Fostering a Culture of Vocation and Evangelization in Vancouver, BC

Archbishop J. Michael Miller, pictured in June 2007.
(CNS photo/Giancarlo Giuliani, Catholic Press Photo)

Fostering a Culture of Vocation and Evangelization in Vancouver, BC | Jim Graves | Catholic World Report

An interview with Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver, British Columbia, who has just celebrated the 10th anniversary of his episcopal ordination.

Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada celebrated the 10th anniversary of his episcopal ordination on Sunday, January 12. 

Archbishop Miller, 67, was born in Ottawa. He joined the Basilian Fathers, who once had a significant presence in Canada and the United States, and was ordained a priest by Pope Paul VI in 1975. He went on to work in academia and in the Vatican. In 2003 Pope John Paul II appointed Miller to the episcopacy and named him secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education and vice president of the Pontifical Work of Priestly Vocations. In 2009, Miller became archbishop of Vancouver. The region is home to about five million Canadians, of which 460,000 are Catholic.

Archbishop Miller is fluent in four languages, has received six honorary doctorates, and is a specialist on the papacy and modern papal teaching. He is author of seven books, including one on the development of the papacy and Catholic education. He is a naturalized American citizen.

Archbishop Miller recently spoke with CWR.

CWR: Tell us about your upbringing and how you decided to become a priest.

Archbishop J. Michael Miller: I was born in Ottawa. My father was Catholic and my mother was not, so I was the child of a mixed marriage. I attended Catholic schools when I was growing up, including a high school run by the Basilian Fathers.

The Basilan Fathers are teachers. I wanted to teach, so I thought it would be a good fit and a good way to serve the Lord. I know a lot of guys today have dramatic stories about how they decided to enter the seminary; [laughing] I guess we were less romantic in those days. It was the early 1960s, and it was commonplace. Lots of guys entered the seminary. I was one of them.

The Basilian Fathers had a lot of vocations in those days, and had schools in many cities.

CWR: How has the Church in Canada changed since you first entered the novitiate?

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