The Cathedral Basilica, the mother church is the home to Diocese of Hamilton’s chief shepherd, His Excellency Bishop Joseph Dabrowski, CSMA, 10th Bishop of Hamilton.
The Most Reverend Joseph Dabrowski, C.S.M.A., Tenth Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton, was born in 1964, the second of five children, and grew up in Wysoka Strzyżowska, a village in the south of Poland. After graduating from a high school run by the Congregation of St. Michael the Archangel, he chose to enter the Michaelite religious order. After completing one year of the Novitiate, he made his first profession in 1982 and graduated from the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselmo in Rome, obtaining his Master of Divinity in 1991.
He was ordained to the priesthood on 4 May 1991 in Italy at the Pontifical Sanctuary of Santa Maria ad Rupes. He was assigned to join the Michaelite community in London, Ontario. In the Michaelite community, he served as Vice Superior, Advisor, Vice Provincial, and Superior of North American Vice Province. He also served as Associate Pastor at Our Lady of Czestochowa in London from 1992 to 1993; St. Michael in Leamington from 1993 to 1996; St. Pius X (now Holy Family) in London from 1996 to 1997; and St. Mary’s Parish in London from 1997 to 1998.
In 1998 he was named Pastor of St. Mary’s Parish in London, where he served until he was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of London. His episcopal ordination took place on the 14 April 2015 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in London. As Auxiliary Bishop, he served in the Diocese of London from 2015 – 2023. During this time, he served as Vicar General, Vicar for Priests, Episcopal Liaison to St. Peter’s Seminary, Member of the Board of Directors of St. Peter’s Seminary, Episcopal Liaison with Religious Communities.
On the 2 April 2023 Bishop Dabrowski was appointed by Pope Francis and he was then installed on the 29 June 2023 as the 14th Bishop of Charlottetown.
As a member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Bishop Dabrowski was appointed as Catholic Co-Chair to the Roman Catholic/Evangelical Church Dialogue (Episcopal Commission for Christian Unity), a member of the Episcopal Commission for Evangelization and Catechesis, and as a member of the Standing Committee for National Family and Life. From 2023 to 2025, he was a member of the Atlantic Episcopal Assembly.
Bishop Dabrowski enjoys serving and speaking with the faithful of many cultures and celebrating the Catholic faith in many languages. He speaks English, Polish, Italian, Spanish, and has previously studied French, Russian, and Latin.
The Cathedra
The word “Cathedral” comes from the Latin word cathedra meaning chair. The Cathedral Basilica is the home to Bishop Dabrowski’s cathedra.
On the Cathedra, is the Bishop’s coat of arms, which reflect his life of faith as a member of the Congregation of Saint Michael, the Archangel, his background growing up in Poland, studying in Italy, and serving as Priest and Bishop in Canada.
Bishop Dabrowski’s episcopal motto , “Jesu, in te confido” — “Jesus, I trust in You” — is the phrase that accompanies the image of Jesus, the Divine Mercy, revealed to Saint Faustina Kowalska.
These words summarize his life rooted in God’s love and mercy, and echo the Scripture: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.” — Jeremiah 17:7