Archbishop Murray Chatlain

Bishop Murray Chatlain was born in Saskatoon, January 19, 1963 to Katherine and Harvey Chatlain. He completed his elementary and high school in Saskatoon and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.  His studies continued at St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario where he completed a Masters of Divinity Degree.  He has also studied the Dene language at La Loche, SK which is located in the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas.  He lived four years among the Dene in Black Lake, SK and Fond du Lac, SK which he calls his “Dene Seminary.”

 Bishop Murray was named Coadjutor of Mackenzie-Fort Smith on June 23, 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI. He succeeded as Bishop of Mackenzie-Fort Smith on May 10, 2008.  On December 6, 2012, his Holiness Pope Benedict the XVI named Most Reverend Murray Chatlain the Archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith in The Northwest Territories.    

For six years, Bishop Murray has been a member of the Canadian Catholic Aboriginal Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Presently he is Chair of the Northern Bishops of Canada and Co-Chair of Our Lady of Guadalupe Circle.  Bishop Murray continues as the shepherd of the people of the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas.

 Bishop Murray’s Moto is Magnificavit Dominus Facere Nobiscu (The Almighty has done great things for us). He chose this motto when he was ordained which is from Psalm 126 and is connected to Mary’s great prayer the Magnificat.  It reminds Bishop Murray that gratefulness is so important.