Military Ordinariate of Canada
| Military Ordinariate of Canada Ordinariatus Militaris Canadensis Ordinariat militaire du Canada | |
|---|---|
 The Coat of Arms of the Military Ordinariate of Canada | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Rite | Latin Rite |
| Established | 17 February 1951 (64 years ago) |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Donald Thériault |
The Military Ordinariate of Canada (French: Ordinariat militaire du Canada, Latin: Ordinariatus Militaris Canadensis) is a military ordinariate of the Roman Catholic Church. Immediately subject to the Holy See, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Canadian Forces and their families.
History
The military vicariate of Canada was canonically erected on 17 February 1951 by Pope Pius XII, but Catholic bishops have served the Canadian Army since 1939. Its offices are located at the Uplands site in Ottawa. The current bishop is Donald Thériault.
The need to appoint a bishop was only felt during the Second World War, while chaplains had already been represented since the Boer War. Since the promulgation of the apostolic constitution Spirituali militum curae by Pope John Paul II, the administration of chaplaincies was made much easier. The Roman Catholic Military Ordinary is a member of the Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy (ICCMC).
Roman Catholic chaplains provide a wide range of religious and spiritual services to Canadian Armed Forces members and their families, such as the celebration of the Sacraments, counselling and religious formation.
Office holders
Military bishops
- Charles Leo Nelligan (appointed 20 September 1939 – resigned 19 May 1945)
- Maurice Roy (appointed 8 June 1946 – became military vicar 17 February 1951)
Military vicars
- Maurice Roy (appointed 17 February 1951 – retired 12 March 1982)
- Francis John Spence (appointed 21 July 1986 – became military ordinary 21 July 1986)
Military ordinaries
- Francis John Spence (appointed 21 July 1986 – resigned 28 October 1987)
- André Vallée, P.M.E. (appointed 28 October 1987 – translated to the Diocese of Hearst 19 August 1996)
- Donald Thériault (current incumbent, appointed 25 March 1998)
Noncombatant status
- See: Noncombatant status
See also
References
Bibliography
- Roman Catholic Military Ordinariate of Canada (Official Website)
- Diocèse militaire du Canada. Missa.org (in French)
- Military Ordinariate of Canada (Catholic-Hierarchy)
- Military Ordinariate of Canada (GCatholic.org)
External links
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