Robert Kasun

His Excellency, the Most Reverend

Robert Kasun

CSB
Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto
Titular Bishop of Lavellum
DioceseArchdiocese of Toronto
Orders
OrdinationJune 24, 1978
ConsecrationSeptember 12, 2016
by Thomas Christopher Collins
Personal details
BornDecember 20, 1951
DenominationCatholic Church
Alma materUniversity of Toronto (MDiv)
University of St. Michael's College (MEd)
MottoTo bring good news to the poor
Coat of armsRobert Kasun's coat of arms
Styles of
Robert Kasun
Reference styleHis Excellency, The Most Reverend
Spoken styleThe Most Reverend

Robert Kasun CSB (born December 20, 1951) is a Catholic auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto and Titular Bishop of Lavellum.[1]

Early life and education

Kasun was born in Cudworth, Saskatchewan, and received a Bachelor's degree in English at St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon. He joined the Congregation of Saint Basil, and was awarded a Master of Divinity by the University of St. Michael's College.[2] He later attended the University of Toronto and received Bachelor of Education (BEd) and Master of Education (MEd). He was ordained a priest in the Congregation of Saint Basil on June 24, 1978.[3]

Priesthood

St. Michael's College School, where Kasun worked as a teacher

Kasun taught at Basilian schools in Merrillville, Indiana, and Sudbury, Ontario, before he was appointed to teach at St. Michael's College School in Toronto. After moving to teach at St. Francis High School in Calgary, he served on the General Council of the Basilian Fathers from 1989 to 1997.[4]

From 2009, Kasun served as a secular priest in the Archdiocese of Edmonton, ministering at two inner-city parishes in Edmonton.[5] As pastor in Edmonton, Kasun sought to increase fundraising for the local homeless population and advocated for the Sudanese diaspora to maintain celebration of Mass in Dinka and with their cultural elements so long as they followed the General Instruction of the Roman Missal.[6][7] Kasun also work on an abuse prevention program in Edmonton, facing a backlash from parishioners for implementing "strict" rules that required windows in every room and multiple adults in Sunday school classes. Efforts by Kasun and others led to the Archdiocese of Toronto receiving Praesidium Accreditation certifying a high standard of abuse prevention.[8]

Episcopal ministry

On June 17, 2016, Kasun was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto by Pope Francis. He was consecrated as bishop on September 12, 2016, by Cardinal Thomas Christopher Collins, joined by co-consecrators Archbishop John Michael Miller and Bishop Ronald Peter Fabbro.[3][9] According to Kasun, among his first reactions to learning of Francis's intent to elevate him as a bishop was "I’ve never in my life done anything extraordinary. I’m just an ordinary simple pastor."[10] He chose "To bring good news to the poor" as his episcopal motto, in reference to Luke 4:18.[11]

Kasun was officially welcomed to the archdiocese through a Mass at St. Michael's Cathedral, Toronto, on 6 October 2016.[12] As an auxiliary bishop, Kasun has presided over liturgies on behalf of the Chinese Canadians and Goan Catholics in the archdiocese.[13][14] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kasun and fellow auxiliary bishop Vincent Nguyen filled the responsibility of ministering to the northern portion of the archdiocese in the absence of an additional auxiliary bishop.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Audiences, 25.04.2017". vatican.va. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Bishop Robert Kasun". Archdiocese of Toronto. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Bishop Robert Michael Kasun". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  4. ^ "New auxiliary bishop for Toronto ordained". The B.C. Catholic. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  5. ^ "New Auxiliary Bishop appointed for Toronto". Archdiocese of Montreal. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  6. ^ Miller, Chris (13 December 2010). "Parishes help shelter Edmonton's homeless". Western Catholic Reporter. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  7. ^ Konguavi, Thandi (13 September 2018). "African Mass a taste of home for Edmonton diasporas". Grandin Media. Archdiocese of Edmonton. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Top Honour for abuse prevention policies". Archdiocese of Edmonton. 6 March 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Appointments and Installations". Apostolic Nunciature in Canada. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  10. ^ Argan, Glen (2 October 2016). "Kasun has 'a true pastor's heart,' says Edmonton's Archbishop". The Catholic Register. Archdiocese of Toronto. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  11. ^ Register, Michael Swan, The Catholic. "Toronto gains a bishop and a friend in Robert Kasun". The Catholic Register. Archdiocese of Toronto. Retrieved 22 November 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Bishop Robert Kasun, CSB Warmly Welcomed by Archdiocese of Toronto". Basilian Fathers. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Celebration of Catholic Faith 2017". Goan Culture List. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Announcing the Gospel Across Different Cultures". Redemptorist Vocation Ministry. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  15. ^ Collins, Thomas Christopher. "Letter, 27 January 2021" (PDF). Retrieved 16 December 2022.