On Monday, February 2, 2026, on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the installation of the new ordinary of the Diocese of Hamilton—Bishop Józef Dąbrowski, CSMA—took place at Christ the King Cathedral in Hamilton, Canada. The liturgy was especially solemn, bringing together the clergy and faithful of the diocese, as well as numerous guests from Canada and abroad.
The installation was the formal act of taking canonical possession of the diocese, in accordance with the decision of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. By this decree, Bishop Józef Dąbrowski, CSMA, was transferred from the Diocese of Charlottetown to the episcopal see of Hamilton, assuming the office of diocesan bishop.
The central moment of the celebration was the Holy Mass, presided over by the new Bishop of Hamilton.
The ceremony was attended by a large number of members of the Church hierarchy and guests from various dioceses and communities. In total, the Mass was concelebrated by 20 bishops and more than 180 priests. Among those present were the retired Archbishop of Toronto, Cardinal Thomas Collins, as well as Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Apostolic Nuncio to Canada, whose presence particularly underscored the bond between the local Church and the Holy See.
The new ordinary expressed words of gratitude to the former Bishop of Hamilton and Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Douglas Crosby, OMI, recalling his many years of service to the diocese. He also mentioned the retired bishops—Bishop Anthony Tonnos and Bishop Matthew Ustrzycki—and expressed his joy at working together with the auxiliary bishop, Bishop Wayne Lobsinger.
A particularly eloquent sign of unity and spiritual closeness was the presence of confreres from the Congregation of Saint Michael the Archangel—serving daily in Canada and the United States—as well as those who arrived from distant parts of the world, including Australia, the Dominican Republic, and Poland, to accompany the new bishop at the threshold of his pastoral mission.
The celebration was also attended by the Sisters of St. Michael the Archangel (the Michaelite Sisters), led by the General Assistant of the Congregation, Sister Alicja Roś. Their presence completed the picture of the Michaelite family, united in prayer and filled with gratitude for the new ministry of the bishop. The ceremony was given an especially personal character by the numerous presence of the bishop’s family.
In his homily, Bishop Józef Dąbrowski, CSMA, referred to the liturgical significance of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and to the Gospel scene of Simeon’s encounter with Christ. He recalled the canticle Nunc dimittis—Simeon’s prayer beginning with the words, “Now, Lord, you may let your servant go…”—spoken at the moment of recognizing the Messiah, pointing to the attitude of a person who is able to perceive God’s presence and respond to it with trust.
In this light, he encouraged that faith should not end with the mere experience of the liturgy, but should become a living witness in everyday life: in parishes, schools, and apostolic works. He emphasized that the Church is most credible when it not only speaks about Christ, but shows Him through concrete attitudes—unity, service, and closeness to the human person.
There was also a strong pastoral emphasis: the bishop expressed his desire for an open Church that listens, accompanies, and invites—even those who, for various reasons, feel distant—reminding all that the Church is for everyone.
The installation of Bishop Józef Dąbrowski, CSMA, was not only the formal assumption of the diocese, but also a clear sign of the beginning of a new chapter in its life—in a spirit of unity, gratitude, and missionary responsibility. The celebration, shared by the faithful, clergy, gathered guests, Michaelite confreres, and the new ordinary’s family, became a prayer for the blessed fruits of his pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Hamilton.
