Auxiliary Bishop Francis Valentine Allen (1954 - 1977)

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  Francis Allen was born in Toronto on June 25, 1909. He attended St. Francis and Holy Name Separate Schools, De La Salle Collegiate and St. Michael's College before entering St. Augustine's Seminary in 1927. He was ordained in St. Michael's Cathedral on June 10, 1933 by Bishop Dennis P. O'Connor of Peterborough.

Father Allen served as associate pastor at St. Dunstan's Parish, Toronto, and Blessed Sacrament Parish, Toronto, before being appointed Secretary of St. Augustine's Seminary in 1935. In July of 1936 he became Vice-Chancellor in Temporalibus and in September of 1942 became Chancellor in Spiritualibus. He also served in 1941 as Acting President of the Catholic Church Extension Society for one year. Father Allen accompanied Cardinal James C. McGuigan to Rome for the Cardinal's reception of the Red Hat and while there was named a Domestic Prelate by Pope Pius XII on February 12, 1946. On September 21, 1952 he was appointed Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish.

On July 2, 1954, Father Allen was appointed titular Bishop of Avensa and Auxiliary to Cardinal McGuigan. He was consecrated on October 7, 1954 in St. Michael's Cathedral by Cardinal McGuigan who was assisted by Archbishop Joseph A. O'Sullivan of Kingston and Bishop Benjamin I. Webster of Peterborough. That same year he was appointed Vicar General. As well as assisting Cardinal McGuigan with various episcopal duties, Bishop Allen continued as Pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish. Over the years he also served on the Board of the Catholic Church Extension Society. In 1961 he was created Archdiocesan moderator of Religious Congregations by Co-adjutor Archbishop Philip F. Pocock. In October of that year he as appointed a member of the Archdiocesan Council of Administration and in April, Chairman of the Archdiocesan High School Board. In March of 1964 he was appointed moderator of the Holy Name Society of Canada.

In June of 1972, Bishop Allen resigned his pastorate and limited his responsibilities to his episcopal duties. He suffered a heart attack and died on October 7, 1977 at the age of 68. The funeral was held at St. Michael's Cathedral and was attended by many of the Canadian episcopate. He was interred in the family plot in Mount Hope Cemetery, Toronto.