Judicial Vicar

The judicial vicar is an ecclesiastical judge appointed by the bishop and responsible for overseeing the judicial processes within a diocese according to the Canon Law of the Catholic Church. The judicial vicar handles requests to examine a marriage to determine its validity. The judicial vicar, in collaboration with the tribunal staff, prepares, studies, and judges these cases, presiding over a panel of judges.

The Very Reverend John (Jack) D. Dickinson serves as the judicial vicar of the Diocese of Portland and oversees the director of canonical services. Fr. Dickinson is also the pastor of St. John Paul II Parish in Scarborough.

A native of South Berwick, Fr. Dickinson earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Providence College in Rhode Island and completed his seminary studies at the Theological College at The Catholic University of America, as well as advanced studies at the School of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America. His previous parish assignments in the diocese include those at Corpus Christi Parish in Waterville, Good Shepherd Parish in Saco, Saint Thérèse of Lisieux Parish in Sanford, and Saint Matthew Parish, Limerick.