Most Reverend John A. Boissonneau

Bishop John A. Boissonneau is Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto with responsibility for the Western Region that includes 67 parishes in the western part of the City of Toronto and the Regional Municipality of Peel-Dufferin. Bishop Boissonneau was born in Toronto and ordained to the priesthood on December 14, 1974. He served at the Chancery office and after graduate studies served from 1980 until 2001 in the education of priests at St. Augustine's Seminary of Toronto. In addition to his regional responsibilities, he is also Vicar for Deacons, Vicar for Christian Education, Vicar for Liturgy, Archdiocesan Liaison with the Catholic Faculties of Theology and served as Chairman of the Archdiocesan World Youth Day 2002.

Explanation of the Coat of Arms for Bishop John A. Boissonneau

ARMS

Per chevron Argent and Azure in chief two Baskets of three loaves Azure and in base a Basket of two fish Argent.

EXPLANATION

The blue chevron represents both Lake Ontario and the dome of St. Augustine’s Seminary where the bishop spent half his life as a student and a Faculty member. It also represents the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.

The three baskets, two filled with bread and one filled with fish, represent the abundance of God’s loving care in the person of Jesus as symbolized by the gospel miracle of feeding of the five thousand.

The baskets also allow for a play on words between the Old French word for a basket, “boisseau”, and the bishop’s family name.

MOTTO