Catholic Church in Canada Mourns the Loss of their Archbishop Emeritus of Vancouver - RIP Archbishop Adam Exner
September 6, 2023, Ottawa – The Most Reverend Adam Exner, O.M.I., Archbishop Emeritus of Vancouver, passed away on Tuesday, 5 September 2023, at his residence in Grayson, Saskatchewan, at the age of 94.
Archbishop Exner was born on 24 December 1928, in Killaly, Saskatchewan. He received secondary education at St. Joseph’s College, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and at St. Thomas College, Battleford, Saskatchewan. He entered the Oblate Fathers’ Novitiate in St. Norbert, Manitoba in 1950. He studied in Philosophy (B.Ph. and L.Ph.) and Theology (S.T.B. and S.T.L.) at the Pontifical Gregorian University (1951-1958).
On 7 July 1957, he was ordained to the priesthood in Rome by the Most Reverend Luigi Faveri, Bishop of Tivoli. After his ordination, he continued studies, obtaining a Doctorate in Sacred Theology at the University of Ottawa in 1960.
Father Exner was professor of Moral Theology at St. Charles Scholasticate, Battleford, Saskatchewan from 1960 to 1972, also serving as rector as from 1965-1971. He then taught moral theology at the Newman Theological College, in Edmonton, Alberta (1972-1974).
On 19 January 1974, he was appointed Bishop of Kamloops (British Columbia). On 12 March 1974, he was ordained to the episcopate in Regina by The Very Reverend Henri Légaré, and installed as the third Bishop of Kamloops.
Bishop Exner was Secretary of the Western Catholic Conference from 1974-1980. He served as the State Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus of the British Columbia and Yukon jurisdiction (1974-1982). He also served as Liaison Bishop and Chaplain for the Catholic School Trustees Association of British Columbia.
On 7 April 1982, he was appointed the fourth Archbishop of Winnipeg. He was installed on 23 June 1982.
He served on the Board of Saint Paul’s College Board at the University of Manitoba (1982-1991). He was Chairman of the Conference of Bishops of Manitoba (1983-1991).
On 25 May 1991, Archbishop Exner was appointed Archbishop of Vancouver, British Columbia, taking possession of the diocese on 15 August 1991.
As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Exner served as a member of the Episcopal Commission for Theology (1976-1979), the Administrative Board (1977-1981), and the Pastoral Team for Study and Action (1979-1981). He was President of the Department for Theology and Canon Law (1979-1981). He continued to serve the Conference as a regional representative on the Administrative Board (1981-1983).
Archbishop Exner was a CCCB delegate to the 6th Ordinary Synod of Bishops on Reconciliation in 1983.
Archbishop Exner also served as a member of the CCCB’s Episcopal Commission for Christian Education (1983-1991), member of the International Commission for Liturgy (1987), member of the national Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue (1987-1989), member of the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications (1989-1991), member of the Permanent Council (Regional Representative) (1989-1993), member of the Ad hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse (1990-1992), member of the Episcopal Commission for Theology (1991-1993) and member of the Working Group for Residential Schools (1992-1995).
While being a member of the Programmes and Priorities Committee (1993-1995) he also served as chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Theology (1993-1995). He became a member of the Episcopal Commission for Theology (1995-1997) and Chairman of the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) (1995-2000).
He served as a member of the Sacred Congregation for Bishops from 1984 to 1990.
On 10 January 2004, after attaining the age of recommended retirement for a diocesan bishop, Pope John Paul II accepted Archbishop Exner’s resignation as Archbishop of Vancouver.
The funeral will be held in Saskatchewan and a Memorial Mass will be arranged at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver.
Source: CCCB.ca
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