A veteran Redemptorist is experiencing a rarefied situation in the northern Alberta Archdiocese of Grouard-McLennan.

The recently appointed Coadjutor (co-assister in Latin) Archbishop Charles Duval, C.Ss.R. is gifted with the plum and uncommon opportunity of receiving on-the-job mentorship from current Archbishop Gérard Pettipas before assuming the chief overseer role himself in the coming months.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1993, the 60-year-old Duval will first be elevated to bishop on May 14. The timing of the Hull (now Gatineau), Que., product’s archdiocesan installation ceremony is yet to be determined. Pettipas turns 75 years old on Sept. 6, the age at which canon law decrees bishops to submit their resignation to the Pope.

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Duval, who joined the archdiocese over 18 months ago as pastor of St. Joseph Church in Grande Prairie, is gaining valuable insights and information from the man who has helmed this bishopric for over 18 years.

“I never thought I would be a bishop so I am learning and discovering all the responsibilities,” said Duval. “I am grateful to be the coadjutor of Archbishop Pettipas because he is telling me all kinds of things about what he discovered when he became archbishop.”

Since the news of this appointment became public on Feb. 14, Bishop-elect Duval has started visiting some of the 57 parishes and missions comprising an archdiocese covering a massive 223,596 square kilometres. Over 49,000 Catholics constitute the Grouard-McLennan flock.

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The next step in Duval’s training is learning to install priests in their new parishes. He will observe Pettipas guide this ceremony, and then he will conduct solo installations in multiple parishes.

Duval, who joined the Redemptorists at the tender age of 21 in 1985, chose the vocation of priesthood because he desired to bring people closer to the Lord. He supplemented the guidance he received while a novitiate at the Redemptorists’ Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré monastery by emulating the actions and mentality of certain saints.

“St. Joseph is an important saint in my life because he was my mother's favourite saint,” said Duval. “Especially the men in our family were encouraged to follow the example of St. Joseph — a humble and prayerful man.

“St. Alphonsus (Liguori) and a lot of the Redemptorists saints have had a great influence on me, and I still cry out to them when I need them sometimes,” continued Duval. “When I am in need, I think of St. Clement Mary Hofbauer who would go to the tabernacle, knock on the door and say, ‘Lord, I need bread for my students.’ That is a really strong image for me. I still do that: I go to the foot of the tabernacle and pray for greater needs.”

Duval said that one of the strengths he brings to his new role is connecting with young Catholics. His resume supports that conviction. He directed the Redemptorist Youth Mission Team from 1998 to 2000 and the Redemptorist Youth and Vocational Ministry from 2002 to 2008.

“I love the youth,” said Duval. “Sometimes people are uncomfortable with teenagers, but I love to be with teenagers and young adults to answer their questions and talk with them. We see them as important in the Church of tomorrow, but they're important in our Church today in the role they can take. I hope to be influential in inviting young men and young women to the priesthood or religious life, and to want to serve Christ in different ways in society according to their talents.”

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The cleric with decades of pastoral experience has served as local superior and pastor of the Marie-Étoile-de-la-Mer Pastoral Unit in the Diocese of Bathurst, N.B., (2008–2011) and Vice-Rector for Pastoral Ministry at the Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré Shrine (2011–2015).

Duval also fulfilled leadership roles for the Redemptorists. He was an appointed member of the Redemptorist General Secretariat for Formation in Rome, Provincial Superior of the Province of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré (2015–2019) and then the Provincial Superior of the newly unified Province of Canada (2019–2023).