (1986). Following pastoral placements in various parishes in the dioceses of Saint-Hyacinthe and Sherbrooke, he was ordained a deacon on June 5, 1992 and priest for the archdiocese of Sherbrooke on October 3 of that same year. He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 2000 to 2002 and received a licentiate in dogmatic theology, more specifically in ecclesiology. Msgr. Jodoin speaks English, French, Italian and Spanish, and is conversant in Latin and Greek.

Msgr. Jodoin exercised his priestly ministry in the following parishes in the archdiocese of Sherbrooke: as vicar for Saint-Joseph (1992-1994); parish priest for Notre-Dame-De-Lourdes, Saints-Anges de Ham-Nord et Saint-Fortunat (1994-2000); parochial administrator for Saint-Julien (1999-2000); parochial administrator and parish priest for Saint-François-d’Assise (2002-2009); parish priest for Très-Saint-Sacrement (2005-2006), Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption (2005-2008). Sainte-Famille (2005-2009) and Saint-Philémon (2009). When the parishes were merged, Msgr. Jodoin became parish priest for the new Bon-Pasteur parish on January 1, 2010. Beginning in 2009, he was also head of the Office du clergé and coordinator of the pastoral region of Sherbrooke. In June 2002, he was appointed rector of the archdiocese of Sherbrooke’s Grand Séminaire des Saints-Apôtres.

On January 22, 2013, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI appointed Msgr. Jodoin bishop of Bathurst, New Brunswick. His episcopal ordination took place on April 25, 2013, on the Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist in Sacré-Coeur Cathedral in Bathurst.

About Msgr. André Gazaille

Msgr. Gazaille’s motto: “L’amour du Christ nous presse” (The love of Christ spurs us on) Born: 16-05-1946 Ordination: 29-05-1971 Appointed bishop: 25-03-2006 Nicolet Episcopate: 11-09-2011

The retiring bishop, Msgr. Gazaille, was born on May 16, 1946, in Montreal. After studies in theology and pastoral ministry at the Grand Séminaire de Montréal and at the Université de Montréal, he was ordained a priest on May 29. 1971, for the archdiocese of Montreal. Thereafter, he exercised his priestly ministry in many parishes: Saint-Rédempteur (1971-1979), Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens (1979-2006), La Visitation-de-la-Bienheureuse-Vierge-Marie (1999-2006) and Saint-Antoine-Marie-Claret (2003-2006). He was ordained bishop in March 2006 and occupied the office of auxiliary bishop of Montreal until his appointment to Nicolet.

What is the role of a diocesan Bishop?

The diocesan Bishop is the chief teacher, sanctifier, and shepherd of God’s people. Most Bishops are given a diocese to govern spiritually, making sure the priests, deacons, pastoral workers and catechists in their diocese are preaching the Gospel and teaching sound doctrine to the flock. He is the principal teacher. The Bishop is the primary dispenser of all the sacraments. He has oversight of the liturgy.

He possesses the fullness of Orders, so that the fullness of Christ’s grace can flow through in sacramental form, to the sanctification of the faithful. Through his relationships with the priests of his diocese, the Bishop is able to shepherd the people of his diocese. The Bishops have been given a special outpouring of grace, to continue the work that the Apostles started. (Source: website of the CCCB.ca)
 

About the diocese of Nicolet

The diocese of Nicolet was created on July 10, 1885, when the portion of the diocese of Trois-Rivières to the south of the Saint Lawrence River was separated, and Msgr. Elphège Gravel became the first bishop of Nicolet. In time, this predominantly rural territory situated between the south shore of the river and the Appalachians began to develop urban areas, such as Victoriaville and Drummondville, as well as industrialized areas such as Bécancour. The territory corresponds with little difference to the administrative region of Centre-du-Québec. The diocese of Nicolet comprises 26 parishes and one mission, with a population of 221,284 Catholics served by approximately 30 priests in regular ministries and a similar number of lay pastoral personnel serving as collaborators and pastoral associates at the parish and diocesan levels. More than 20 permanent deacons, five religious communities, some priests in retirement and numerous volunteers are also engaged in the Church’s missionary activities.

This announcement is quite recent, and therefore we have not yet had the opportunity to speak with the new bishop, Msgr. Daniel Jodoin. We are consequently unable to indicate any time before his actual official arrival when he may be able to address the media. These details will however be available soon.

The retiring bishop, Msgr. Gazaille, will remain in office until his successor is installed in the diocese. Msgr. Gazaille will be able to answer questions from the media by appointment during the day. Kindly forward your requests to communications@diocesenicolet.qc.ca, indicating suggested interview times, and we will arrange to call or meet with you. 

“It is with some relief that I welcome this appointment, since the diocese has been waiting in anticipation for over a year. I know that Msgr. Jodoin will find a warm welcome here, as I did on my arrival in this diocese, and that he will be able to continue on this difficult passage to the more missionary and synodal Church about which Pope Francis tells us so much.”

“For the love of Christ spurs us on!” +André Gazaille