Northern church leader takes a polar plunge to support fundraising efforts

The highest-ranking leader of Catholics from North Bay to Sault Ste. Marie plunged into icy waters after a Sudbury church surpassed a fundraising goal.

Bishop Thomas Dowd took a polar plunge into Greater Sudbury’s Ramsey Lake on Saturday after Christ the King Church surpassed its goal of raising $50,000 to repair its aged steps.

Bishop Dowd said he’d never done a polar plunge before and wanted to do it to show his investment in the community.

“By jumping in, literally, I thought it was a way of saying ‘I’m participating too. I’m investing in this as a bishop, as a leader in the community,’” he said.

“It’s my way of saying ‘I believe in this and others should too.’”

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Pastor Raymond Akor from Christ the King Church and parishioner Chris Narozanski joined Bishop Dowd to take the plunge.

The church was able to raise $80,000 thanks to community support. Pastor Akor said the total cost to repair the steps is about $600,000.

“You cannot come downtown and not look at Christ the King Church, because it’s a huge church and the face of the community downtown,” says Father Akor.

Pope Francis appointed Bishop Thomas Dowd as Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie in 2020. The area covers Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, White River and Manitoulin Island. Bishop Dowd is based in Sudbury at the downtown parish.

Akor said the church will undergo additional fundraising efforts in the future to help cover the cost of repairs.