Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., appointed Bishop of St. George’s

Wednesday, August 06 2003

(CCCB – Ottawa) – His Holiness Pope John Paul II today named Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, O.M.I., as Bishop of St. George’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Bishop Crosby will remain Bishop of Labrador City-Schefferville, a position he has held for more than five years.

Born in Marathon, Ontario, on June 28, 1949, Bishop Crosby entered the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1967 and was ordained priest on September 27, 1975. He holds a B.A. in philosophy and French from Carleton University, Ottawa, as well as a bachelor’s degree in theology and a master’s in pastoral studies from Saint Paul University, Ottawa.

From 1976 to 1981, he was assistant pastor of the Co-Cathedral in Labrador City, following which he served as vocations director for St. Peter’s Province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, executive coordinator of provincial services for the same Oblate province, pastor of St. Joseph’s parish in Ottawa, provincial superior of St. Peter’s Oblate Province, and director of what was then the Missions Office of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). Between 1991 and 1993, he was President of the Oblate Conference of Canada, and from 1996 to 1997 CCCB English-language General Secretary.

Bishop Crosby is an active member of the CCCB, and is currently the Chairman of its English Sector Episcopal Commission for Liturgy. Since 2002, he has also been Vice Chairman of the International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL).

The Diocese of St. George’s has been vacant since last April when Bishop Raymond J. Lahey was named Bishop of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. St. George’s has 28 diocesan priests, one priest who is a member of a religious order, one permanent deacon, 25 women religious, and three lay pastoral ministers serving a Catholic population of 38,000 in 56 parishes and missions.