New Archbishop of Toronto

The Holy Father has accepted the retirement of Cardinal Aloysius Matthew Ambrozic, Archbishop of Toronto, and named as his successor Archbishop Thomas Christopher Collins, 59, Archbishop of Edmonton.

Archbishop Collins was born in Guelph, Ontario. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Jerome College at the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor’s degree in Theology from St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ontario. He was ordained a priest in 1973 for the Diocese of Hamilton. He served in two parishes before being sent to Rome where in 1978 he obtained his License in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute. Back in Canada he would receive a Masters degree in English from the University of Western Ontario. He served as Professor of Sacred Scripture and Dogmatic Theology at St. Peter’s Seminary from 1978 until 1997. During that time he returned to Rome (1983-1985) to obtain a License in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He also served as Dean of Theology from 1992-1995 and Rector from 1995-1997.

On March 25, 1997, he was named Coadjutor Bishop of St. Paul in Alberta. He was consecrated May 14 and assumed governance of the See June 30. On February 18, 1999, he was named Coadjutor Archbishop of Edmonton and became Archbishop the following June 7th.