New Auxiliary Bishop appointed for Ottawa

Today, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appointed Father Christian Riesbeck, CC, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, and assigned to him the Titular See of Tipasa di Numidia.

Father Riesbeck was born in Montreal on February 7, 1970 and completed his primary education in Aylmer (Gatineau, Quebec) as well as Nepean, Ontario.  He then attended Saint Pius X High School in Ottawa before moving on to the University of Ottawa where he completed the requirements for the Bachelor of Political Science degree.  He subsequently completed his seminary studies at Saint Augustine's Seminary in Toronto, and after ordination (which took place on October 12, 1996 in the Archdiocese of Ottawa), he also completed a Licentiate in Canon Law at Saint Paul University (Ottawa).

Bishop-elect Riesbeck is a member of the Companions of the Cross, a priestly Society of Apostolic Life which was founded in Ottawa.

Following his ordination to priesthood, Bishop-elect Riesbeck served for three years as Associate Pastor, and then served for a further seven years as Pastor of Queen of Peace parish in Houston, Texas, USA.  Since 2010, he has been serving as the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Ottawa and as a judge on the Regional Matrimonial Tribunal.