PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Archbishop Thomas Collins To Be Installed January 30 as 10th Archbishop of Toronto, Spiritual Leader of 1.6 Million Catholics in the Greater Toronto Area

TORONTO (30 January 2007) – Today the Archdiocese of Toronto will formally welcome His Grace, Thomas Christopher Collins as the 10th Archbishop of Toronto and spiritual leader of 1.6 million Catholics in the Greater Toronto Area. An estimated 1,000 guests will gather at St. Michael’s Cathedral to attend the Mass of Installation, including Canada’s 3 Cardinals, 60 Canadian Bishops, 300 priests, deacons, women religious, inter-faith leaders, political representatives and Catholics from across the Archdiocese. A one-hour special broadcast of the Installation Mass will air later in the day (January 30) coast to coast on VisionTV, from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. (EST).

In addition to Tuesday’s installation mass (10:30 a.m.), the Archbishop will meet Catholics across the Archdiocese of Toronto through a series of regional celebrations to be held over the next several weeks.

Archbishop Collins, born in Guelph, Ontario, was ordained a priest in 1973. He was named Bishop in 1997 and appointed Archbishop of Edmonton in 1999. He has also served as Rector of St. Peter’s Seminary in London (1995-1997).

On December 16, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Aloysius Cardinal Ambrozic, Toronto’s Archbishop since 1990. At the same time the Holy Father appointed Archbishop Collins as the new shepherd of Canada’s largest diocese, which includes 223 parishes where Mass is celebrated in more than 30 languages each week.

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More Information: 
Neil MacCarthy, Director
Public Relations & Communications
Archdiocese of Toronto
Phone (416) 934-3400 x 552 
Cell: (416) 879-2846
neilm@archtoronto.org
www.archtoronto.org

Note to Media:
Media Sign-in at back of St. Michael’s Cathedral (65 Bond St. & Shuter St.)
begins @ 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 30, 2007.
Limited photo opportunities available.

Complete copies of statements, biographies, photos and more available online at: www.archtoronto.org

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