Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, DD

The Most Reverend Douglas Crosby, OMI, Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton, was born in Marathon, Ontario, to David and Natalie Crosby, on June 28, 1949, the first of seven children.

Bishop Crosby was ordained a priest with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1975, and served as Associate Pastor, Pastor, Vocation Director, and Provincial Superior of the Order. He also served as General Secretary of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB). He was ordained Bishop in 1998 and first served as Bishop of Labrador City-Schefferville.

In 2003, Bishop Crosby was appointed Bishop of St. George’s (Newfoundland and Labrdaor) while continuing to serve as Bishop of Labrador City-Schefferville. Following a realignment of diocesan boundaries, he was appointed first Bishop of Corner Brook and Labrador on September 9, 2007.

Bishop Crosby was appointed Bishop of Hamilton on September 24, 2010, and took possession of the See on November 8, 2010, at a ceremony at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Bishop Crosby has served the CCCB as Chair of the English-Sector Liturgy Commission, and represented the Conference for nine years as a member of the International Commission of English in the Liturgy (ICEL). He was also a member of the CCCB Permanent Council, serving as Co-Treasurer, Vice-President, and President.

Bishop Crosby currently serves the CCCB as Chair of the Commission for Evangelization and Catechesis, and as a member of the Standing Committee for Family and Life. He serves the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario (ACBO) as Chair of the Social Affairs Commission.

On June 1, 2022, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Crosby a member of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments, led by its Prefect, Arthur Cardinal Roche.

Bishop Crosby’s Coat of Arms

Visitors to the Cathedral of Christ the King will notice the Coat of Arms which adorns the Bishop’s Chair. The red shield and gold cross are the arms of the Crosby Family. The star on the top left quadrant calls to mind the Epiphany star which led the Wise men to Bethlehem, the City of David. Bishop Crosby was consecrated on the Feast of the Epiphany and his first name is David. The Bee in the bottom right quadrant represents industry and was used in the Municipal Arms of the City of Hamilton to express the diligent work ethic of her citizens. By combining the symbols “cross” and “bee” the shield provides a heraldic ‘cant’ or pun on the name CROS-BEE (Crosby).

His motto is Trahe Nos which means “Draw us” and indicates the Bishop’s zeal for collaborative ministry involving Bishop, Clergy and all the people of our Hamilton Diocese.

— Each of us drawn by the love of Christ.