Appointment of Vicar General 

September 06, 2017

Dear Monsignors, Fathers, and Faithful of the Archdiocese,

Effective September 15, 2017, Father Cecil Critch will be my Vicar General. I am very pleased and grateful that Father Cecil Critch has accepted this extra responsibility, in addition to his new appointment as the Rector of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist Cathedral. Father Cecil Critch brings a wealth of experience to the position of Vicar General, as many of you know, he spent many years in school administration and teaching, he has ministered on the Burin Peninsula as a priest, and most recently at St. Edward's Parish. Please join me in wishing him well and please keep him in your prayers.

I also wish to say a heartfelt thank you to Father Joseph Barton and Father Francis Puddister for having served as my Vicars General since my appointment as Archbishop. Both have been invaluable to me personally, providing support, guidance, advice, and to the Archdiocese for their commitment to the role of Vicar General. Both have served the Archdiocese in many ways, not just since my arrival, but for many years before. On your behalf, I thank each of them for their many years of service and dedication to the Church; both will continue in their current parish assignments.

After September 15, Father Cecil Critch, Vicar General and Father Steve Courtney, Chancellor and Judicial Vicar, with me, will form the leadership team of the Archdiocese and will assist me in my role as Archbishop. Father Cecil Critch will now sit on the Board of Administration and most Archdiocesan councils and committees as Ex Officio. Father Steve Courtney will now be the liaison with our civil attorneys in my absence, and he will take over Father Joseph Barton's role as Chair of the Archdiocesan Personnel Committee. Both of them are available to assist you if needed, so please do not hesitate to contact them. Ms. Anne Walsh, my Executive Assistant, will coordinate the hospital and long-term home chaplains in St. John's.

Because of these changes and the appointment of priests, I have also had to make the following appointments: effective September 15, 2017, Father Jeff Kolonel is the Dean of St. John's West/South; Father Nelson Boren is the Dean of the Burin Peninsula; Father Pat Power is the Dean of St. John's Center. Father Paul Lundrigan and Father Steve Courtney will remain Deans of their respective Deaneries. I have appointed Father Joseph Barton, Father Jose Joaquin, and Father James Fleming to serve on the College of Consultors. Father Paul Lundrigan will assume the role of Chair of the Council of Priests until the spring of 2018. We will also need to nominate/elect 2 priests to serve on the Personnel Committee until the spring of 2018.

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Reverend Martin W. Currie, D.D.

Archbishop of St. John’s

To view or print the Letter for the Appointment of Vicar General - Please click on the link below