His Excellency, the Most Reverend

Christian Riesbeck

CC
Bishop of Saint John
DioceseDiocese of Saint John
Orders
OrdinationOctober 12, 1996
ConsecrationMarch 19, 2014
by Terrence Prendergast
Personal details
BornFebruary 7, 1970
DenominationCatholic Church
Alma materUniversity of Ottawa (B. Soc. Sc.)
Saint Paul University (S.T.B.)
Motto"Evangelii Gaudium"
Coat of armsChristian Riesbeck's coat of arms
Styles of
Christian Riesbeck
Reference styleHis Excellency, The Most Reverend
Spoken styleThe Most Reverend

Christian Riesbeck CC (born February 7, 1970) is the Catholic bishop of the Diocese of St. John, New Brunswick.[1]

Early life and education

Riesbeck was born in Montreal, Quebec, the child of a German father and New Brunswick-francophone mother.[2] He received a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Political Science at the University of Ottawa, a Master of Divinity from St. Augustine's Seminary, and a Licentiate in Canon Law from St. Paul University in Ottawa.[3] He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Ottawa on October 12, 1996.[1]

Priesthood

After working for three years as a parochial vicar in Ottawa, Ontario, he was sent to Houston, Texas as a parish priest in 1999. There Riesbeck learned Spanish over seven weeks in order to celebrate mass for the congregation at predominantly Hispanic Queen of Peace parish. He was credited with a "remarkable turnaround" of the parish and its school.[2]

Riesbeck was incardinated as a member of the Companions of the Cross in 2003, and served as its Assistant General Superior. In 2010, Riesbeck was appointed Chancellor of the Diocese of Ottawa and was a judge on the Catholic Church's regional marriage tribunal. Riesbeck speaks French, English, German and Spanish.[4]

Episcopal ministry

On January 7, 2014, Christian Riesbeck was appointed an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Ottawa and titular bishop of Tipasa in Numidia by Pope Francis. On March 19, 2014, he received episcopal ordination by archbishop Terrence Prendergast joined by archbishop-emeritus Marcel Gervais and bishop Paul-Andre Durocher.

Riesbeck criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's position on abortion and suggested it would be unseemly for him to continue receiving communion, saying he takes issue with "the fact that he considers himself to be a devout Catholic but then adheres to, or advocates for, abortion." He suggested that to ameliorate his relationship with the Catholic Church, Trudeau would "have to make a public retraction of his views."[5]

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Saint John, New Brunswick, where Riesbeck was installed as bishop.

On October 15, 2019, Riesbeck was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Saint John by Pope Francis.[6] Riesbeck chose the episcopal motto "Evangelii Gaudium" — meaning "joy of the gospel" — in reference to Pope Francis's apostolic exhortation of the same name.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Bishop Christian Heribert Riesbeck [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 "A confession from Ottawa's next bishop". Retrieved 11 June 2023 – via PressReader.
  3. ↑ "Ottawa auxiliary bishop named bishop of Saint John, NB". BC Catholic. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "Resignations and Appointments". press.vatican.va. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  5. ↑ Do, Trin Theresa (21 May 2014). "Trudeau defends abortion stance amid sharp Catholic criticism". CBC. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Bishop Christian Riesbeck". Diocese of Saint John. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  7. ↑ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Christian Heribert Riesbeck". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
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