Auxiliary Bishop Terrence T. Prendergast, S.J. (1995 - 1998)

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Terrence Prendergast was born in Montréal on February 19, 1944. After attending local Catholic schools, he entered the Jesuit Order on August 14, 1961. He received his Jesuit training at Ignatius College, Guelph, Loyola Seminary of Fordham University, New York, from which he received a B.A. in 1967, and Regis College in the Toronto School of Theology which led to Master of Divinity, Licentiate and Doctorate in Theology degrees. Father Prendergast was ordained priest on June 10, 1972 in the Chapel of Regis College, Willowdale. He pronounced his final vows as a Jesuit in the Church of the Canadian Martyrs, Halifax, NS, in April, 1978.

Within the Upper Canada Province of Jesuits Father Prendergast served as a Consultor to the Provincial from 1978 to 1984, and in 1983 was one of the elected representatives of the Thirty-Third General Congregation. In his teaching career Father Prendergast taught at Loyola High School, Montréal, from 1967 to 1969, at the Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax, NS, from 1975 to 1981, and at Regis College, Toronto, from 1981 to 1994. During sabbatical leaves from Regis College, he was a Visiting Professor at Campion College, University of Regina, SK, from 1988 to 1989, and at the time of his appointment as auxiliary bishop was the Catholic Biblical Association of America Visiting Professor at the École Biblique et Archéologique Française in Jerusalem. Father Prendergast also served a three year term as Dean of Regis College, Toronto.

Father Prendergast served as Director of Priestly Formation at the Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax, NS, from 1975 to 1981, and Rector of Regis College from 1981 to 1987. From 1990 to 1994 he was one of the National Consultors for the Jesuit Humanities Program at Creighton University, Omaha, NB. In 1990, he served as a resource person within the Canadian delegation to the Eighth Ordinary Synod of Bishops on Priestly Formation in Rome, and afterwards was a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops sub-commission of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sexual Abuse. Father Prendergast also held the office of Executive Secretary to Bishop Frederick Henry for the Vatican-mandated Apostolic Visitation to English-speaking Canadian seminaries.

Father Prendergast was also involved in ecumenical and interfaith activities. In 1982 he became a member of the Christian-Jewish Dialogue of Toronto, and in 1990 of the National Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue. After his ordination he maintained an active interest in pastoral work, preaching on a regular basis at Corpus Christi Parish, Toronto, and, since 1992, on a monthly basis at St. Ignatius Loyola Parish, Mississauga. He has also conducted retreats for the clergy of Toronto and St. Catharines dioceses.

On February 22, 1995 Father Prendergast was elected titular Bishop of Slebte and Auxiliary to Archbishop Aloysius M. Ambrozic of Toronto. He was ordained to the episcopacy in St. Michael's Cathedral on April 25, 1995 by Archbishop Ambrozic who was assisted by retired Bishop Thomas B. Fulton of St. Catharines and Bishop Attila Mikloshazy, S.J., of Toronto, Bishop for Hungarian emigrants. Upon his episcopal ordination Bishop Prendergast became Vicar of the Western region of the archdiocese which includes Brampton and Mississauga. He also served as the Chairman of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops Episcopal Commissioin for Relations with Clergy, Consecrated Life and Laity.

On June 30, 1998, Bishop Prendergast was appointed Archbishop of Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was installed in Halifax on September 14, 1998.