Mgr. André Gaumond 1996-2011

Le septième évêque et quatrième archevêque de Sherbrooke |

The seventh Bishop and the fourth Archbishop Mgr. André Gaumond 1996-2011

Biographic record :

Mgr. André Gaumond was born in Saint-Thomas de Montmagny on 3 June 1936. After his theological studies at the St. Paul Seminary in Ottawa, he was ordained priest on 27 May 1961 in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière cathedral by Mgr. Bruno Desrochers, bishop of the diocese. Teacher of philosophy at the Collège de Sainte-Anne from 1961 to 1963, he then continued his studies at the Institut catholique de Paris, to obtain a licence and entitlement for the doctorate (1963-1966). Thereafter, he taught philosophy at the Collège Sainte-Anne (1966-1969) and then at the CEGEP de La Pocatière (1969-1975). Working at the Adult Education service of the CEGEP de La Pocatière (1975-1980), he did summer ministry at Lac Trois-Saumons from 1975 to 1981. Parish priest of Saint-Pamphile and of Saint-Omer (1981-1985), he was elected bishop of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière on 31 May 1985 and ordained as such in Sainte-Anne’s cathedral on the following 15 August by his Eminence Cardinal Louis-Albert Vachon, metropolitan archbishop of Québec and primate of the Canadian Church. Promoted coadjutor archbishop of Sherbrooke on 16 February 1995, he arrived in Sherbrooke on 27 April 1995 and became the seventh bishop and fourth archbishop of Sherbrooke on 1 July 1996. As Metropolitan of Sherbrooke’s ecclesiastical province, he received the Pallium from the hands of Mgr. Maurice Couture, archbishop of Québec and primate of the Canadian Church on 25 September 1997 St. Michael Basilica-Cathedral.

He was a member of the Catholic Committee of the Superior Council of Education (1981-1987), of the Episcopal Commission on ministeries and apostolate (1987-1993), of the Episcopal Commission on relations with associations of priests, religious and the laity (1989-1993), of the Episcopal Commission of Theology (1991-1995) and the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (1991-1995). From 1993 to 1995, he occupied the position of vice-president of the Assembly of Québec Bishops and then, president, from 1995 to 1997. He became the chancellor of the Université de Sherbrooke in 1996. Member of the Permanent Council (1997-2007), of the Programs and Priorities Committee (1997-1999), of the Episcopal Commission for the Evangelization of People (1997-1999), the Episcopal Commission of Theology (1999-2000) and the Commission on relations with the associations of clergy, consecrated life and laity (2001-2007), he became vice-president of the Conference of Canadian Catholic Bishops (2003-2005), then president from 2005 to 2007. He was also a member of the Episcopal Council of Education of the Assembly of Québec Bishops (2000-2006) and visitor of the Office de catéchèse du Québec, a member of the Fondation des évêques du Québec (2008-2009), of the Ministeries Council and president of the Planning Committee of the Assembly of Québec Catholic Bishops (2008-2010). He was also a member of the Permanent Committee on canon law of the  Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. He retired at the age of 75 in Charny on 28 September 2011.