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Pope Leo has appointed the Most Reverend Stephen A. Hero, Bishop of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, as the eighth Archbishop of Edmonton.
The Vatican announced the appointment on November 21.
“I am very humbled and grateful for the trust placed in me to take up this new mission in the Church and to serve in a community that is close to my heart,” Archbishop-Designate Hero wrote in a letter to the people of the Edmonton Archdiocese. He will be formally installed as the eighth Archbishop of Edmonton on January 23, 2026, at St. Joseph’s Basilica.
Archbishop-Designate Hero has lived in Edmonton since the age of ten. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Edmonton on June 29, 2000, and served as an assistant pastor in local parishes as well as Vocations Director for the Archdiocese. He later became Rector of St. Joseph Seminary, a role he held until Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Prince Albert on March 25, 2021.
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At the same time, Archbishop-Designate Hero noted his sadness at leaving the people of the Diocese of Prince Albert.
“You welcomed me with such kindness when I was ordained your Bishop on June 11, 2021, and it has been a privilege to come to know the different communities, parishes, and peoples who inhabit this land we share by Treaty.
“I have learned so much from you all. There is a river that flows from Edmonton to Prince Albert that will always be a sign to me of the connection between us and the same grace of God that gives us life.”
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Rev. Paul Kavanagh, Administrator of the Archdiocese of Edmonton, offered a warm welcome on behalf of the clergy, religious, and faithful.
“It is with praise and thanksgiving to almighty God that the faithful, religious and clergy of the Archdiocese of Edmonton extend our prayers and warmest welcome to Archbishop-Designate Stephen A. Hero as our newly appointed Archbishop,” Father Kavanagh said.
“Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, in his wisdom and solicitude for the Church, has called Archbishop Hero to shepherd this local Church, and we receive him as a gift from God, a successor of the Apostles, sent to guide us in faith, hope, and charity.
“Archbishop Hero, we pray that your ministry among us is fruitful and blessed, and we assure you of our unwavering prayers and support as you return home and embark on this new chapter of your episcopal ministry.
“Welcome, Your Grace! Ad multos annos!”
Father Kavanagh will continue to serve as Administrator until the Archbishop-Designate’s installation on January 23, 2026. He has held the position since Archbishop Richard Smith was installed as Archbishop of Vancouver on May 23.
Bishop Stephen Hero named next Archbishop of Edmonton
Appointment of Rev. Stephen Hero
New Bishop Appointed for the Diocese of Prince Albert
Thursday, March 25 2021
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His Holiness Pope Francis accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Albert Thévenot, M. Afr., as the Bishop of the Diocese of Prince Albert, and today appointed his successor, Father Stephen Hero. At the time of his appointment, Father Hero was the Rector of St. Joseph Seminary in Edmonton. Bishop Thévenot has been the Bishop of Prince Albert for the past 13 years. He submitted his resignation to the Holy Father upon reaching the age limit of 75, as stipulated by Canon 401 of the Code of Canon Law.
Bishop-elect Hero was born on 19 December 1969, in Lachine, Québec. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy) from the Seminary of Christ the King in Mission, British Columbia (1994) and went on to study at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome earning a Bachelor in Sacred Theology (1998) as well as a Licence in Sacred Theology (2000). He was ordained to the priesthood on 29 June 2000 for the Archdiocese of Edmonton, where he served as an assistant pastor in parishes and as Vocation Director for the Archdiocese. He returned to Rome to further his studies and obtained a Licence in Liturgical Theology from the Pontifical Liturgical Institute at Sant’ Anselmo (2005). Upon returning to Edmonton in 2005, he served as a member of the formation team at St. Joseph Seminary and was likewise a continuing lecturer at Newman Theological College in the areas of Spirituality, Liturgy, and Sacraments. In 2010, he was appointed as Vice Rector of St. Joseph Seminary and was later appointed Rector in 2012.
Bishop Thévenot is originally from Somerset, Manitoba and entered the Missionaries of Africa as a Brother in 1964. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1980 and began his pastoral ministry serving in various parishes and missions in Africa. He spent several years promoting the missions in Western Canada prior to returning to Africa where he served as pastor and in administrative roles on behalf of the Missionaries of Africa. Prior to his episcopal appointment in 2008, he served as the National Secretary for the French Sector of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith (Missio-Canada) and was later elected Provincial Superior for North America of the Society of Missionaries of Africa.
As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), Bishop Thévenot served as a member of the Anglican/Roman Catholic Bishops‘ Dialogue (2009-2021) and the English Sector Commission for Evangelization and Catechesis (2011-2017).
The Diocese of Prince Albert has 82 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 39,238 served by 35 diocesan priests, together with four priests and 40 Sisters who are members of institutes of consecrated life, as well as 13 permanent deacons.
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