Oct. 21, 1948 Born in Mount Clemens to Elwin and Bernadine (Kott) Vigneron.

1948 to 1962 Raised at Immaculate Conception Parish in Ira Township, where he attended the parish grade school.

1962 to1966 Attended the high school at Sacred Heart Seminary.

1966 to 1970 Continued through college at the seminary, where he completed his undergraduate studies with majors in both philosophy and classical languages.

1970 to 1973 Lived at the North American College house of formation in Rome while attending the Pontifical Gregorian University. He received his Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from the Gregorian.

1974 to July, 1975 Returned to the Archdiocese of Detroit, was ordained a transitional deacon in 1974 and served at St. Clement of Rome Parish in Romeo.

July 26, 1975 Ordained a priest at St. Clement of Rome by Cardinal John Dearden.

1975 to 1976 Served as associate pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in Harper Woods.

1976 to 1977 Returned to Rome to complete his Licentiate in Sacred Theology degree from the Gregorian University.

1977 to 1979 Resumed his duties as associate pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish.

1979 to 1983 Assigned by Cardinal Dearden to graduate studies in the School of Philosophy of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He earned his Master of Arts degree in Philosophy there in 1983.

1983 to 1985 Resumed studies toward his Ph.D. in Philosophy.

1985 to 1986 Taught philosophy and theology at Sacred Heart Seminary.

1986 to 1987 Completed his Ph.D. in Philosophy at Catholic University of America with a dissertation on philosopher Edmund Husserl.

January 1988 to 1991 Served as dean of Sacred Heart Seminary, where he was a key member of the team that would transform the seminary into a major seminary, offering graduate theological education.

1991 to spring 1994 Returned to Rome to be an official of the Administrative Section of the Vatican Secretariat of State. He also served at that time as an adjunct instructor at the Gregorian University.

Spring 1994 until Jan. 10, 2003 Was brought back to Detroit and named as the second rector/president of the re-founded Sacred Heart Major Seminary.

June 12, 1996 Named an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit by Pope John Paul II.

July 9, 1996 Ordained as a bishop by Cardinal Adam Maida. He continued his duties as rector/president of Sacred Heart Major Seminary while providing pastoral support as auxiliary bishop to the Northeast region of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

Jan. 10, 2003 Named coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Oakland, to serve with and then succeed Bishop John S. Cummins.

Oct. 1, 2003 Installed as bishop of Oakland. In the role, he served in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops on the Committee for the American College in Louvain, the Committee on Doctrine, and the Subcommittee on the Catechism.

Sept. 25, 2008 Dedicated the new Cathedral of Christ the Light in downtown Oakland.

Jan. 5, 2009 Appointed archbishop of Detroit.