Wilfrid Emmett Doyle
Encyclopedia
Wilfrid Emmett Doyle was a Canadian
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Nelson
from 1958 to 1989.
, Alberta
, as one of twelve children; his ancestors had immigrated
to Canada
from County Wexford
in Ireland
. He attended Sacred Heart School and St. Joseph's High School in Edmonton
, and the University of Alberta, from where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree
in 1935. He also studied theology
at St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton. Doyle was ordained
to the priesthood
by Archbishop John MacDonald on June 5, 1938, and continued his studies at St. Paul's University Seminary
in Ottawa
, earning his doctorate in canon law
in 1949. He later became chancellor
of the Archdiocese of Edmonton
.
On November 9, 1958, Doyle was appointed the third Bishop of Nelson
, British Columbia
, by Pope John XXIII
. Doyle received his episcopal consecration
on the following December 3 from Archbishop Giovanni Panico
, with Archbishop Michael O'Neill and Bishop Francis Allen serving as co-consecrators
.
A leading figure in Canadian catechetics
, he taught the Come to the Father catechetical series and was named head of the Canadian Bishops
' Office for Religious Education
when the series was expanded; he later stated, "My spiritual life began when I started teaching the Come to the Father series". Doyle also served as national director
of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
(1962-1986), President of the then Office for Religious Education (1966-1970), director of the National Office of Religious Education (1966-1967), and Chairman
of the Episcopal Commission for Religious Education (1966-1969).
He attended the Second Vatican Council
from 1962 to 1965. In 1976, he appointed Sr. Katherine Meagher as the chancellor of his diocese
, making her the first woman to hold that post in Canada.
He later retired as Bishop on November 6, 1989, after nearly thirty-one years of service. Doyle then did work in the Diocese of Kamloops
before moving in 2001 to St. Elizabeth Seton House of Prayer in Kelowna
, which he had established during his tenure as Bishop and where he and others were later forced to evacuate when forest fires
threatened to consume the residence.
Doyle died in his sleep in Kelowna, at age 90. He is buried in Nelson
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of Nelson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Nelson
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nelson is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.-Diocesan Demographics:The diocese contains 31 parishes. Serving or retired in the diocese are 28 diocesan priests, 7 religious priests ministering to 75,000 Catholics. It also has 13 religious sisters and...
from 1958 to 1989.
Biography
Wilfrid Doyle was born CalgaryCalgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, as one of twelve children; his ancestors had immigrated
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
from County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He attended Sacred Heart School and St. Joseph's High School in Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, and the University of Alberta, from where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1935. He also studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at St. Joseph's Seminary in Edmonton. Doyle was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Archbishop John MacDonald on June 5, 1938, and continued his studies at St. Paul's University Seminary
Saint Paul University
Saint Paul University is a Catholic Pontifical university federated with the University of Ottawa. It is located on Main Street in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and has been entrusted for more than a century to the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, earning his doctorate in canon law
Doctor of Canon Law
Doctor of Canon Law is the doctoral-level terminal degree in the studies of canon law of the Roman Catholic Church.It may also be abbreviated I.C.D. or dr.iur.can. , ICDr., D.C.L., D.Cnl., D.D.C., or D.Can.L. . Doctor of both laws are J.U.D...
in 1949. He later became chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the Archdiocese of Edmonton
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in the Province of Alberta. Its suffragan dioceses are Calgary and Saint Paul. Historically, the archdiocese was preceded by the Diocese of St Albert which was erected in 1871. In 1912 the present archdiocese was erected...
.
On November 9, 1958, Doyle was appointed the third Bishop of Nelson
Roman Catholic Diocese of Nelson
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Nelson is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vancouver.-Diocesan Demographics:The diocese contains 31 parishes. Serving or retired in the diocese are 28 diocesan priests, 7 religious priests ministering to 75,000 Catholics. It also has 13 religious sisters and...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, by Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
. Doyle received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following December 3 from Archbishop Giovanni Panico
Giovanni Panico
Giovanni Panico was an Italian Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He served as Nuncio to Portugal from 1959 to 1962, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1962.-Biography:...
, with Archbishop Michael O'Neill and Bishop Francis Allen serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
.
A leading figure in Canadian catechetics
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
, he taught the Come to the Father catechetical series and was named head of the Canadian Bishops
Episcopal Conference
In the Roman Catholic Church, an Episcopal Conference, Conference of Bishops, or National Conference of Bishops is an official assembly of all the bishops of a given territory...
' Office for Religious Education
Religious Education
Religious Education is the term given to education concerned with religion. It may refer to education provided by a church or religious organization, for instruction in doctrine and faith, or for education in various aspects of religion, but without explicitly religious or moral aims, e.g. in a...
when the series was expanded; he later stated, "My spiritual life began when I started teaching the Come to the Father series". Doyle also served as national director
Executive director
Executive director is a term sometimes applied to the chief executive officer or managing director of an organization, company, or corporation. It is widely used in North American non-profit organizations, though in recent decades many U.S. nonprofits have adopted the title "President/CEO"...
of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine was an association established at Rome in 1562 for the purpose of giving religious education. Its modern usage, often abbreviated CCD or C.C.D., is a religious education program of the Catholic Church, normally designed for children.-History:Until the...
(1962-1986), President of the then Office for Religious Education (1966-1970), director of the National Office of Religious Education (1966-1967), and Chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
of the Episcopal Commission for Religious Education (1966-1969).
He attended the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
from 1962 to 1965. In 1976, he appointed Sr. Katherine Meagher as the chancellor of his diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, making her the first woman to hold that post in Canada.
He later retired as Bishop on November 6, 1989, after nearly thirty-one years of service. Doyle then did work in the Diocese of Kamloops
Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kamloops is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. The Diocese of Kamloops is led by Bishop David John James Monroe.-Diocesan demographics:...
before moving in 2001 to St. Elizabeth Seton House of Prayer in Kelowna
Kelowna, British Columbia
Kelowna is a city on Okanagan Lake in the Okanagan Valley, in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. Its name derives from a Okanagan language term for "grizzly bear"...
, which he had established during his tenure as Bishop and where he and others were later forced to evacuate when forest fires
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
threatened to consume the residence.
Doyle died in his sleep in Kelowna, at age 90. He is buried in Nelson
Nelson, British Columbia
Nelson is a city located in the Selkirk Mountains on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Known as "The Queen City", and acknowledged for its impressive collection of restored heritage buildings from its glory days in a regional silver rush,...
.