Monsignor William Irwin

Monsignor William Irwin was born in 1928 in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. He entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in 1948 and was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest on June 6, 1954.

Monsignor William Irwin was founder and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services in Edmonton which he established in 1961, with a staff of one and a budget of $5,000.00. He built Catholic Social Services into Canada’s largest multi-function social service agency operating in Canada and one of the largest in North America with 1,200 staff, 1,800 volunteers, more than 100 programs, and a budget exceeding $50 million.

The impact of this organization cannot be understated. What began in Edmonton as a relief organization to help meet the needs of those who could not help themselves has grown into a multilevel, internationally recognized relief agency.

Monsignor Irwin also served as Pastor at St. Theresa and St. Matthew parishes, and Catholic Community of Mill Woods. He initiated an international program in the Philippines to support and help families provide for themselves and provide a school for children.

Monsignor Irwin directly or indirectly touched the lives of every Catholic in the Edmonton area, in our province and in the larger Catholic community, both nationally and internationally. He was larger than life in his endeavors to minister in healing and faith to those in need, wherever they were.

Monsignor Irwin served as Chairman or member of numerous national and international human services’ Boards of Directors, including his appointment by the Government of Canada to the National Parole Board, where he served for 12 years.

In 1995, Monsignor Irwin was appointed by the Governor General of Canada as an Officer of the Order of Canada – the country’s most prestigious citizenship award. Monsignor William Irwin died in 2004 at the age of 76.