Auxiliary Bishop Aloysius Matthew Cardinal Ambrozic (1976-1986)

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Aloysius Matthew Ambrozic was born in Gaberje, Yugoslavia on January 27, 1930. In September of 1948 he and his family emigrated to Canada where he studied philosophy and theology at St. Augustine's Seminary. On June 4, 1955, he was ordained priest by Card. McGuigan in St. Michael's Cathedral. The first two years of his priesthood were spent as a curate and a professor of Latin at St. Augustine's Seminary. Between 1957 and 1960, Father Ambrozic obtained the degrees of Licentiate in Theology and Licentiate of Sacred Scripture at the Angelicum and Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. Upon his return to Toronto, he was a professor of Scripture at the Seminary until 1967 when he went to Germany where he studied for and obtained his Doctorate of Theology. He became a professor at the Toronto School of Theology and then Dean of Studies at St. Augustine's Seminary until 1976.

On March 26, 1976, Father Ambrozic was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto and was consecrated at St. Michael's Cathedral, May 27, 1976 by Abp. Pocock. Bishop Ambrozic was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of Toronto on May 22, 1986, and succeeded March 17, 1990.

Archbishop Ambrozic's duties while in Toronto have included responsibility for the central region of the Archdiocese as well as all ethnic communities and parishes. He has examined the religious education programs in Catholic high schools, and has been actively involved in the work of revising the Canadian catechism. In April 1991, His Grace announced the creation of an office of youth ministry to reorganize existing youth groups and develop spiritual and social programs for young people between the ages of 10 and 25.

On January 18, 1998 Pope John Paul II nominated Archbishop Ambrozic a Cardinal. The investiture took place in Rome on February 21, 1998.