John Ricard
Encyclopedia
John Huston Ricard, S.S.J.
(born February 29, 1940) is an African American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He was the fourth Bishop
of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
.
; he is Creole. After graduating from St. Francis Xavier High School in 1958, he joined the Josephite Fathers
at Mary Immaculate Novitiate in Walden
, New York
, and entered Epiphany Apostolic College in Newburgh
. He completed his theological
studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, D.C.
, and was ordained
to the priesthood
on May 25, 1968.
He then served as assistant pastor
at St. Peter Claver Church in New Orleans
until 1972, and earned a Master degree from Tulane University
in 1970. He was pastor
of Holy Redeemer Church (1972–75) and of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Church (1975–79), both in Washington, D.C., where he also served as an instructor at the National Catholic School of Social Service at the Catholic University of America
from 1976 to 1978. He was also pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, and earned a doctor of philosophy
from the Catholic University in 1983.
In 1984, he was appointed auxiliary bishop
of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where he was responsible for parishes in the city of Baltimore. In 1997, Ricard was made Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
.
He is currently on chair of the Sub Committee of the Church in Africa and a member of the Committee on Justice and Peace and Human Development of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
and former Chair of Catholic Relief Services
.
On Tuesday, December 22, 2009, John Ricard suffered a stroke and was treated at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He tendered his resignation to His Holiness
, the Holy Father
, Pope Benedict XVI
in February 2011 due to poor health. Pope Benedict accepted Bishop Ricard's request for retirement on March 11, 2011 and appointed Archbishop Thomas Wenski
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
, the metropolitan see for the state of Florida (the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami), of which the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee is a part, to serve as the Apostolic Administrator
until a new bishop is appointed.
In June of 2011, Bishop Ricard was appointed rector of St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, DC. He commenced service as rector on August 1, 2011.
Josephite Fathers
The Josephite Fathers and Brothers or, more properly, Saint Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart, Inc. are a society of Catholic priests and brothers, based in the United States. It was formed in 1871 by a group of priests from the English Foreign Mission Society of Saint Joseph, also known as...
(born February 29, 1940) is an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He was the fourth Bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee is a Roman Catholic diocese in Florida; it was founded on October 1, 1975. The Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee is the pastor of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart located in Pensacola, Florida...
.
Biography
John Ricard was born in Baton RougeBaton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
; he is Creole. After graduating from St. Francis Xavier High School in 1958, he joined the Josephite Fathers
Josephite Fathers
The Josephite Fathers and Brothers or, more properly, Saint Joseph's Society of the Sacred Heart, Inc. are a society of Catholic priests and brothers, based in the United States. It was formed in 1871 by a group of priests from the English Foreign Mission Society of Saint Joseph, also known as...
at Mary Immaculate Novitiate in Walden
Walden, New York
Walden is the largest of three villages of the Town of Montgomery in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 6,978 at the 2010 census. It has the ZIP Code 12586 and the 778 telephone exchange within the 845 area code...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and entered Epiphany Apostolic College in Newburgh
Newburgh (city), New York
Newburgh is a city located in Orange County, New York, United States, north of New York City, and south of Albany, on the Hudson River. Newburgh is a principal city of the Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown metropolitan area, which includes all of Dutchess and Orange counties. The Newburgh area was...
. He completed his theological
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on May 25, 1968.
He then served as assistant pastor
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St. Peter Claver Church in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
until 1972, and earned a Master degree from Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in 1970. He was pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Holy Redeemer Church (1972–75) and of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Church (1975–79), both in Washington, D.C., where he also served as an instructor at the National Catholic School of Social Service at the Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
from 1976 to 1978. He was also pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, and earned a doctor of philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
from the Catholic University in 1983.
In 1984, he was appointed auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where he was responsible for parishes in the city of Baltimore. In 1997, Ricard was made Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee is a Roman Catholic diocese in Florida; it was founded on October 1, 1975. The Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee is the pastor of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart located in Pensacola, Florida...
.
He is currently on chair of the Sub Committee of the Church in Africa and a member of the Committee on Justice and Peace and Human Development of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is the episcopal conference of the Catholic Church in the United States. Founded in 1966 as the joint National Conference of Catholic Bishops and United States Catholic Conference, it is composed of all active and retired members of the Catholic...
and former Chair of Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services is the international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Founded in 1943 by the U.S. bishops, the agency provides assistance to 130 million people in more than 90 countries and territories in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and...
.
On Tuesday, December 22, 2009, John Ricard suffered a stroke and was treated at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. He tendered his resignation to His Holiness
His Holiness
His Holiness is the official style or manner of address in reference to the leaders of certain religious groups. In Christianity, specifically the Orthodox Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church, Armenian Orthodox Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the Roman Catholic...
, the Holy Father
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
in February 2011 due to poor health. Pope Benedict accepted Bishop Ricard's request for retirement on March 11, 2011 and appointed Archbishop Thomas Wenski
Thomas Wenski
Thomas Gerard Wenski is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He is currently Archbishop of Miami, having been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI on April 20, 2010 and installed on June 1, 2010...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami
The Archdiocese of Miami is a particular church of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States of America. Its ecclesiastic territory includes Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The archdiocese is the metropolitan see for the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami,...
, the metropolitan see for the state of Florida (the Ecclesiastical Province of Miami), of which the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee is a part, to serve as the Apostolic Administrator
Apostolic Administrator
An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration...
until a new bishop is appointed.
In June of 2011, Bishop Ricard was appointed rector of St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, DC. He commenced service as rector on August 1, 2011.
External links
- National Black Catholic Congress bio of John Ricard
- National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus bio of John Ricard