His Excellency Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI to receive the 2023 Award for Distinguished Service to Catholic Education
“On behalf of the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, I am honoured to announce that at its September 5, 2023, Board meeting, with much joy the Board of Trustees selected the Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, OMI, Bishop of Hamilton as the recipient of the Board’s 2023 Award for Distinguished Service to Catholic Education,” said Chairperson of the Board Patrick Daly.
“We do so in profound gratitude to Bishop Crosby for his faith filled leadership, extraordinary service and unwavering support for publicly funded Catholic education,” said Daly.
The Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, OMI, Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton, was born in Marathon, Ontario, to David and Natalie Crosby, on June 28, 1949, the first of seven children.
Bishop Crosby was ordained a priest with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1975, and served as Associate Pastor, Pastor, Vocation Director, and Provincial Superior of the Order. He also served as General Secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). He was ordained Bishop in 1998 and first served as Bishop of Labrador City-Schefferville.
In 2003, Bishop Crosby was appointed Bishop of St. George’s (Newfoundland and Labrador) while continuing to serve as Bishop of Labrador City-Schefferville. Following a realignment of diocesan boundaries, he was appointed first Bishop of Corner Brook and Labrador on September 9, 2007.
Bishop Crosby was appointed Bishop of Hamilton on September 24, 2010, and took possession of the See on November 8, 2010, at a ceremony at the Cathedral of Christ the King.
Bishop Crosby has served the CCCB as Chair of the English-Sector Liturgy Commission and represented the Conference for nine years as a member of the International Commission of English in the Liturgy (ICEL). He was also a member of the CCCB Permanent Council, serving as Co-Treasurer, Vice- President, and President.
Bishop Crosby currently serves the CCCB as Chair of the Commission of Evangelization and Catechesis, and as a member of the Standing Committee for Family and Life. He serves the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario (ACBO) as Chair of the Social Affairs Commission.
On June 1, 2022, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Crosby a member of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, led by its Prefect, Arthur Cardinal Roche.
“His presence at numerous school and system events and constant words of affirmation and support has filled out students, staff and trustees with much hope,” said Daly.
“We thank Bishop Crosby for his goodness and for at all times giving witness to the truth that Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church are the centre of our Catholic school system.”
All are invited to attend a very special ceremony to recognize and honour Bishop Crosby. A Eucharistic Celebration, Presentation Ceremony and Reception will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, beginning at 7:00 p.m.