Catholic Diocese of Timmins gets new bishop

Incense wafted through the aisles of St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral on Monday afternoon as the region’s Catholics gathered for the ordination of Roch Martin as the eighth bishop of Timmins. 

Sisters Victoria Alapa and Sister Lucy Agbo travelled from Sudbury for the special ceremony. 

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“I belong to the religious order Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus from Nigeria,” said Alapa, as she entered the nave of the cathedral, dressed in a white habit and veil. 

“We are here in the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie,” she said adding they have another community in Elliot Lake. 

“Monsigneur Roch used to be the vicar of our diocese, and we are happy for him.” 

Bishop Martin was born in Sturgeon Falls, and his pastoral ministry has unfolded across numerous parishes in the Greater Sudbury area. Before his arrival in Timmins, in 2021 he was appointed the vicar general of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie. 

Pope Leo XIV announced Martin’s appointment May 1 as the next bishop of Timmins. The Diocese of Timmins has 28 parishes and missions, with a Catholic population of 48,900.  

The diocese comprises the southeastern part of the District of Cochrane, and the entire District of Timiskaming. 

Local volunteer Cathy Davis, organizer of the Sept. 20 Terry Fox Run, said it was special just to be in the cathedral. 

“It’s amazing just to see people from all different generations and areas of our diocese — it’s wonderful,” she said, while taking her seat next to Glenn Sheculski, chair of the Northeastern Catholic District School Board. 

For his ordination, Bishop Martin was assisted by Archbishop Marcel Damphousse of Ottawa and Archbishop Thomas Dowd of Sault Ste. Marie. 

The ordination began with a processional hymn and continued with the presentation and election of the bishop-elect, his examination, the litany of the saints, and the proclamation of the gospel. 

According to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, “the sacrament includes the laying on of hands by the bishops and the consecratory prayer, through which the bishop receives the fullness of the sacrament of holy orders and the grace of the Holy Spirit for the threefold ministry of sanctifying, teaching, and governing the people of God in communion with the college of bishops.”  

Bishop Martin was presented with the symbols of his office: The Book of Gospels, the episcopal ring, mytre and crosier. 

Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau was spotted in the crowd, as was the former mayor of Cobalt. 

“I am from St. Patrick’s Parish in Cobalt, and they needed someone to come up here to represent the parish,” said George Othmer, seated in a pew beside the sanctuary with his wife. 

“My wife is heavily involved with the parish and is one of the readers today, so we decided to make the trip up.” 

Bishop Martin succeeds Bishop Serge Poitras who led the diocese since 2012.