John Michael Sherlock

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John Michael Sherlock (born January 20, 1926 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) was Bishop of London, Ontario from July 8, 1978 to April 27, 2002.

Bishop John Michael Sherlock was born on January 20, 1926 in Regina, Saskatchewan, one of six sons and two daughters in the family of Joseph and Catherine Sherlock. Three of the sons became priests. Rev. Philip Sherlock is pastor of St. Margaret Parish in Hamilton, and Rev. William Sherlock is deceased.

When he was quite young, the family moved to Brantford where he was educated in St. Mary's elementary school and Brantford Collegiate. He attended St. Jerome's College in Kitchener and the University of Toronto where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1946. After university he entered St. Augustine's Seminary where he received his Doctor of Divinity degree. On June 3, 1950, he was ordained to the priesthood. From 1950-1952 he studied Canon Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., from which he graduated with a Licentiate in Canon Law.

From 1952-1963, Fr. Sherlock was engaged in pastoral work in St. Eugene parish in Hamilton and St. Augustine parish in Dundas. From 1963-1974 he was pastor of St. Charles Garnier parish in Hamilton and was responsible for the construction of the new parish church. In addition to these pastoral duties he served as Advocate Judge for the regional Matrimonial Tribunal from 1954-1972 and was chaplain of McMaster University's Newman Club and national chaplain of the Newman Club of Canada from 1963-1966.

An added dimension to his pastoral duties was his activity in establishing a very successful cooperative housing development from 1954-1958, where 150 low-income dwellings were constructed.

His service was extended to being a member and chairman of the Wentworth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board, vice-chairman of St. Joseph's Hospital Board in Hamilton and chaplain of the Catholic Hospital Conference of Ontario. This background experience indicates his expertise not only in the pastoral ministry, but also in the ministries of education and health.

On August 28, 1974, he was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of London in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Hamilton. Four years later he was installed as the ninth Bishop of London on August 21, 1978 when Bishop Carter became Archbishop of Toronto.

Bishop Sherlock has been and continues to be involved in the social problems of our time and has spoken out on such issues as the economic situation in our country, the poverty in the underdeveloped countries, abortion and pro-life, unemployment and education. He has tried to live his motto, "Christ, everything and in everything."

In the diocese he initiated a number of programs such as, the Ministry to Priests, Vocations, Catholic Rural Life Conference, Renew, Immigration, and offices for Communications, Ministry to Youth, Social Justice, Refugees, Liturgy and Evangelization. Since all of these programs require funding, in order to finance them, he launched the fund raising campaign known as Pentecost 2000.

Other ministries established by Bishop Sherlock include the Deaf Apostolate and the Jail Apostolate, which provides inmates with spiritual help.

Bishop Sherlock also served as president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) from 1983-1985, during which he was responsible for organizing the visit of Pope Paul II to Canada. From 1989-1991 he was the CCCB representative on the Canadian Council of Churches and Vice-President from 1990-1991. He has served as the CCCB liaison bishop with the University Chaplains of Canada and the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities; the chairman of the Social Affairs Committee of the Ontario Conference of Catholic Bishops; a member of the Board of VISION TV in Toronto and a member of the Board of the World Community for Christian Meditation.

His services in these organizations has been recognized by several universities. In 1985, Bishop Sherlock received a Doctor of Law Degree, Honoris Causa, from the University of Windsor and in April of the same year, a Doctor of Divinity Degree, Honoris Causa, from Huron College in London.

On June 13, 1994, Bishop Sherlock was installed as an honorary fellow of the University of St. Michael's College in Toronto, by Sr. Richard Alway, College President.

Bishop Sherlock implemented the Diocesan Permanent Planning Commission to study the changes in the diocese related to the involvement of laity, their training, changes in population and the availability of priests to serve the parishes.

Bishop Sherlock retired in 2002, and was succeeded as Bishop of London by Ronald Peter Fabbro.