Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

IGLULIK
The Roman Catholic pastor of the parish in Iglulik is the new bishop of the Diocese of Churchill-Hudson Bay, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops announced on Feb. 16.

Bishop Reynald Rouleau, left, of the Diocese of Churchill-Hudson Bay, is leaving his post after reaching retirement age as per Canon Law. Father Tony Krotki, right, pastor at the St. Stephen's parish in Iglulik, is replacing him. - photo courtesy of Tony Krotki

Pope Benedict XVI named Father Tony Krotki, pastor at the St. Stephen's parish in Iglulik, as the new bishop for the Diocese of Churchill-Hudson Bay. Krotki will succeed Bishop Reynald Rouleau, who is leaving his post after reaching retirement age, 75, according to church regulations.

Krotki said he is slowly adapting to his new responsibility.

"I am surprised and I am very humbled," he said. "I humbly accept the responsibility, which, of course, will come gradually."

Krotki, a 48-year-old native of Poland, was ordained a priest in 1990 before arriving in Manitoba later that year to assist the Oblates. Krotki served in Winnipeg and Toronto before joining the Diocese of Churchill-Hudson Bay. He served as pastor in Iglulik from 1991 to 1993, in Gjoa Haven from 1993 to 2001 and then returned to Iglulik, where he has been since 2001.

"It's overwhelming," said Krotki. "The amount of responsibilities will be so great that at this moment, it's very hard for me to imagine that. But with grace of God, I'm prepared to take it one day at a time, slow steps but very humbling."

Krotki said he will slowly make plans to communicate with and visit other communities with Rouleau. Krotki said he will likely fully take over his office duties at the diocese, based in Churchill, Man., before September. Until then, he said he will need Rouleau's help, advice, wisdom, suggestion and prayers.

His first priority will be to be a good bishop and continue the work of his predecessors, he added.

"I want to be a loving bishop," he said. "I need to be a good Catholic bishop that Christ is calling for. I want to take my responsibility very seriously but always keeping in mind (the) needs of the people. I want to be open to the challenge I'm facing."

Rouleau, who had been responsible for the diocese for the past 25 years, is a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Ordained as a priest in 1963, he served in the province of Quebec before joining the Diocese of Churchill-Hudson Bay in 1987 as bishop. Rouleau said he does not yet know exactly where he will retire but Winnipeg is a strong possibility.

As for his legacy, he said he insisted on developing the local leadership and identity so each community could have all they needed to develop.

"I don't know what people will keep in mind or keep in their hearts when I'm not there," said Rouleau. "I suppose they'll keep a good memory of my long presence here, up North."

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.