Edmonton Auxiliary Gregory Bittman named Bishop of Nelson Mgr Bittman Evêque de Nelson

It was announced today in Rome that Pope Francis has appointed the Most Reverend Gregory Bittman, currently Auxiliary Bishop of Edmonton (Alberta), as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Nelson (British Columbia),

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Aujourd'hui on a annoncé que Sa Sainteté le pape François a nommé Mgr Gregory Bittman, actuellement évêque auxiliaire d’Edmonton (Alberta) comme nouvel évêque du diocèse de Nelson.(Colombie-Brittanique). 

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From the Edmonton archdiocesan website:

Gregory J. Bittman was born on March 5, 1961, in Edmonton, the eldest of three boys. He attended St. Edmund School and St. Joseph High School before earning a diploma in nursing from the Misericordia Hospital School of Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Alberta. He worked as a nurse for several years before entering the seminary to study for the priesthood.

In 1991, he obtained a Master’s of Divinity Degree from Christ the King Seminary in Mission, B.C., and in 2009, he obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law from the Catholic University of America. He was ordained to the priesthood on August 15, 1996, at St. Joseph’s Basilica by Archbishop Joseph MacNeil.

He began his priestly ministry as Associate Pastor of Holy Family Parish in St. Albert and Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish, Gibbons (1996-97), then was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of the Prairies Parish in Daysland (1997-99), Christ-King Parish in Stettler (1999-2000), and the parishes of St. Agnes and St. Anthony, Edmonton (2000-01).

Father Bittman is a pianist, amateur organist and avid runner. He holds a black belt in karate and enjoys scuba diving. He is known for his work as an apprentice home renovator as well as being a doting uncle to 10 nieces and nephews.

Father Bittman was appointed Chancellor of the Archdiocese in 2000 and was named as Judicial Vicar in 2009. He is an ex officio member of the College of Consultors, the Presbyteral Council, the Clergy Personnel Committee, the Project Review Board and the Finance Committee in the Archdiocese of Edmonton. He has also served as Spiritual Director to seminarians over the last few years.

Father Bittman was appointed the first Auxiliary Bishop of Edmonton by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on July 14, 2012. He was ordained to the episcopate on September 2012, the Feast of St. Gregory the Great, at St. Joseph's Basilica.