+Thomas Dowd
@thomasdowd.bsky.social
Roman Catholic Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario, Canada)
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! :-)
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.
Our day began with a special private audience with the Pope. He greeted each of us one by one, offered a few remarks of encouragement, and then we had a group photo. Archbishop Flavio Pace was interviewed by Vatican News about the meeting:
vaticannews.va/en/vatican-cit…
vaticannews.va/en/vatican-cit…
September 5, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Our day began with a special private audience with the Pope. He greeted each of us one by one, offered a few remarks of encouragement, and then we had a group photo. Archbishop Flavio Pace was interviewed by Vatican News about the meeting:
vaticannews.va/en/vatican-cit…
vaticannews.va/en/vatican-cit…
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. 🧵
Finally, as a personal treat, I ran into Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire of Castries, Saint Lucia. We met back in 2003, when I had been a priest for barely a year and he was bishop in Dominica, and here we were, 22 years later. A most pleasant random encounter!
September 3, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Finally, as a personal treat, I ran into Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire of Castries, Saint Lucia. We met back in 2003, when I had been a priest for barely a year and he was bishop in Dominica, and here we were, 22 years later. A most pleasant random encounter!
We then went out to dinner together, where we also met up with reps from various Protestant groups who have permanent representation in Rome.
September 3, 2025 at 6:55 AM
We then went out to dinner together, where we also met up with reps from various Protestant groups who have permanent representation in Rome.
Our afternoon session was taken up with a visit to the archeological excavations underneath Saint Peter's Basilica, which in 1950 rediscovered the tomb of Saint Peter himself, as well as a niche with contained what we believe are the bones of Saint Peter himself. Very impressive.
September 1, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Our afternoon session was taken up with a visit to the archeological excavations underneath Saint Peter's Basilica, which in 1950 rediscovered the tomb of Saint Peter himself, as well as a niche with contained what we believe are the bones of Saint Peter himself. Very impressive.
We began our first full day together with introductions and catching up on news from our local churches. We then welcomed Cardinal Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, who offered us a brief reflection on our work. And of course, a group picture!
September 1, 2025 at 7:51 PM
We began our first full day together with introductions and catching up on news from our local churches. We then welcomed Cardinal Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, who offered us a brief reflection on our work. And of course, a group picture!
Supper was a nice time to reconnect with people, some of whom I had not seen in person since our meeting in Geneva last year, and some I was meeting for the first time. Of course, no celebratory meal is complete without gelato, so that's how we ended our evening.
August 31, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Supper was a nice time to reconnect with people, some of whom I had not seen in person since our meeting in Geneva last year, and some I was meeting for the first time. Of course, no celebratory meal is complete without gelato, so that's how we ended our evening.
The meeting is for the Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches, and I was very happy to see Archbishop Vicken Aykazian of the Armenian Orthodox Church, who is my counterpart as Co-Moderator of the group.
August 31, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The meeting is for the Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches, and I was very happy to see Archbishop Vicken Aykazian of the Armenian Orthodox Church, who is my counterpart as Co-Moderator of the group.
Then a solid siesta after lunch, to recover a bit from the flight. I bought a jubilee souvenir for someone back home, and made sure to get a pic of the church down the street as the sun was setting.
August 31, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Then a solid siesta after lunch, to recover a bit from the flight. I bought a jubilee souvenir for someone back home, and made sure to get a pic of the church down the street as the sun was setting.
I flew Air Canada from Toronto yesterday and got to my residence on Via della Traspontina in Rome at around 11 am. Given it was Sunday I wanted to make sure I got to Mass, so I attended the "international Mass" at Santa Maria in Transpontina just before lunch.
August 31, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I flew Air Canada from Toronto yesterday and got to my residence on Via della Traspontina in Rome at around 11 am. Given it was Sunday I wanted to make sure I got to Mass, so I attended the "international Mass" at Santa Maria in Transpontina just before lunch.
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.
Most importantly, the relic seems to be a fragment of the True Cross. If so, this is exceedingly rare. She has donated the relic to the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, and I am going to do my best to have the seal properly identified and dated. Many thanks for this generosity!
August 25, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Most importantly, the relic seems to be a fragment of the True Cross. If so, this is exceedingly rare. She has donated the relic to the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie, and I am going to do my best to have the seal properly identified and dated. Many thanks for this generosity!