The Most Reverend Daniel J. Bohan

Appointed seventh Archbishop of the Regina Archdiocese
by Pope John Paul II on March 30, 2005.

He was born November 8, 1941 the first of what became a family of six children in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia where his father was stationed during the war. The family moved to Moncton, New Brunswick after the war and it was there Daniel Bohan received his early education. He entered the Holy Heart Seminary in Halifax, Nova Scotia shortly after graduating from St. Thomas University, Chatham, New Brunswick, in 1963, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. He was ordained to the priesthood May 13, 1967 and that same year received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Holy Heart Seminary. He also obtained a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Université Laval, Quebec and a Masters of Theology from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana.

He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto, Ontario May 14, 2003 and Titular of Migirpa and ordained to the Episcopate July 3, 2003 at St. Augustine's Church, Moncton. 

Archbishop Bohan served as pastor in several parishes in New Brunswick prior to his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto. He was professor of Moral Theology at Holy Heart Seminary from 1968-69. He also served as Episcopal Vicar for Anglophones in the Archdiocese of Moncton in 2000, was appointed to the Maritime Conference of the United Church of Canada in 1999 as the Roman Catholic representative on the Gospel, Ecumenism and Theology Committee. He is also a board member of the Atlantic School of Theology. In 2003 he was named to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as a member of the Social Affairs Commission and shortly after his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto was named as Episcopal Vicar for Religious, Chair of the Pastoral Mission Fund and Director of the Martyrs’ Shrine Board.

He is presently a chairman of the Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity, Religious Relations with the Jews, and Interfaith Dialogue.  He also is past chair of the Board of the National Catholic Broadcasting Council and is Past President of the Assembly of Western Bishops. He sits on the Ad Hoc Committee for Aboriginal Ministry of the Assembly of Western Bishops. He is also a cochairman of the newly formed National Roman Catholic/Evangelical Dialogue.

Archbishop's Message - May 6, 2010

Coat of Arms of Most Rev. Daniel J. Bohan Archbishop of Regina

The Heraldic description
of the Arms

Or a fess Azure charged with a Rose Argent barbed and seeded proper  and a Harp also Or stringed Argent and in sinister a Garb Or between in chief an Eagle rising Gules nimbed Argent grasping in the dexter claw a Serpent Vert and in base on waves of the sea a Galley, oars in action, proper.

The EAGLE is the symbol of victory recalling Bishop Bohan’s family name, or in its Irish spelling “Buadhacháin” meaning “victorious”.  The eagle holding the serpent in its talon is symbolic of the victory of Christ over evil and thus represents salvation, redemption and resurrection.

The WHITE ROSE is for “York” the original name for Toronto for whom Archbishop Bohan was first named Auxiliary Bishop.  In Christian prayer, Mary is praised as the “Mystical Rose”, the symbol of graced fertility of whom Christ was born into the world.

The HARP symbolizes  Ireland the country of origin of the Bohan family before its immigration to Canada in the early 19^th century.  In Christian symbolism, the harp represents all music played to the glory of God.

The WHEAT SHEAF is taken from the arms of the Province of Saskatchewan of which the See of Regina is located.  The heads of wheat recall the Eucharistic Bread of Life.

The GALLEY is taken from the arms of the Province of New Brunswick, Bishop Bohan’s home province.  By extension, the ship also represents the Holy Church, the Barque of Peter.  The full sail and the billowing flags indicate that this heraldic ship, like the Church, is driven by the winds of the Holy Spirit.  The oars tell of the human work it takes to navigate the ship, in cooperation with God’s plan.

The MOTTO: “Misericors et Fidelis” (“Compassionate and Faithful”) is taken from the “Letter to the Hebrews” and describes Christ, the true High Priest.