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Geography and Statistics

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The Archdiocese covers a geographic region of the Great Lakes area, which stretches from the shores of Lake Ontario north to Georgian Bay. In total, the area covers some 13,000 square kilometre​s, comprised of intensely urban and suburban regions and also small cities, towns and rural areas.

Map: Archdiocese of Toronto

The Archdiocese of Toronto includes the City of Toronto, the most populous metropolis in the country and the growing regional municipalities of Peel, York and Durham th​at surround the City. As the regional municipalities expand, the northern section of the Archdiocese, Simcoe County, is also experiencing notable suburban growth.

 

Regions and Zones

The Archdiocese of Toronto is divided into four pastoral regions comprising 14 pastoral zones. The four pastoral regions which divide the Archdiocese are the Central, Northern, Eastern and Western Regions. The zones are made up of parishes within a geographical boundary.

 

Archdiocese of Toronto

  2019 2020* 2021*
Population - All Residents 6,530,000 6,530,000 6,530,000
Population - Catholics 1,887,000  1,887,000 1,887,000
Archbishop 1 1 1
Auxiliary Bishops 4 4 4
Diocesan Priests* 388 381 382
Religious Order Priests 412 385 384
Permanent Deacons 157 151 147
Brothers 45 45 41
Sisters 471 440 439
Parishes and Quasi-parishes 226 226 226
Missions 22 22 23
Chapels 2 2 2
Catholic School Boards 6 6 6
Catholic Elementary Schools 483 485 485
Catholic Secondary Schools 98 99 98
Catholic Institutes of Higher Education 1 1 1
       
*Total number of diocesan priests include:    
Resident in the Archdiocese 270 273 274
Resident elsewhere in Canada 15 14 12
Resident abroad 5 6 8
Incardinated in another diocese in Canada 21 22 23
Incardinated in another diocese abroad 77 66 65
Total 388 381 382
       
Sacraments/Rites of the Catholic Church    
Total Baptisms 13,248 7,797 10,320
Under one year of age 8,454 4,786 5,851
One to seven years of age 3,411 2,090 3,672
Over seven years 1,383 921 842
First Holy Communion 14,383 9,665 10,305
Confirmations 12,974 8,019 11,395
Marriages 2,259 1,071 1,969
Holy Orders (priesthood) 4 9 4
Holy Orders (permanent diaconate) 0 7 0
Funerals 7,189 7,235 7,589
       
Source: Annual Parish Statistical Questionnaire    

*Population data was based on the year 2019 due to the delay in the demographics report from Statistics Canada.
  Celebrations of the Sacraments of Initiation were affected by capacity restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.