March 22, 2007

For Immediate Release

AST Graduate is Appointed Archbishop of Edmonton

Halifax, NS -- President Eric Beresford of Atlantic School of Theology is very pleased to announce that AST graduate, The Most Rev. Richard W. Smith (MDiv 1985), has been appointed as Archbishop of Edmonton, Alberta by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

Archbishop-elect Smith was born on April 28, 1959, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1987, for the Archdiocese of Halifax where he served in a number of positions including Vicar General and as priest responsible for the pastoral ministry of French-speaking Catholics in Halifax. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Atlantic School of Theology (1985), Halifax, as well as a licentiate and a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Since his episcopal ordination in June 2002, he has served as Bishop of Pembroke. Since becoming Bishop, Archbishop-elect Smith has been an active member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. He has been a member of the English Sector Commission for Christian Education since 2003, and is its current Chairman, and is also the national spiritual advisor of the Catholic Women's League of Canada. As well, he is currently President of the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops.

President Beresford said, “I am delighted by this news and want to assure Archbishop Smith of the thoughts and prayers of the entire AST community as he begins this new ministry. It is a wonderful reflection of the gifts he brings to the church. As a school, we are very proud that the gifts and achievements of one of our graduates should be recognized in this way.”

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For further information, contact:
Katharine Berrington
Public Relations & Development Officer
Atlantic School of Theology
( 902) 496-7943