Earlier today in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Monsignor Wayne Kirkpatrick, P.H. as Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Toronto, Ont. He will assist the Archbishop of Toronto, His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, as well as the other Auxiliary Bishops: the Most Reverend John A. Boissonneau, William McGrattan and Vincent Nguyen. Cardinal Collins, in a statement, welcomed Bishop-designate Kirkpatrick to Toronto. “We give thanks for the appointment of Bishop-designate Kirkpatrick," Collins said. "He brings with him many diverse gifts and a wealth of experience from his years of service to the Diocese of St. Catharines. Our thoughts and prayers are with him as he embarks on this new chapter of ministry." Monsignor Kirkpatrick was born on June 5, 1957, in St. Catharines, Ont.  He studied at St. Jerome’s College of the University of Waterloo, St. Augustine’s Seminary and Saint Paul University, Ottawa, where he earned his licentiate in canon law. On September 1, 1984, Msgr. Kirkpatrick was ordained a priest for the Diocese of St. Catharines. In addition to his ministry as pastor and assistant pastor in a number of parishes, he served as Associate Judicial Vicar of the Toronto Regional Tribunal and Vice Chancellor of the Diocese of St. Catharines from 1990 to 1995. Since 1995, Kirkpatrick has been Judicial Vicar of St. Catharines Diocesan Tribunal and also Chancellor of the diocese. On June 29, 1999, he was named a Prelate of Honour. From April 2010 to September 2011, he was made Administrator of the Diocese of St. Catharines. At the time of his episcopal appointment, he also served as Rector of the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria. Moreover, Msgr. Kirkpatrick has been involved with Catholic Engaged Encounter since 1999, and President of the Canadian Canon Law Society since 2010. Salt + Light Catholic Media Foundation is happy to offer prayers and best wishes to Bishop-elect Kirkpatrick!