Bishop Thomas Dowd

His Excellency, Bishop Thomas Dowd

Birth: September 11, 1970

Priestly ordination: December 7, 2001

Episcopal ordination: September 10, 2011

Motto: ''One heart and soul''

Thomas Dowd was born in Montreal on Sept. 11, 1970, and ordained a priest on Dec. 7, 2001. Following his theological studies at the Grand Seminary of Montreal, he did pastoral work in numerous parishes in the Archdiocese of Montreal. From 2005 to 2006, he served as a hospital chaplain.  He served the Archdiocese of Montreal as associate director of the Office for Pastoral Personnel and director of formation.

On July 11, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI named Fr. Dowd as auxiliary bishop of Montreal.  On October 22, 2020, Pope Francis named him the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie.

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Previous Bishops of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie


Bishop Marcel Damphousse (2016 - 2020)
Born on March 19th, 1963, in Saint Joseph, Manitoba, Bishop Marcel Damphousse was ordained a priest on June 28th, 1991 for the Archdiocese of Saint Boniface. He served in a number of French and English parishes throughout the Archdiocese before being named Rector of the Cathedral in 2008.  On June 28th, 2012, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI named the Reverend Marcel Damphousse as Bishop of Alexandria-Cornwall. He was ordained bishop on September 2, 2012 in St. Finnan’s Cathedral in Alexandria, ON.  On November 12th, 2015, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Bishop Damphousse as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.  On May 6, 2020, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Bishop Damphousse as the Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall.



Bishop Jean-Louis Plouffe (1989 – 2016)
As a priest of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, Father Plouffe carried out his pastoral duties in various parishes, including Saint-Rémi and Nativité. He served as Rector of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica from 1979 to 1982. In September 1982, he was appointed Judicial Vicar of the Ottawa Regional Ecclesiastical Tribunal.  On December 17th, 1986, His Holiness Pope John Paul II named Bishop Plouffe the Auxiliary Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie. He was ordained a Bishop in Ottawa by the Most Reverend Marcel Gervais on February 24th, 1987.  On December 14th, 1989 he became the 5th Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie.



Bishop Marcel Gervais (1985 - 1989)
During his priesthood, Fr. Gervais wrote the populare Scripture series "Journey", a set of forty lessons on the Bible. He was armed with a treasure of information from all the teachers and witnesses to the faith that had taught him.   The work was finished just as Father Gervais was ordained an auxiliary bishop of London (1980). He subsequently was made Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie Diocese in 1985, then named the Archbishop of Ottawa in 1989.



Bishop Alexander Carter - (1958 - 1985)
On February 2nd, 1957, at age 49, he was consecrated Bishop to serve as Coadjutor Bishop to Bishop R. H. Dignan, at the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. He was installed as Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie on November 22nd, 1958. He was Vice-President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops from 1965-1967, and President from 1967-1969. From 1977-1981 he was President of the Ontario Catholic Conference of Bishops.  On May 1985 Bishop Alex Carter resigned, having reached the age of 75. He received the Order of Canada in 1989. He died February 17th, 2002.






Bishop Ralph Dignan - (1934 - 1958)
Bishop Dignan was a man of principle.  While one might rightfully criticize his political convictions, one must also recognize his many qualities, in particular, his management skills.   During his entire episcopate, Bishop Dignan enriched the diocese with an impressive number of hospitals and schools of which many still exist today.  Toward the end of his episcopate, Bishop Dignan became sick and retired in London where he died on November 22nd, 1958.  His coadjutor, Bishop Alexander Carter, who had come to the diocese in 1957, became his successor and for the next twenty five years, the diocese would acquire a whole new momentum.


Bishop David Joseph Scollard (1904 - 1934)
Prior to 1904, Catholics in Northern Ontario were under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Peterborough. Faced with an ever-growing Catholic population, Bishop Richard Alphonsus O’Connor saw the need to divide the territory and create another diocese.  The idea was presented to Pope Pius X and in September 1904 the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie was officially founded.  The newly appointed Bishop Scollard spent considerable time visiting and getting acquainted with the faithful of his diocese.  His means of transportation were primitive and often, while travelling, he contended with other difficulties.  Fortunately, Bishop Scollard was assisted in his ministry by six diocesan priests, thirty-eight Jesuits priests, eighteen Jesuit coadjutor brothers and the relentless dedication of various other religious orders.  A person of Irish descent, Bishop Scollard was a true man of his time.  One must also acknowledge that Bishop Scollard was a man of vision who foresaw a bright future for Northern Ontario.  For twenty-nine years he worked diligently for the people of this Diocese, continually building and nurturing the Catholic faith.