Military Ordinariate of Canada

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Military Ordinariate of Canada
Ordinariatus Militaris Canadensis
Ordinariat militaire du Canada
Coat of Arms of the Roman Catholic Military Ordinariate of Canada.svg
The Coat of Arms of the Military Ordinariate of Canada
Location
Country Canada
Information
Denomination Roman Catholic
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Established 17 February 1951; 65 years ago (1951-02-17)
Current leadership
Pope Francis
Bishop Scott MCcaig

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[edit]

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 Scott MCcaig.

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[edit]

Military bishops[edit]

  • 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[edit]

  • 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[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]