Diocese
Of
Thunder Bay
| The Diocese of Thunder Bay |
INFORMATION |
Erected as a Diocese: April 29,1952
Patron Saints: Principal: Our Lady of Charity Secondary: St. Patrick
The Region & Statistics |
The Chancery, Offices, Personnel |
Recent History |
Most Rev. Edward Q. Jennings, D.D. Most Rev. Norman
Gallagher, D.D. Most Rev. John A. O'Mara,
D.D. Most Rev. Frederick B. Henry,
D.D. |
The Diocese of Thunder Bay is located in Northwestern Ontario. It stretches from Marathon in the east to Kenora in the west, is bordered by Lake Superior and the U.S. border on the south and goes as far north as Red Lake. It is 222,000 square kms in area. It consists of 71,700 Catholics, 20 active diocesan priests, 11 retired diocesan priests, 25 religious priests, 13 religious sisters, 26 permanent deacons, three seminarians, 42 parishes, 8 missions and 51 Catholic schools, including three high schools. In other words, it is a very large land area with a relatively small number of people. The city of Thunder Bay is the largest urban area in the Diocese, home to about 113,000 people. About one third of the Diocese's parishes are in the city.
The Chancery, Offices, Personnel
The Catholic Pastoral Centre (Chancery) is located in the city of Thunder Bay. It houses the Bishop's office, the Marriage Tribunal, St. Andrew's Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum office, the Adult Faith office and Resource Centre, the Office of Worship, the Youth Ministry office, the Communications office, the bookkeeping office, the Stewardship office and Bishop's Diocesan Ministry Campaign ("SHARING THE CHALLENGES"), the Teens Encounter Christ (youth retreat program) office, the Diocesan Office of Catholic Education, the Archives, the Chancellor, the Permanent Diaconate office, the Development and Peace office, and the Native Ministry office.
Bishop: Most Rev. Fred J. Colli, D.D.
Vicar General: Msgr. Pat Stilla (St. Patrick’s Cathedral)
Chancellor: Fr. Joseph Arockiam, J.C.L.
Director of Personnel / Bishop's Secretary: Susan Nistico
Marriage Tribunal: Fr. Joseph Arockiam, J.C.L., Cathy Elmore
Stewardship & Bishop's Diocesan Ministry Campaign: Sandie Zuback
Adult Faith, Library:
Office of Worship: Madeleine Platana
Director of Communications / NWOC / Webmaster: Tom Scura
St. Andrew's Cemetery: Bernadette Olsen
Archives: Roy Piovesana
Bookkeeper: Roselyn Douglas
Native Ministry:
Refugee Office: Rev. Mr. Mike McBride
Development & Peace, Diaconate Program: Rev. Mr. Charlie Johnston
Teens Encounter Christ: Debbie DeBruyne
World Youth Day: Fr. Terry Sawchuk
Receptionist: Mary Boland
Maintenance: Edward Borowiec
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The
Roman Catholic Diocese of Thunder Bay was erected in April 29, 1952, when Pope Pius Xll
joined part of the Archdiocese of St. Boniface and part of the Sault Ste. Marie Diocese to
form the new Diocese of Fort William. Bishop Edward Q. Jennings was transferred from
Kamloops, B.C. to be the first Shepherd, appointed May 14, 1952. He was installed as
Bishop of the newly created Diocese of Thunder Bay (Fort William at the time) in St.
Patrick's church, named by Pope Pius as the Diocesan Cathedral, the traditional centre of
a Bishop's administration. Bishop E. Jennings laid the foundation well on the Rock of
Truth which is Christ and there followed a period of consolidation and expansion as the
new Diocese grew in unity and strength. The Diocese was dedicated May 31, 1955 to Our lady of Charity; the second patron is St. Patrick, officially approved in Rome by Pope Pius Xll, July 19, 1957. In 1970 the name of the Diocese was changed to Thunder Bay when Bishop Norman J. Gallagher succeeded as the Chief Pastor on April 21. |
This beloved prelate guided the Diocese for six years in a gentle, straightforward manner and under his care it continued to grow in giving witness to the love and concern of Christ for all. The local native people named him "Chief Bebaminwadjimo" which means "he who brings good news."
On July 21, 1976, Bishop John A. O'Mara was installed as Bishop of Thunder Bay. The local native people named him "Mishe Muckqua...Big Bear...Spiritual Leader" (May 6, 1978 at Gull Bay).
Through Bishop O'Mara's leadership, many educational programs were initiated to help consolidate the strength across the geographical distance. To further assist communication throughout the Diocese and network with parishes, he established the Northwestern Ontario Catholic newspaper.
On May 11, 1995, Bishop Frederick Henry was installed as the fourth Bishop of Thunder Bay. Bishop F. Henry is already well recognized for his pastoral presence, dynamic teaching skills in proclaiming the Gospel teaching, furthering communication ecumenically, and challenging public awareness to social injustice for the poor. He left the Diocese on March 9, 1998, to become Bishop of Calgary.
On February 2, 1999, Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Fred J. Colli as the fifth Bishop of Thunder Bay. He was installed March 25, 1999, at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Bishop Fred Colli (Click here to download high resolution picture.)
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Bishop Fred Joseph Colli was born on June 17, 1949, in
St. Catharines, Ontario. He was ordained a priest on June 21, 1975, and served as
Associate Pastor of St. Kevin's Parish, Welland, Ontario, until 1978. He did Marriage
Tribunal work for the Diocese of St. Catharines from 1978 until 1994. He served as
Chancellor of the Diocese of St. Catharines from 1980 - 1994. He was pastor of St. Julia's
Church, St. Catharines, from 1986 to 1994. On Dec. 19, 1994, he was named Auxiliary Bishop
of Ottawa and on February 2, 1999, he was named Bishop of Thunder Bay by Pope John Paul
II. For the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Colli is on the Commission for Education and is the liaison bishop with the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association and the Ontario Association of Parents for Catholic Education. |
Bishop Colli is also a member of the national Commission for Liturgy, English sector, in the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Bishop Colli has a brother and a sister.
Email: bishoptb@dotb.ca
Bishop Colli’s Coat of Arms |
 |
The crest is divided into two sections by a chevron. The upper half contains a "peace dove" which is a symbol from the crest of the Diocese of St. Catharines, Bishop Colli's place of birth. The dove also represents Bishop Colli's first name which is "Frederick" and means "peaceful ruler." The Lily represents the Blessed Virgin Mary who was a faithful servant of God, and whose words are in the motto of Bishop Colli's crest, "Holy is God's Name," from Mary's great prayer, the Magnificat. The lower part of the crest contains a red cross, showing that a bishop is a servant of Jesus and the three hills at the bottom of the crest represent the bishop's surname, "Colli," which means "hills." |
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Email: chancery@dotb.ca