Vernon Fougere

The Most Reverend Joseph Vernon Fougère, D.D. (b. 1943) is the twelfth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown, which comprises the entire Canadian province of Prince Edward Island.

Born in Petit-de-Grat, Nova Scotia, Bishop Fougère received his higher education from Saint Francis Xavier University and completed his theological studies at the "Grand Séminaire de Montreal". He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Antigonish in 1969. The Bishop also served seven years with the Diocesan Mission in Honduras while still in the priesthood in Nova Scotia.

While in Latin America, Bishop Fougère served on the Council of Priests for the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa and carried out extensive work forming "Delegados de la Palabra" (Ministers of the Word).

Following education at the Jesuit Theological Union at the University of California, Bishop Fougère returned to Nova Scotia where he served in a number of parishes before being appointed Vicar General and Director of Pastoral Services for the Diocese of Antigonish in 1988. Among other things, the Bishop served as Chair of the Council of Priests for the Diocese of Antigonish and served on the Board of Governors for Saint Francis Xavier University.

On December 11, 1991, Pope John Paul II appointed Vernon Fougère as Bishop of Charlottetown and was Consecrated and installed at Charlottetown's St. Dunstan's Basilica on March 19, 1992.

The Bishop has been very active in the Catholic Church. Among other organizations, he has served as member of the National Council of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace and was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Catholic Mission in Canada for the year 2000.

External links

* [http://www.dioceseofcharlottetown.com The official website of the Diocese of Charlottetown]