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Bishop John H. Ricard, S.S.J.
was installed as the Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of
Pensacola-Tallahassee on Thursday, March 13, 1997 at the
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pensacola. He was
appointed by Pope John Paul II and succeeds Bishop John
M. Smith. The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
encompasses approximately 62,000 Catholics and a
territory that incorporates the panhandle of Florida
extending 14,044 square miles from Pensacola to
Tallahassee.
Bishop Ricard moved from the Archdiocese of Baltimore where he served as
Auxiliary Bishop since his Episcopal Ordination on July 2, 1984. During his
twelve years in Baltimore, Bishop Ricard served as urban Vicar and Regional
Bishop with responsibility for parishes in the City of Baltimore. He brings with
him a formidable reputation of leadership having served as a pastor in
Washington, D.C. prior to his episcopal ordination and as Chairman of the
Domestic Policy Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops
following his appointment as an Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore. He is currently
serving as a member of he Administrative Board of National Conference of
Catholic Bishops and Chair of Catholic Relief Services which provides world wide
humanitarian aid in over 80 countries around the world.
Bishop
Ricard is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was raised in a
family of eight children with three brothers and four sisters. He attended St.
Francis Xavier Elementary and High school in Baton Rouge and upon completion of
high school entered the Josephite College Seminary in Newburgh, New York. He
completed his theological training at St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, D.C.
and was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1968. Since ordination, Bishop
Ricard continued his studies receiving a Masters Degree from Tulane University
in New Orleans in 1970 and a Doctoral Degree from The Catholic University of
America in Washington, D.C. in 1983. |
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