Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop Champagne and Appoints the Bishop Michel Proulx as Apostolic Administrator Sede Vacante
The Most Reverend Michel Proulx, O. Praem
Bishop Michel Proulx was born on 11 October 1962, in Saint-Lambert, Québec. On 14 August 1981, he entered the postulancy of the Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré. He entered the novitiate on 11 April 1982 and made his religious profession on 6 June 1983.
During this same period, Bishop Proulx completed an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Theology at the Université de Montréal (1982–1986), received a candidature in Biblical Philosophy at the Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, and a Bachelor’s degree in Theology at the Université Catholique de Louvain (1986–1989).
He was ordained a priest on 22 April 1990. A few years later, he completed his Doctorate in Theology at the Université de Montréal (1992–1996). He also completed additional training in psychology, including the psycho-religious program at the Institut de Formation Humaine Intégrale de Montréal (1989–1992) and individual psychotherapy at the same Institute (1992–1995).
Bishop Proulx’s pastoral and community commitments include a number of functions. In addition to being Prior Priest at the Premonstratensian Monastery of St-Constant since 2008, he was Novice master (1989–2008) and a member of the Order’s International Commission for Initial and Ongoing Formation.
From 1989 to 1992, he oversaw baptismal ministry at St-Constant parish in the Saint-Jean-Longueuil Diocese. He contributed to the pastoral animation of the Christian community gathered at the Premonstratensian monastery (1990–2023), as well as teaching biblical studies at various colleges and universities, especially as a lecturer at the Institut de Formation théologique of the Grand Séminaire de Montréal (1999–2013 and 2011–2023) and as a professor within the Faculty of Theology of the Institut de Pastorale des Dominicains, in Montreal (2014–2020).
Bishop Michel Proulx has served institutes of consecrated life in a number of capacities over the years. He was President of the Canadian Religious Conference (CRC) (2012–2014) and a member of the CRC’s Theological Commission (2010–2012 and 2015–2021). In addition to having led numerous spiritual recollections in religious communities across Quebec and Canada since 1998, he has also taught Scripture at the Montreal Internovitiate (2007-2023).
For the Diocese of St-Jean-Longueuil, Bishop Proulx was a member of the Presbyteral Council (1992–1996 and 2023), a member of the Ecumenical Commission (2009–2012), a member of the Council for Consecrated Life (2012–2016), and diocesan leader of biblical animation (2021-2023).
He was at the helm of the production and hosting of more than 300 introductory programs in biblical exegesis on Radio Ville-Marie (2002–2012), and since fall 2023, he has hosted a biblical program on Radio VM and Radio Galilée.
In addition to being a spiritual guide to many people, Bishop Proulx has written several books, including: À la recherche du bonheur : Une lecture du livre de Qohélet (Novalis, 2015); Témoigner de Dieu aujourd’hui : Pour un nouvel élan missionnaire (Médiaspaul, 2017); Entre puissance et dépouillement : Prier l’Évangile de Marc (Médiaspaul, 2020); Aujourd’hui tu seras avec moi : Prier l’Évangile de Luc (Médiaspaul, 2021); Au banquet du Royaume : Prier l’Évangile de Matthieu (Médiaspaul, 2023); En lui, la Vie : Prier l’Évangile de Jean (Médiaspaul, 2025).
On 28 October 2023, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Michel Proulx, O.Praem., as Bishop of Bathurst (New Brunswick). He received episcopal ordination on 25 January 2024.
As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Bishop Proulx has held the position of Bishop ponens for the CRC since 2024. In 2025, he was a CCCB delegate at the CRC’s 2025 General Assembly. Bishop Proulx is also a member of the Ad hoc Committee on the Implementation of the Synod on Synodality in the Church of Canada.
The Most Reverend Claude Champagne, O.M.I.
Bishop Claude Champagne was born 22 July 1947, in Lachine, Québec. Bishop Champagne studied at the University of Ottawa, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1968. He pursued theological formation at Saint Paul University, Ottawa, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Theology in 1971. He later studied at the Gregorian University, Rome, where he obtained a Licentiate in 1975 and Doctorate in 1984 in Missiology. Bishop Champagne is a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He was ordained a priest on 9 August 1975.
After his ordination, he taught at Saint Paul University in Ottawa while also engaging in pastoral and vocational ministry, with a particular focus on young people. He was also closely associated with the Cursillo movement in the French sector of the Archdiocese of Ottawa (now the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall) and worked in two parishes in Eastern Ontario.
Following his episcopal ordination on 11 June 2003, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Halifax. On 5 January 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Champagne as Bishop of Edmundston.
As a member of the CCCB, Bishop Champagne has served in a variety of capacities, including as an episcopal representative on the then Council for Reconciliation, Solidarity and Communion, on the Canadian Council of Churches (2007–2008), and on the then Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council (2007–2014). He served as an episcopal representative on the National Council of Development and Peace—Caritas Canada (2008–2011), as well as a regional representative on the Permanent Council (2009–2015) and a French Sector Representative on the Permanent Council (2013–2015). Bishop Champagne was a member of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity, Religious Relations with the Jews, and Interfaith Dialogue (2003–2008; 2011–2017), and served as its Chair from 2014 to 2017. He was also a member of the Episcopal Commission for Doctrine (2008–2011), the Standing Committee for Development and Peace—Caritas Canada (2011–2014), and the Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace (2017-2023).
Diocese of Edmundston
The Diocese of Edmundston has 30 parishes and missions. It has a Catholic population of 40,945 served by 16 diocesan priests, 3 priests who are members of institutes of consecrated life, as well as 23 Sisters who are members of religious institutes, in addition to 6 officially mandated lay pastoral associates.
Source: https://www.cccb.ca/media-release/episcopal-resignation-and-appointment-for-the-diocese-of-edmundston/
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