Most Reverend Richard J. Grecco

Bishop Richard J. Grecco is the senior Vicar General and the Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto responsible for the Central Pastoral Region and Scarborough of the Archdiocese of Toronto. He is the Episcopal vicar for ethnic communities (exept Italians), and has accepted responsiblity for the many lay groups in our midst.

He was born in St. Catharines, Ontario. Bishop Grecco completed his theological studies at St. Augustine's Seminary, Toronto; the Gregorian University in Rome, and in 1982 he received the degree of Doctor of Theology from the University of St. Michael's College, Toronto. He has taught at St. Augustine's Seminary, the University of St. Michael's College, and St. Joseph College in Edmonton.

Bishop Grecco was ordained to the priesthood on September 2, 1973, for the Diocese of St. Catharines and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of London on December 5, 1997. He is Chair of the CCCB Episcopal Commission for Christian Education (English sector), and is an Episcopal advisor to the Third Continental Congress on Vocations.

Explanation of the Coat of Arms for Bishop Richard Grecco

The colour, red, white and green, refers to the Italian heritage of Bishop Grecco.

Green is also the colour of hope; red, of the Holy Spirit; white, of purity and joy.

The lily is symbolic of the Blessed Virgin Mary and identifies the name of
Bishop Grecco’s mother: ‘Lily”.

The grapes symbolize the Eucharist and refer to the vineyards of the Niagara Region.

The shovel and hammer within the chevron symbolize the dignity of human
work and the lifetime occupation of Anthony, Bishop Grecco’s father.

The anchor is an ancient symbol of hope and a reminder of the ships that pass through the Welland Canal Locks in Bishop Grecco’s home town of Thorold.

The “X” on the anchor is the Greek letter ‘Chi’, the first letter in the Greek spelling of the word ‘Christ’, our source of hope.

The motto is the final verse of Psalm 27 - "Hope in the Lord"