+Thomas Dowd
@thomasdowd.bsky.social
Roman Catholic Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario, Canada)
I'm stuck at home with the flu but nonetheless full of joy, because today is my 24th anniversary of ordination as a priest. What a gift this vocation has been, certainly for me and, I hope, for others. Please pray for me!
December 7, 2025 at 3:16 PM
I'm stuck at home with the flu but nonetheless full of joy, because today is my 24th anniversary of ordination as a priest. What a gift this vocation has been, certainly for me and, I hope, for others. Please pray for me!
Today I had the pleasure to admit these two men as candidates for Holy Orders. Kevin McAllister (left) will be completing his theology for eventual ordination as a priest, and Art Henry (right) is on track to be a permanent deacon. Another step on their journey!
December 1, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Today I had the pleasure to admit these two men as candidates for Holy Orders. Kevin McAllister (left) will be completing his theology for eventual ordination as a priest, and Art Henry (right) is on track to be a permanent deacon. Another step on their journey!
Today is my mom's 85th birthday. We celebrated with her a few days ago. Happy birthday Mama, we love you!
November 21, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Today is my mom's 85th birthday. We celebrated with her a few days ago. Happy birthday Mama, we love you!
While my heart will always be with the former Expos, I thought I'd put on the Toronto jersey I got this summer for Halloween (and game 6). Go Blue Jays!
October 31, 2025 at 2:52 PM
While my heart will always be with the former Expos, I thought I'd put on the Toronto jersey I got this summer for Halloween (and game 6). Go Blue Jays!
I concluded my week of parish pastoral visitation today, and my last event was a brunch at the home of a parishioner. She lives in the country, so I got to visit with her cats, chickens, and goats. I'm telling you, my diocese has everything! :-)
October 26, 2025 at 11:57 PM
I concluded my week of parish pastoral visitation today, and my last event was a brunch at the home of a parishioner. She lives in the country, so I got to visit with her cats, chickens, and goats. I'm telling you, my diocese has everything! :-)
Today is the 5th anniversary of my appointment (technically called an "election") as diocesan bishop of Sault Ste. Marie. As a bit of a throwback, here is a letter I wrote to the people of my diocese for that day. Please pray for me, and for my diocese!
dioceseofsaultstemarie.org/documents/20...
dioceseofsaultstemarie.org/documents/20...
dioceseofsaultstemarie.org
October 22, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Today is the 5th anniversary of my appointment (technically called an "election") as diocesan bishop of Sault Ste. Marie. As a bit of a throwback, here is a letter I wrote to the people of my diocese for that day. Please pray for me, and for my diocese!
dioceseofsaultstemarie.org/documents/20...
dioceseofsaultstemarie.org/documents/20...
The pastoral visit continues! In Skead, I did a deep dive into history, seeing a picture of Bishop Dignan celebrating Mass in the little church. In Garson, I made a visit to the First Baptist Church as well as the food bank. These "purple ladies" do so much to help others!
October 22, 2025 at 1:47 AM
The pastoral visit continues! In Skead, I did a deep dive into history, seeing a picture of Bishop Dignan celebrating Mass in the little church. In Garson, I made a visit to the First Baptist Church as well as the food bank. These "purple ladies" do so much to help others!
I started my parish pastoral visit in Garson and Skead this weekend, and showed this little cutie the statues of Mary and Joseph (and the child Jesus). She helped me hold the pastoral staff while her dad took the picture (which I post with permission). I love this job. 😀
October 20, 2025 at 12:10 AM
I started my parish pastoral visit in Garson and Skead this weekend, and showed this little cutie the statues of Mary and Joseph (and the child Jesus). She helped me hold the pastoral staff while her dad took the picture (which I post with permission). I love this job. 😀
A gorgeous day in Gore Bay for a visit from Premier Doug Ford, Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister George Pirie, and our local MPP Bill Rosenberg to the site of the new Saint Joseph Lodge building. As Honourary Chairman it was my privilege to be present, and to reconnect with friends.
October 10, 2025 at 12:00 AM
A gorgeous day in Gore Bay for a visit from Premier Doug Ford, Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister George Pirie, and our local MPP Bill Rosenberg to the site of the new Saint Joseph Lodge building. As Honourary Chairman it was my privilege to be present, and to reconnect with friends.
It is with great sadness that I pass on the news that Fr. Hamish Currie, Pastor of the parish of Precious Blood Cathedral in Sault Ste. Marie, passed away this morning. Wake and funeral details to follow. Please pray for him, and for his family, friends, and parishioners.
September 20, 2025 at 1:20 AM
It is with great sadness that I pass on the news that Fr. Hamish Currie, Pastor of the parish of Precious Blood Cathedral in Sault Ste. Marie, passed away this morning. Wake and funeral details to follow. Please pray for him, and for his family, friends, and parishioners.
Yes, today is my 55th birthday. Here's a picture of me at a somewhat younger age. How times change! Please pray for me!
September 11, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Yes, today is my 55th birthday. Here's a picture of me at a somewhat younger age. How times change! Please pray for me!
Today is my 14th anniversary of ordination as a Bishop. One thing for sure, it has never been boring. Please pray for me, and all the people I am called to serve!
September 10, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Today is my 14th anniversary of ordination as a Bishop. One thing for sure, it has never been boring. Please pray for me, and all the people I am called to serve!
I was looking forward to participating in our English-language retreat for priests this week, then this happened (result from this morning). Aarrgghh! I guess I'll be doing my retreat from home.
September 9, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I was looking forward to participating in our English-language retreat for priests this week, then this happened (result from this morning). Aarrgghh! I guess I'll be doing my retreat from home.
Another pic from the meeting with Pope Leo XIV on September 3. I was able to introduce myself and our beautiful diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. The man in the background is Cardinal Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
September 8, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Another pic from the meeting with Pope Leo XIV on September 3. I was able to introduce myself and our beautiful diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. The man in the background is Cardinal Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.
Day 3 of our meeting of the Joint Working Group (Wed, Sept 3). I am posting this a couple of days later to make sure I got the photos and news articles associated with the day - like this one! A thread. 🧵
September 5, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Day 3 of our meeting of the Joint Working Group (Wed, Sept 3). I am posting this a couple of days later to make sure I got the photos and news articles associated with the day - like this one! A thread. 🧵
Day 2 of our meeting of the Joint Working Group. A thread. 🧵
September 3, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Day 2 of our meeting of the Joint Working Group. A thread. 🧵
Day 1 of our meeting of the Joint Working Group. While a formal statement of what we accomplished will be published later, I am happy to share some personal reflections. A thread. 🧵
September 1, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Day 1 of our meeting of the Joint Working Group. While a formal statement of what we accomplished will be published later, I am happy to share some personal reflections. A thread. 🧵
I'm back in Rome for a meeting between the Holy See and the World Council of Churches. I'll be here for just a few days. A thread. 🧵
August 31, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I'm back in Rome for a meeting between the Holy See and the World Council of Churches. I'll be here for just a few days. A thread. 🧵
Fun bishop moment! I was at Boston Pizza with our deacon candidates and a woman came over to introduce herself. She was there with her daughters, and apparently I had confirmed two of them! So I went over to say hi and mom took this picture (shared with her permission). Nice!
August 30, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Fun bishop moment! I was at Boston Pizza with our deacon candidates and a woman came over to introduce herself. She was there with her daughters, and apparently I had confirmed two of them! So I went over to say hi and mom took this picture (shared with her permission). Nice!
I was out for my walk this morning and I saw our neighbourhood had a visiting red fox! He probably followed the train tracks and didn't expect to be in the suburbs. Just another day in northern Ontario. Beautiful.
August 30, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I was out for my walk this morning and I saw our neighbourhood had a visiting red fox! He probably followed the train tracks and didn't expect to be in the suburbs. Just another day in northern Ontario. Beautiful.
I was in the small church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Gore Bay this afternoon, to celebrate Confirmation for two candidates. Congrats to both of them!
August 25, 2025 at 3:15 AM
I was in the small church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Gore Bay this afternoon, to celebrate Confirmation for two candidates. Congrats to both of them!
Message from Pope Leo: "I invite all the faithful to devote the day of 22 August to fasting and prayer, imploring the Lord to grant us peace and justice, and to dry the tears of those who suffer as a result of the ongoing armed conflicts."
August 21, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Message from Pope Leo: "I invite all the faithful to devote the day of 22 August to fasting and prayer, imploring the Lord to grant us peace and justice, and to dry the tears of those who suffer as a result of the ongoing armed conflicts."
J'ai eu la chance ce matin de célébrer la messe avec le Conseil scolaire Nouvelon. Un grand merci de l'initiative! Mais pourquoi cette photo me fait penser aux livres "Où est Charlie?" 😉
August 20, 2025 at 12:53 AM
J'ai eu la chance ce matin de célébrer la messe avec le Conseil scolaire Nouvelon. Un grand merci de l'initiative! Mais pourquoi cette photo me fait penser aux livres "Où est Charlie?" 😉
I visited with my mom this past weekend (Sunday, Aug 17). We went to Mass in the morning at St. Pat's, where she lives. Mom loves being with people, and was so happy to be there.
August 19, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I visited with my mom this past weekend (Sunday, Aug 17). We went to Mass in the morning at St. Pat's, where she lives. Mom loves being with people, and was so happy to be there.
I had a lovely visit this past Saturday (Aug 16) with Mrs. Amy Dignan, a relative of Ralph Hubert Dignan, the second Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. She is donating some artifacts from Bishop Dignan that were passed down since his passing in 1958. Thank you Amy!
August 19, 2025 at 1:40 AM
I had a lovely visit this past Saturday (Aug 16) with Mrs. Amy Dignan, a relative of Ralph Hubert Dignan, the second Bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. She is donating some artifacts from Bishop Dignan that were passed down since his passing in 1958. Thank you Amy!