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Fr. Jim Willick, who became a P.E.I. priest in 1998, was elected as diocesan apostolic administrator for Charlottetown following the departure of Bishop Joseph Dabrowski for Hamilton.
Photo courtesy Diocese of Charlottetown
February 26, 2026
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A “soil man who became a soul man” is now the apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island.
Fr. Jim Willick employs this colourful phrase to describe his transition from working in agriculture – after earning a Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph – to serving God as a cleric.
An Ontarian raised in the Niagara Peninsula, Willick moved to P.E.I. for work in the 1980s. Though content with his life’s direction, he felt God calling him to a different path after participating in the cantata, The Day He Wore My Crown. While singing and reflecting on Christ’s substitutionary atonement for human sin and shame, he sensed a clear call to serve the Lord.
“For some of my fellow brother priests, it is not a particular moment, but for me it was right during this cantata,” said Willick. “It's been the right call. I never regret one day saying yes.”
Since becoming a parish priest in 1998, Willick has shepherded congregations in Morell, Tignish, and Souris before relocating over six years ago to Stratford to guide the local Our Lady of Assumption Parish and St. Joachim’s Parish in nearby Vernon River. These houses of worship comprise the Holy Family Pastoral Unit.
Echoing his process before he became a man of the cloth, Willick devoted time to prayerful discernment after his priestly colleagues approached him a couple of months before Bishop Joseph Dabrowski departed for the Hamilton diocese to ascertain if he would be open to being apostolic administrator.
“At first, I guess I wasn’t, but the time the election rolled around, I was open to whatever God’s will was,” said Willick. “So, when I asked if I’d say yes, I said yes.”
On Feb. 4, two days after Dabrowski was installed in his new bishopric, Willick earned the two-thirds voting majority required from the diocesan College of Consultors to assume this new role.
He will remain in this position until Pope Leo XIV announces a successor for Dabrowski.
“The last time we were without a bishop for two-and-a-half years,” said Willick. “The average time is more like a year, but I’m not concerned about however long it (lasts).”
Willick intends to work in the chancery office on Tuesdays and Thursdays as he will remain an active pastor at his two churches.
Over three weeks into his tenure, Willick is adjusting to responsibilities that include signing important documents, meeting with various groups visiting the pastoral office and celebrating significant services, such as the Rite of Election on the first Sunday of Lent.
What has he learned during these early days?
“Sometimes you forget how big the Church is,” said Willick. “It's not just this little diocese. I'm receiving daily communications from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, and then there are also (dispatches) from Rome. You're reminded of just how huge and integrated the church is.”
And though not surprising, another appreciated aspect of Willick’s elevation to apostolic administrator is the large number of congratulations he is receiving from P.E.I. Catholics.
“I feel the goodness of God’s people and the power of their prayers,” said Willick. “It has been wonderful.”
Willick also expressed gratitude for the diocesan staff with whom he is now working on a daily basis.
Parish visits are possible in the days and weeks ahead, but the first major opportunity for Willick to address his brother priests about the state of the diocese is the forthcoming clergy days at Our Lady of Hope Retreat Centre in Hunter River.
In accordance with Canon Law regulations for apostolic administrators, Willick will not be authorized to enact long-term structural or financial changes. Specifically, he is not allowed to suppress parishes or sell major diocesan property. He also cannot name any permanent pastors, but he can appoint temporary parochial administrators.
(Amundson is an associate editor and writer for The Catholic Register.)
A version of this story appeared in the March 01, 2026, issue of The Catholic Register with the headline "From soil man to a soul man".
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