My full name is Dennis Matthew Bedard, which is why I sign my official signature as Rev. D. Matthew Bedard. I prefer to be referred to as "Father Matthew" or "Father Bedard." I was born February 24, 1971 to parents Dennis and Dianne Bedard and was raised in the vicinity of Belle River, Ontario. I am the eldest of 5 children; Kevin, Michael, Robert and Rebecca are my brothers and sister. My home parish was St. Simon and St. Jude in Belle River. I attended St. John the Baptist Catholic Elementary School in Belle River, ON and St. Anne Catholic Secondary School in Tecumseh, ON. I studied 2 years of business administration at the University of Windsor and obtained a diploma in chemical engineering from St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology in Windsor. Some of my work experiences include de-tasselling corn, working in fields, and manual labour for a farm and trucking company. I also pumped gas and worked at a local garage. During my university and college years, I worked in Windsor on the assembly lines for Chrysler Corporation. I was available to my parish where I volunteered in various ministries and assisted with building and ground maintenance. I also worked for a year in the parish performing the same duties along with publishing the parish bulletin. I entered the seminary in 1996 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 3, 2003, the Feast of St. Philip and St. James. My previous parish assignments have been: St. Peter in Goderich, Our Lady of the Atonement in Forest Glade (Windsor), St. Anne in Tecumseh, St. Michael in London, the clustered parishes of St. Benedict, Our Lady of Mercy and St. Joseph in Sarnia (2007 - 2010), St. Charles Garnier in Glencoe and Sacred Heart in Delaware (2010 – 2018) My most recent assignment has been the parishes of St. Michael in Bright’s Grove and Sacred Heart in Sarnia (2018 – 2021). I have served on various committees in the diocese including: Vocations, Ministry to Priests, Council of Priests, Board of Shareholders for St. Peter's Seminary and Board of Directors for the St. John the Evangelist Pension Fund Society for priests (currently). I am currently appointed as the Episcopal Vicar for the Deanery of Sarnia which keeps me involved on the Episcopal Council, the College of Consultors and the Council of Priests (of which I am the Chair).