Following the announcement of Msgr. Michel Parent's departure as Vicar General, effective August 31, 2016, Archbishop Christian Lépine has appointed his two auxiliary bishops as Vicars General, to assist him in the governance of the Archdiocese of Montreal.

Bishop Thomas Dowd's main task will be to co-ordinate the handling of the administrative and economic affairs of the Church of Montreal.

Bishop Alain Faubert will have primary responsibility for co-ordinating all the pastoral and missionary activities carried out within the diocese.

Working in constant synergy, in communion with the Archbishop and his advisory councils, the vicars general will ensure that the offices and services fulfill, in partnership, their respective responsibilities.

The appointments of Bishops Dowd and Faubert will take effect September 1, 2016.

Let us wish them a fruitful ministry.

Let us pray that our Church may be, more and more each day, a Church journeying "in missionary step" alongside our contemporaries.