By Kiply Lukan Yaworski, Catholic Saskatoon News

It was announced by the Vatican on May 28, 2026, that Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr. Ken Thorson, OMI, as the next bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He will succeed former bishop Most. Rev. Stephen Hero, who was named archbishop of Edmonton in November 2025.

In a message to the Diocese of Prince Albert in both English and French, Bishop-Elect Thorson gave thanks to God for the new invitation to join the diocese in ministry.

“It would be an understatement to say I was surprised to receive the phone call from the Apostolic Nuncio informing me of my appointment as bishop. I remain humbled by it, and I sincerely thank Pope Leo for offering me this opportunity to serve the people of Prince Albert,” he wrote.

“It is truly a blessing to be entrusted to serve as your bishop. I am eager to meet you, to learn about your lives, your joys and struggles, and to walk with you as your brother in Christ,” he said.

Saskatchewan roots

Kenneth Thorson was born Sept. 19, 1966 in Saskatoon, one of five children of Chester and Joanne Thorson. The family moved to Nipawin, SK, in the Diocese of Prince Albert in 1979.

After a year of seminary formation with that diocese, Thorson entered the novitiate of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Arnprior, ON, on Aug. 26, 1992, studying philosophy and theology in Saskatoon, Edmonton, Rome, and Toronto.

He professed his first vows Aug. 14, 1993 and his perpetual vows on Aug. 19, 1997, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 21, 1999.

Bishop-Elect Ken Thorson, OMI (Photo from Diocese of Prince Albert website www..padiocese.ca)

Assignments and service

After his ordination, Thorson served at St. Patrick Parish in Saskatoon from 1999 to 2003, as well as serving as chaplain at E.D. Feehan Catholic High School.

In 2003, he was assigned to the Anglo-Irish Province in Birmingham, England, as a member of a new community exploring Oblate mission in a secular, interfaith context.​

In 2008,  Thorson was assigned to OMI Lacombe’s St. Charles Formation Community in Ottawa and appointed Vocation Director. In 2013, he was appointed Vicar Provincial of the OMI Lacombe Canada Province.

On Jan. 24, 2019, Thorson was appointed Provincial Superior of OMI Lacombe for an initial three-year term, later completing a second term in June 2025. His service as provincial included participation in two Oblate General Chapters, providing direct experience of the Oblate Congregation and the Church at an international level.

During his term as provincial, Thorson was actively involved in truth and reconciliation, the release of historical records, and other ongoing work addressing the Oblates’ historical involvement in residential schools.

“This work has left Fr. Ken with a deep and abiding commitment to the Church’s ongoing work towards reconciliation with the Indigenous Peoples of Canada,” notes a summary on the Prince Albert diocesan website.​​​​

Gratitude and encouragement

In his message to his new diocese, the bishop-elect thanked both Archbishop Stephen Hero and Diocesan Administrator Msgr. Maurice Fiolleau for their leadership.

Thorson added that he is “encouraged by the fruits of the diocese’s synodal process, which has given shape to the five pastoral priorities found in Cor Novum: A New Heart.”

Those pastoral priorities include: Walking Together ; Evangelizing Eucharist (Burning Hearts); Faith-Filled Families (Believing Hearts); Calling to Priesthood (Giving Hearts); and Reaching the Needy (Humble Hearts), with a range of goals identified in each priority.

“I am happy to contribute to the implementation of these priorities alongside the people of the diocese in years to come,” said Thorson.

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Kiply Lukan Yaworski is the communications coordinator for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon: rcdos.ca.

Communications and Catholic Saskatoon News are supported by gifts to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal: dscf.ca/baa.