VANCOUVER, BC, January 7, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Pope Benedict XVI new bishop-election of Prince George, B.C. is a priest who is well known for his strong dedication to the pro-life cause. Msgr. Stephen Jensen, currently Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, has been appointed as the new bishop of Prince George.
A press release from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) announced that the pope has accepted the resignation of Bishop Gerald Wiesner, who reached the mandatory retirement age for bishops of 75 last June.
“I’m overwhelmed,” Msgr. Jensen told The B.C. Catholic. “It’s sad to leave Vancouver, but I am looking forward to my new home in Prince George.”
Bishop-elect Jensen is well known in Vancouver for his pro-life work. He is a staunch supporter for the 40 Days for Life campaign, which is held outside the entrance to the Vancouver Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
John Hof of United for Life B.C. said Msgr. Jensen not only hosted 40 Days for Life events at his parish, within the boundaries of which the VWCH abortion facility is situated, but actively participated in the silent witness for life and spoke at the events.
“Msgr. Jensen was always present at the 40 Days for Life,” Hof told LifeSiteNews. “He was very gracious in hosting us frequently for the events that were part of the campaign. He prayed with vigil participants for an end to abortion, and spoke at some of the events.
“We were very grateful to have had him as part of the campaign, and we are pleased to hear of his appointment as bishop of Prince George,” Hof said.
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Hof noted that Msgr. Jensen is the forth priest from the Archdiocese of Vancouver to be appointed a bishop to serve in British Columbia.
Vancouver Archbishop J. Michael Miller called Msgr. Jensen’s appointment “a great blessing to the Diocese of Prince George,” but “a loss for the Archdiocese of Vancouver.”
Archbishop Miller said in choosing Msgr. Jensen, “The Holy Father has chosen a worthy shepherd and successor to Bishop Wiesner, and we shall all pray that his ministry will be fruitful for the entire People of God entrusted to his care.”
The Archbishop described Msgr. Jensen, 58, as “indefatigable in carrying out his priestly ministry” and said those who know and work with him “shall miss his exemplary simplicity, his wisdom and his wit.”
“He is an inspiration to us all,” Archbishop Miller concluded.
No date has yet been set for Msgr. Jensen’s installation in Prince George.