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New bishop ordained in time for spring OTTAWA | The arrival of spring also her- alds the start of a new level of ecclesias- tical responsibility for Christian Riesbeck. As of March 19, His Excellency became a fully-ordained bishop in the Archdiocese of Ottawa. The Most Reverend Archbishop Terrence Prendergast presided over the Wednesday evening ordination ceremony at Notre Dame Cathredal Basilica in Ottawa. Assisting His Excellency in the consecra- tion of the new bishop were Archbishop Emeritus of Ottawa Marcel Gervais and Ar- chbishop of Gatineau Paul-André Durocher. Also attending the ordination were 40 Ca- nadian bishops and the Papal Nuncio Arch- bishop Luigi Bonazzi, the Pope’s representa- tive in Canada. The ordination schedule included the of- ficial presentation of the bishop-elect, pres- entation of the sacrament of Holy Orders touched by the hands of all the attending bishops, followed by a prayer of consecra- tion and then the anointing of the newly- ordained bishop’s head with oil. Bishop Riesbeck was presented then with the symbols of his new office, including a Book of the Gospels, a ring to symbolize his spiritual marriage to the Church, the mitre which symbolizes his teaching authority on scripture, and the crosier, or shepherd’s staff, to demonstrate his role as a spiritual
shepherd on behalf of Christ. Following the Liturgy of the Eucharist and Community, Archbishop Prendergast led Bishop Riesbeck through the cathedral so he could bless the congregation. The Papal Nuncio presented greetings from Pope Francis. A public reception for the new bishop took place in the National Art Gallery. As a newly-ordained bishop His Excellen- cy will assist Archbishop Prendergast with the spiritual needs of more than 400,000 Ca- tholics spread among 110 parishes through Ottawa and the counties of Eastern Ontario.
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