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The Diocese of Saint John, New Brunswick is the seventh oldest Roman Catholic Diocese in Canada.
It was established on September 30, 1842, by Pope Gregory XVI, when New Brunswick was detached from the Diocese of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Irish-born Father William Dollard, who had spent twenty-five years as a missionary in New Brunswick and Cape Breton, was named its first Bishop.
The Diocese originally embraced the entire Province of New Brunswick, and the Episcopal Seat was in Fredericton, the Province's Capital, for a short time before it was established in Saint John.
In 1860 the Diocese was divided in two, with the newly established Diocese of Chatham occupying the north, and the Diocese of Saint John, the south. Subsequent divisions and amalgamations followed, and today there are four Sees in the Province of New Brunswick: Moncton, Bathurst, Edmundston and Saint John, Moncton being the Metropolitan See.
Led by the Most Rev. Christian Riesbeck, C.C., thirteenth Bishop of Saint John, the Diocese serves over 115,000 Catholics dispersed over eight counties and three principal regions: Saint John, Fredericton, and Miramichi.It is served by 41 diocesan priests (20 of whom are retired), 5 priests from India, 4 priests from Nigeria, 2 priests from the Philippines, 1 priest from Ghana, 3 deacons (2 of whom are retired), and 50 religious women. There are also 4 retired diocesan and religious priests resident in the Diocese, as well as a Maronite priest, and a priest of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter.
There are 28 parishes serving 65 churches, 6 Catholic schools, 1 retreat house (Villa Madonna Retreat House), and 1 Catholic university (St. Thomas University, Fredericton), as well as a Maronite parish, and an Ordinariate community.
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The Coat of Arms of the Diocese of Saint John
On a field of blue, a dove bearing an olive branch, a symbol of peace.
Atop the crest is a bishop’s broad green hat with a winding cord ending in six tassels, layered one on two on three. These six tassels indicate a diocese, overseen by a bishop. Also atop the crest is a bishop’s gold cross, crozier, and mitre.
Motto: Pax Vobis, ‘peace be with you’ (John 20:19). The choice of the emblem and motto of peace was made by Archbishop Walsh of Halifax in 1844, which responded well to diocesan concerns and aptly fit the character of Bishop Dollard, once described as an ‘Angel of Peace.’