Military Ordinariate of Canada

Updated on Nov 18, 2023

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Denomination Roman Catholic Pope Francis Country Canada		Sui iuris church Latin Church Bishop Scott McCaig, C.C.

Established 17 February 1951; 66 years ago (1951-02-17)

The Military Ordinariate of Canada (French: Ordinariat militaire du Canada, Latin: Ordinariatus Militaris Canadensis) is a military ordinariate (pseudo-diocese) of the Roman Catholic Church.

It is exempt, i.e. immediately subject to the Holy See (not part of any ecclesiastical province) and its Roman Congregation for Bishops. Its headquarters (no cathedral see) are at Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa), Uplands site - Building 469, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K2. The current episcopal Ordinary is Scott MCcaig. The Roman Catholic Military Ordinary is a member of the ecumenical Interfaith Committee on Canadian Military Chaplaincy (ICCMC).

Statistics

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. As per 2014, it provides pastoral care to Roman Catholics serving in the Canadian Forces and their families in 22 parishes with 37 priests (36 diocesan, 1 religious), 7 deacons and 1 lay religious brother.

History

The military vicariate of Canada was canonically erected on 17 February 1951 by Pope Pius XII, but Catholic Army bishops have served the Canadian Army since 1939.

The need to appoint a bishop was only felt during the Second World War, while chaplains had already been represented since the Boer War.

On 1986.07.21 it was promoted as Military Ordinariate of Canada. Since the promulgation of the apostolic constitution Spirituali militum curae by Pope John Paul II, the administration of chaplaincies was made much easier.

Episcopal office holders

It twice had an Auxiliary Bishop of the Military Vicariate :

Norman Joseph Gallagher (1963.06.25 – 1966)

Francis John Spence (1967.04.01 – 1970.08.17 see below), Titular Bishop of Nova (1967.04.01 – 1970.08.17), next Bishop of Charlottetown (Canada) (1970.08.17 – 1982.03.14)

Military Bishops

Charles Leo Nelligan (appointed 20 September 1939 – resigned 19 May 1945), while Bishop of Pembroke (Canada) (1937.08.16 – 1945.05.19); emeritate as Titular Bishop of Phœnice (1945.05.19 – 1970.11.16), died 1974

Maurice Roy (appointed 8 June 1946 – see below became first Military Vicar 17 February 1951), while first Bishop of Trois-Rivières (Canada) (1946.02.22 – 1947.06.02), then Metropolitan Archbishop of Québec (Canada) (1947.06.02 – retired 1981.03.20)

Military Vicars

Maurice Roy (see above appointed 17 February 1951 – retired 12 March 1982), created Cardinal-Priest of Nostra Signora del SS. Sacramento e Santi Martiri Canadesi (1965.02.25 – death 1985.10.24), President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity (1967.01.06 – 1976.12.16), President of the Pontifical Commission of Justice and Peace (1967.01.06 – 1976.12.16), President of the Committee for the Family (1973.01.11 – 1976.12.16)

Francis John Spence (see above appointed 21 July 1986 – see below' became first Military Ordinary 21 July 1986)

Military Ordinaries

Francis John Spence (see above appointed 21 July 1986 – resigned 28 October 1987), while Metropolitan Archbishop of Kingston (Canada) (1982.04.24 – 2002.04.27), later President of Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (1995 – 1997)

André Vallée, Society of Foreign Missions (P.M.E.) (appointed 28 October 1987 – 19 August 1996), Titular Bishop of Sufasar (1987.10.28 – 1996.08.19), later translated to the Diocese of Hearst (1996.08.19 – retired 2005.11.03), died 2015; previously Superior General of Society of Foreign Missions (1973.07.05 – 1979.06.05)

Donald Thériault (appointed 25 March 1998, retired 2016.04.08), no other office

Scott McCaig, Companions of the Cross (C.C.) (appointed May 31 2016 - ...), previously General Superior of Companions of the Cross (2006 – 2016.04.08)

References

Military Ordinariate of Canada Wikipedia

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