Upfront with the Archbishop is a podcast where our goal is to strengthen the relationship between the hierarchy and the faithful through informal conversations about our Catholic faith. Featuring Archbishop Richard Smith (Archdiocese of Edmonton, AB) and our host Jenny Connelly. Produced by Matthew Bodnarek and Jenny Connelly.
Jenny Connelly is a freelance journalist and the creator of the Wide Open
Spaces Podcast. Wide Open Spaces is a Catholic podcast that aims to heal division
by having humanizing conversations about controversial topics. Jenny has a background as a support worker for at-risk youth and a bachelor’s degree in English and History. She is passionate about using the art of communication to share the beauty of the Gospel and to bring about unity, rather than division.
Archbishop Richard W. Smith was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1987. He pursued further studies in Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and earned a Licence in 1993 and a Doctorate in 1998.
Pope Benedict XVI , on March 22, 2007, appointed him to the Metropolitan See of Edmonton.
Archbishop Richard Smith was formally installed as seventh Archbishop of Edmonton on Tuesday, May 1, 2007, Feast of St. Joseph the Worker.
He serves as President of the Catholic Bishops of Alberta and the Northwest Territories, and is past president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.