His family moved to Timmins where he completed his primary and secondary studies. He went on to study music at the University of Western Ontario graduating with a Bachelor of Musical Arts in 1977. He then entered Saint Paul's Seminary in Ottawa where he earned degrees in theology (a Bachelor in 1981 and a Master of Arts in 1985). He also completed his Bachelor of Education at the University of Ottawa in 1980.

He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Timmins on July 2, 1982. In 1992, he completed a civil license in Canon Law from the University of Strasbourg in France. A sabbatical year in 1996 allowed him to complete the License in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

 

He was ordained to the episcopacy on March 14, 1997, as Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. On April 26, 2002, he was appointed Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall and was installed in the Diocese on June 17, 2002.

 

Bishop Durocher is a member of the Executive Committee of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, holding the position of Co-treasurer. He is also a member of the Episcopal Commission for Liturgy and the Sacraments (French sector).  He also sits on the Education Commission of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario.