DIOCESE OF PENSACOLA - TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA

       Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ was installed as the Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee on Thursday, March 13, 1997 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pensacola. Bishop Ricard moved from the Archdiocese of Baltimore where he served as Auxiliary Bishop since his Episcopal Ordination on July 2, 1984. During his twelve years in Baltimore, Bishop Ricard served as Urban Vicar and Regional Bishop with responsibility for parishes in the city of Baltimore.

He brings with him a formidable reputation of leadership having served as pastor in Washington, DC prior to his Episcopal ordination, and as Chairman of the Domestic Policy Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops following his appointment as an Auxiliary Bishop of Baltimore.

He is currently serving as chairman of the ad-hoc committee for the Church of Africa as a part of the International Justice and Peace/Social Development and World Peace department of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Ricard is also chairman of the Board of Trustees for the National Black Catholic Congress (NBCC).

Bishop Ricard was born February 29, 1940 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Bishop Ricard was raised a family of eight children with three brothers and four sisters. He attended St. Francis Xavier Elementary and High School in Baton Rouge, and upon completion of high school, entered the Josephite College Seminary in Newburgh, New York. He completed his theological training at St. Joseph's Seminary in Washington, DC and was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1968.

Since ordination, Bishop Ricard continued his studies receiving a Masters Degree from Tulane University in New Orleans in 1970 and a Doctoral Degree from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, in 1983.