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January 3, 2023PROVIDENCE—Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of Providence, has appointed Michael Lavigne as the Secretary for Evangelization and Pastoral Planning for the Diocese of Providence. A native of Woonsocket, Michael most recently served as the Assistant Cabinet Secretary for Evangelization and Discipleship and President of the Institute for New Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Boston.
“We are thrilled to welcome Michael Lavigne to the Diocese of Providence,” said Reverend Monsignor Albert A. Kenney, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia. “His significant leadership experience will be a great benefit to the diocese and he is a man of faith, personal integrity, and a true disciple of the Lord.” In this role, Michael will oversee and set strategy for our dedicated directors and staff in youth and college ministry, Catholic education, faith formation and evangelization. The Secretary will also lead the diocese’s pastoral planning working closely with pastors and parishes.
“Both areas—evangelization and pastoral planning—are critical to the spiritual and pastoral well-being of the Church and surely will continue to be so in the days to come,” said Bishop Tobin. “This position is very comprehensive and will include many challenges and opportunities, but it is evident that Michael’s professional experience and personal commitment to the mission of the Church prepares him well to assume this new position.”
For more than 30 years, Michael has served the Catholic Church in a variety of leadership roles in parish, Catholic school, and diocesan settings. Prior roles include Senior Associate to the Episcopal Vicar for the New Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Boston and Director of the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation in the Diocese of Portland, Maine. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and communications from Rhode Island College and a Master of Arts degree in theology from Providence College.
“I am grateful to Bishop Tobin for appointing me as Secretary for Evangelization and Pastoral Planning. It is truly a blessing to have the opportunity to serve my home diocese in this role. I look forward to building upon the strong foundation of evangelization that already exists in the diocese with God's grace."
Michael and his wife Lori reside in North Dighton, Massachusetts with their children Michael Jr., Mariana, John Paul, Therese, Julia, Chiara, Celeste, and Timothy. They produce a podcast on the domestic church called Raising 8: A Couple of Sinners Trying to Raise Saints (raising8.net).
