Bishop of Kamloops

In January of 1974, Archbishop Joseph McNeil, Archbishop of Edmonton, personally delivered a letter to me from the Apostolic Nuncio. The letter informed me that Pope Paul VI had appointed me Bishop of Kamloops. My blood began to run backwards and for a couple of hours I argued with Archbishop McNeil pointing out all the reasons why I couldn't accept such an obedience: I had never been a pastor; I had little management and administrative experience; I had no Chancery Office experience; I had no experience working with first nations people; it wouldn't be fair to the Diocese of Kamloops, etc., etc. I guess Archbishop McNeil was beginning to lose patience with me, because at a given point he backed me up again the wall. His exact words were as follows: "Fella," he said, "there are two questions that you have to answer and then you will know what to do. The first question is, are you or are you not willing to be crucified with the Lord? The second question is, are you or are you not obedient to the Pope?" Needless to say I felt cornered and trapped so I pleaded, "But, Bishop, you are not giving me any elbow room!" He replied, "There is no elbow room. If you are waiting for a clearer indication of God's will for you, you will never get it." At this point, I knuckled under and accepted in faith, not really knowing what I was getting into. Again I had to scrap my desires and hopes for the future. Again God disposed, once again showing that He was still at the steering wheel of my faith journey.

On March 12, 1974, I was ordained a bishop in my home diocese, Regina, and on March 28th of the same year I was installed as the Bishop of Kamloops. I didn't know a soul in Kamloops, but soon got to know the clergy, religious, and lay faithful. They were warm, accepting, and cooperative. As a new and inexperienced bishop, I had to learn quickly and I did. Necessity is the mother of invention, but it is also the mother for learning quickly, though sometimes the hard way. Living alone was a new experience for me. For twenty-four years, before becoming a bishop, I had lived in seminaries. I was used to community prayer and community living. Living alone was not easy, but I got used to it. After a number of years in Kamloops, I began to feel at home. I felt I was where I belonged and where I should stay. I had become acclimatized and comfortable and hoped to remain in Kamloops for the rest of my life. But that was not to be. Again God intervened and disposed.

Archbishop of Winnipeg

One early spring morning at about 10:00 a.m., after eight years in Kamloops, I received a phone call from the Apostolic Nuncio informing me that Pope John Paul II had named me Archbishop of Winnipeg. Rumors had been flying about who the next Archbishop of Winnipeg would be, so I was not completely taken off guard. Still it was hard to accept because it meant having to leave Kamloops and that was painful. Equally painful was the thought of having to start all over again in a diocese where I knew hardly anyone. God had manifested His will. I knew better than to fight it and so I accepted.

On June 23, 1982, I was installed as the Archbishop of Winnipeg. I received a warm prairie welcome. The people seemed so pleased that their bishop was a home-grown prairie boy. Being familiar with the prairies and prairie culture, it didn't take me long to adjust and feel at home in Winnipeg. Again I sank deep roots and this time with the conviction that I wouldn't be moved again. Archbishops don't get moved, I was told. How wrong I was! Again God meddled with my plans and hopes for the future and I had to move and begin all over again in a totally new environment..


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