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Lee A. Piché
Lee Anthony Piché (born May 8, 1958) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota beginning in 2009, resigned from public ministry in 2015, and returned to ministry in 2023 as vicar for retired priests. BiographyEarly life and educationThe eldest of seven children, Lee Piché was born on May 8, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to LeRoy and Cecilia Piché.[1] He attended Irondale High School in New Brighton, Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He studied at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, where he obtained a Master of Theology degree.[2] Ordination and ministryPiché was ordained into the priesthood by Archbishop John Roach for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis on May 26, 1984.[3] He then served as associate pastor at St. Mark's Parish in St. Paul, Minnesota, until 1987, when he joined the faculty of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Piché then furthered his studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey (1987–1988), and at Columbia University in New York City, earning a Master of Philosophy degree in 1994.[4] From 1994 to 1999, Piché taught undergraduate philosophy at the University of St. Thomas. He served as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in West St. Paul, Minnesota, (1999–2005), and of All Saints Parish in Lakeville, Minnesota (2005–2008). From 2000 to 2008, Piché served as chairman of the Archdiocesan Commission for Ecumenism and Interreligious Affairs. In June 2008, he was named pastor of St. Andrew Parish in St. Paul as well as vicar general and moderator of the curia for the archdiocese.[2] Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and MinneapolisOn May 27, 2009, Piché was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis and titular bishop of Tamata by Pope Benedict XVI. He received his episcopal consecration on June 29, 2009, from Archbishop John Nienstedt, with Archbishop Harry Flynn and Bishop John LeVoir serving as co-consecrators, at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul.[3] ResignationThe Vatican announced on June 15, 2015, that Pope Francis had accepted Piché's resignation as auxiliary bishop of Saint Paul-Minneapolis. The Vatican statement cited the provision of canon law that allows a bishop to resign when some "grave reason" makes it impossible to continue to fulfill his duties.[5][3] Ten days before his retirement, criminal and civil charges were filed against the archdiocese alleging that warning signs of abuse against minors were willingly ignored. Additionally, it was alleged that Piché was informed of a priest going camping and sharing a bed with minor boys and did not act on this information, allegations that Piché denied.[6] Vicar for Retired PriestsIn July 2023, Piché returned from retirement to serve as vicar for retired priests at the request of Archbishop Bernard Hebda.[7] The role does not involve public duties.[6] See also
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