Friday morning, the Vatican announced that the Holy Father appointed Bishop Douglas Crosby, currently Bishop of Corner Brook Newfoundland and Labrador as the Bishop of Hamilton.
The Holy Father also accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Anthony F. Tonnos, in accordance with the Code of Canon Law which sets the mandatory age of retirement for Bishops at 75. Bishop Tonnos, who turned 75 in August, has led the Diocese of Hamilton since 1984.
Bishop Crosby was born on June 28, 1949, in Marathon, Ontario, after becoming a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Bishop Douglas Crosby was ordained to the priesthood on September 27, 1975, at the Holy Canadian Martyrs' Parish, Ottawa. After serving as CCCB General Secretary from 1996 to 1997, he was ordained Bishop in Ottawa on January 2, 1998, and installed two days later as Bishop of Labrador City-Schefferville.
In 2007, he was named Bishop of the newly established Diocese of Corner Brook and Labrador, which comprises all parishes and missions in the former Diocese of St. George’s on the Island of Newfoundland, in addition to those in the territory of Labrador which had previously been part of what used to be the Diocese of Labrador City – Schefferville.
Bishop Crosby has been very involved in liturgical questions both nationally and internationally. He is currently a member of the CCCB English Sector Commission for Liturgy and the Sacraments, and has previously served as the Commission’s Chairman. As the previous CCCB representative on the International Commission for English in the Liturgy (ICEL), he has also served as its Secretary and Vice-Chair.
The Diocese of Hamilton has a Catholic population of 559,290 in 155 parishes and missions, served by 122 diocesan priests, 88 priests who are members of religious orders, 24 permanent deacons and 281 religious Sisters and Brothers.
We offer our prayers and best wishes to Bishop Crosby on this new pastoral assignment as well as giving thanks for the lengthy service of Bishop Tonnos. May he enjoy a well deserved retirement! One would expect an auxiliary bishop to be appointed to assist Bishop Crosby in his ministry - the timing of which only the Vatican knows..