Archdiocese of Winnipeg
Campaign Co-chair
Manitoba Campaign Committee Member

Born in Vibank, Saskatchewan, James Weisgerber attended St. Peter’s College at Muenster and then St. Paul’s University in Ottawa where he obtained licence degrees in Philosophy and Theology. He was ordained a priest at Holy Rosary Cathedral in Regina in 1963 and named a Monsignor (Prelate of Honour) in 1991.

Archbishop Weisgerber was Dean of Arts at Notre Dame College (now Athol Murray College) in Wilcox, Saskatchewan where he taught philosophy, religious studies and French. He was the director of the pastoral and social justice offices in the Regina Archbishop’s office. He served as Rector of Holy Rosary Cathedral and Pastor of Holy Trinity Parish, both in Regina, as well as Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Fort Qu’Appelle, which included pastoral ministry with neighbouring aboriginal communities.

In 1990 he was elected General Secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, a position he held until his ordination as the Bishop of Saskatoon. He was appointed the fifth Bishop of Saskatoon by His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1996. He was named the sixth archbishop of the Archdiocese of Winnipeg by Pope John Paul II in 2000 and was installed later that year at St. Mary’s Cathedral.