Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario was decreed on September 16, 1904 and is formed by the southern portions of the districts of Thunder Bay
, Algoma
, Sudbury
and Nipissing
.
The area has a long history within the Roman Catholic Church. The Recollets
were the first missionaries in the Nipissing region around 1622. A number of Jesuits entered the area in 1641; Father Claude Pijart, being the leading missionary of that group. Their three missions were abandoned after a number of years but Father Claude-Jean Allouez
found converts still adhering to their faith in 1667.
In 1668 the mission of Sault Sainte Marie was founded by the Jesuits and used as a base for expeditions to adjacent areas. Priests who appear in historical accounts of the time include Frs. Gabriel Druillettes
, Louis André, , and Pierre Bailloquet
.
Little further expansion took place until about 1836 when Rev. Proulx began an expansion which reached Fort William
in 1849. Expansion after this point was rapid with hospitals and schools added to the parishes, churches and missions that marked this growth.
, although the current bishop, Jean-Louis Plouffe, is based at the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption in North Bay
. The diocese's administrative offices are located in Sudbury.
Thunder Bay District, Ontario
Thunder Bay District is a district and census division in Northwestern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. The district seat is Thunder Bay....
, Algoma
Algoma District, Ontario
Algoma District is a district and census division in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1858 comprising territory as far west as Minnesota...
, Sudbury
Sudbury District, Ontario
The Sudbury District is a district in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1894 from townships of eastern Algoma District and west Nipissing District....
and Nipissing
Nipissing District, Ontario
Nipissing District, Ontario is a district in Northeastern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was created in 1858. The district seat is North Bay.In 2006, the population was 84,688...
.
The area has a long history within the Roman Catholic Church. The Recollets
Recollets
The Récollets were a French branch of the Roman Catholic order, the Franciscans , which developed out of a reform movement that began in the 15th century in Spain and established itself in France in Tulle in 1585, at Nevers in 1592, at Limoges in 1596 and in Paris in 1603...
were the first missionaries in the Nipissing region around 1622. A number of Jesuits entered the area in 1641; Father Claude Pijart, being the leading missionary of that group. Their three missions were abandoned after a number of years but Father Claude-Jean Allouez
Claude-Jean Allouez
Claude Jean Allouez was a Jesuit missionary and French explorer of North America.Allouez was born in Saint-Didier-en-Velay in the département of Haute-Loire in south-central France. In 1639, he graduated from the College of Le Puy, and became a Jesuit novice in Toulouse, France. In 1655, he was...
found converts still adhering to their faith in 1667.
In 1668 the mission of Sault Sainte Marie was founded by the Jesuits and used as a base for expeditions to adjacent areas. Priests who appear in historical accounts of the time include Frs. Gabriel Druillettes
Gabriel Druillettes
Gabriel Druillettes was born in France and became a Jesuit priest. He came to Canada in 1643 after completing his Jesuit training and is remembered in Canadian history mainly because of his explorations...
, Louis André, , and Pierre Bailloquet
Pierre Bailloquet
Pierre Bailloquet was a Jesuit missionary to the First Nation people of Canada.Born in France, Bailloquet entered studies with the Jesuits at eighteen and after ordination taught for some time in France. He arrived in Quebec in 1647 and spent forty-five years as a missionary from Acadia to...
.
Little further expansion took place until about 1836 when Rev. Proulx began an expansion which reached Fort William
Fort William, Ontario
Fort William was a city in Northern Ontario, located on the Kaministiquia River, at its entrance to Lake Superior. It amalgamated with Port Arthur and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Ever since then it has been the largest city in Northwestern...
in 1849. Expansion after this point was rapid with hospitals and schools added to the parishes, churches and missions that marked this growth.
Cathedrals
The official diocesan cathedral is the Precious Blood Cathedral in Sault Ste. MarieSault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, although the current bishop, Jean-Louis Plouffe, is based at the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption in North Bay
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
. The diocese's administrative offices are located in Sudbury.
Bishops
- David Joseph Scollard - September 20, 1904 - September 7, 1934
- Ralph Dignan - December 22, 1934 - November 22, 1958
- Alexander CarterAlexander CarterAlexander Carter, OC was a Canadian bishop, who served as head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario from 1958 to 1985....
- November 22, 1958 - May 3, 1985 - Marcel Gervais - May 3, 1985 - May 13, 1989
- Jean-Louis Plouffe - December 2, 1989 - present