Two Quebec dioceses have new bishops

Cardinal Gérald Lacroix is losing one of his Quebec auxiliary bishops, but that’s good news for the Diocese of Joliette down the road along the St. Lawrence.

Pope Francis appointed Bishop Louis Corriveau to head the diocese on May 20. Meanwhile, the Pope also accepted the resignation of Bishop Pierre Morissette, who turns 75 this year, as pastoral head of the Diocese of Saint-Jérôme. Bishop Raymond Poisson, who had been Apostolic Administrator of Joliette and Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Saint-Jérôme, assumes pastoral governance of Saint-Jérôme. 

“Despite the heartache of seeing a close associate like Bishop Louis go, I am very happy for him and for the Diocese of Joliette who will receive him as a pastor,” Lacroix, the Archbishop of Quebec, said in a statement. “Bishop Louis is a man of great depth, a lover of the Word of God and he brings to the heart the renewal and the future of the mission of our Church. “

Corriveau, 55, served as the Auxiliary Bishop of Québec for the past three years. 

He was ordained to the priesthood in 1990 and ministered in the Beauce and Portneuf regions of Quebec. Aside from his priestly duties, Corriveau also has enjoyed success with the Les Prêtres — an eight-priest singing group — which recorded with singer Mario Pelchat.

Morissette had been the Bishop of Saint-Jérôme since 2008. Previously he had served as Bishop of Baie-Comeau for 18 years after being Auxiliary Bishop in Quebec.

Poisson, a native of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Rouville, Que., was ordained to the priesthood in 1983.