Bloggers note: with transcript. skip to the 35th minute
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watering into side our classic Christmas oh I see my destination in yes I know it's okay [Applause] in the name of the Father the Son of the Holy Spirit peace be with you [Music] bonjour good morning Bongiorno on behalf of the Archdiocese of Toronto I would like to express a warm welcome to all the guests who are with us here at St Michael's Cathedral Basilica this morning as well as those who are watching via live stream we welcome Archbishop yurkovic people nuncio to Canada and the representative Pope Francis in our country a special welcome to the 60 Bishops gathered from across Canada who are with us today including the primate of Canada Cardinal ciprian Lacroix as well as the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops marcinia and the president of the Assembly of the Bishops of Ontario Bishop Gerard burji news to the numerous ecumenical representatives of both eastern and western Christians as well as our Interfaith guests all of whom bring with them the rich traditions of their faith community please know you are most welcome also we welcome indigenous Representatives who are with us today as we continue to walk together in our ongoing journey of healing and Reconciliation we're pleased to have a number of guests who represented the elected office at the federal level the provincial level the municipal level as well as others representing the Diplomatic service to these guests as well as to Toronto's chief of police know that you are that we are grateful that you have taken the time to join us be assured of our gratitude for the work you do in serving so Faithfully to Archbishop Leo's family and friends a warm welcome especially all those who have traveled here from Quebec in a special way welcome Archbishop Leos father Franco atuti La Familia The and to the people of God in the Archdiocese of Toronto the hundreds of priests deacons women religious lay movements and those who serve in so many diverse ways through Education Health Care charitable works and many other Outreach Ministries it is a joy and blessing to have each one of you assembled here for our Eucharistic celebration finally to his Eminence Cardinal Collins and Archbishop Leo we thank you both for your witness and faithfulness it is in celebrating the Holy Eucharist in the presence of so many here today that we lift up our Collective prayers for you both and give thanks for the Shepherds who lead us in our faith Journey at this time I invite Archbishop Yankovic Apostolic Ministry to Canada the holy father's representative to share a few words your evidences my dear brother Bishops Civil Authorities representatives of Faith communities dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ on behalf of Pope Francis I wish to express the holy father's paternal affection for the Church of Toronto and to assure you of his spiritual closeness and participation in what we celebrate here today we are gathered together in this beautiful cathedral Basilica of Saint Michael's a church which had witnessed many historic events in the life of this city I understand that when the cathedral was constructed constructed it was considered by some too far on the outskirts of the city even earning the nickname San Michaels in the fields today its setting is even more striking being surrounded by institutions of Commerce industry and next to Saint Michael's Hospital as a compelling reminder of the place of God within society and of Humanity's need for salvation in this context we must express our heartfelt gratitude to Cardinal Collins for his leadership and pastoral governance of the Archdiocese this past 16 years your eminence on this 26th anniversary of your imagination to the episcopate permit me to express on behalf of the Holy Father appreciations what all you have done in a time of Rapid social change and uncertainty you were truly a faithful prophetic pastor always pointing to Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday today and forever your energetic service to these archdiocese had left a deep impression of its people and of its institutions in particular this Cathedral and the San Augustine Seminary I add my own thanks for your generosity and Fidelity these past 16 years and I pray for your continued health and strength in your service to God's people and every happiness in years ahead may I also express my personal gratitude for your cooperation with the new future and if you're a generous assistance of the Archdiocese to help make the pastor of east of Pope Francis such a great success I wish you health and strength with many more years in the service of the church dear Monsignor Frank you bring with you many singular gifts first from your devoted service to the Sea of Montreal as a pastor professor and auxiliary auxiliary from your service to the church in Canada as Secretary General of the Bishops conference and from your service to the Holy See to in its diplomatic missions abroad you know better than most the life of the church throughout this nation both intelligence but also its opportunities especially against the backdrop of The Universal Church all these gifts and experiences you bring to your new office it is understandable as you noted in your beautiful letter to the people of archdise of Toronto at the time of your nomination the trepidation one must feel as such a Time considering the men's responsibility that comes with that office one will always obviously feel one's own innate weakness but know that you do not carry out this office alone nor in isolation be consult your Archbishop designate the taxes we read in the Divine Office on the solemnity of Saint Joseph with God appoints to an office he will bestow the necessary Graces Graces which more than your experiences will sustain you and your ministry here I know that I can speak for all of us who carry the Episcopal burden and shoulder the responsibilities that come with it that you may look forward to many extraordinary gifts of the years to come as well as to our fraternal support Council and presence to you dear Archbishop elect Leon we say in the traditional expression of the church at multaus Bishop servant of the Servants of God to the venerable Brother Francis Leo until now titular Bishop of tamada and the auxiliary of the archerdiocese of Montreal appointed Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto greeting and blessing with the Beating Heart of a mother most audaciously directing her attention to all the needs of man called to the marriage Feast of Cana in Galilee together with her son and his disciples the woman represents a new bride who when the church is wanting in the wine of faith hope and charity requests wine once again strengthened by such great maternal care we Bend our mind to the renowned community of Toronto beloved to us which after the resignation of its last high priest or venerable brother Thomas Christopher Collins Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church is devotely expecting its prelate because you venerable brother have diligently discharged your ministry as auxiliary Bishop of Montreal manifesting singular human and Christian qualities as well as aptitude for pastoral care we are convinced that you are able to rightly fulfill this office therefore on the advice of the dicastery for Bishops we willingly and confidently constitute you by the fullness of our Apostolic Authority Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto with all due rights given an appropriate obligations a pertinent to this office imposed according to the Norms of the code of canon law with the bound dissolved of the earlier titular Sea and the above mentioned office of auxiliary Bishop you are required to announce without delay or will to the clergy as well as the people of your ecclesial community as it is necessary for them to know their new pastor in time to offer to him their sentiment of piety and obedience moreover we ask our Lord to Grant to you venerable brother by the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Perpetual Help and with the protection of Saint Michael the Archangel to communicate the signs of the living Christ to the Sheep entrusted to you responding with docility to do whatever he will tell you at the command of his Immaculate mother given in Rome at the lateran on the 11th day of the month of February Memorial of the Blessed Virgin of Mary of Lords in the year of the Lord 2023 the 10th of our pontificate Pope Francis most Reverend Francis Leon you have heard the letter of his Holiness Pope Francis you are called by the Holy Spirit to serve almighty God and the people of the Archdiocese of Toronto in faith and love as their Shepherd having already accepted the appointment of the Holy Father are you willing to serve the people of this archdiocese into tradition of the apostolic faith of the church with faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and with the love of God in my heart I do accept the pastoral care of the people of God and the Archdiocese of Toronto I resolve to serve Faithfully the spiritual needs of this local church foreign [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] thank you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] and soon [Music] foreign [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] let us pray o God who will that your word should take on the reality of human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary Grant we pray that we who confess Our Redeemer to be God and man May Merit to become partakers even of his divine nature who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit God forever and a reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah the Lord spoke to ahaz saying ask a sign of the Lord your God let it be deep as sheol or high as heaven but Ahab said I will not ask and I will not put the Lord to the test then Isaiah said here then o House of David is it too little for you to weary the people that you weary My God also therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign look the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Emmanuel for God is with us here I am I'm Lord I come to do your sacrifice and offering you do not desire but you have given me an open ear and offering and sin offering you have not required here I Am Lord I come to do your will in the scroll of the book it is written of me I Delight to do your will oh my God your law is within my heart here I am Lord I come to do your will I have toured the Glad news of Deliverance in the great congregation see I have not restrained my lips as you know Lord Here I Am Lord I come to do your will I have not hidden your saving help within my heart I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation [Music] here I am Lord I come to do your will second reading according to the book of Hebrews it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins consequently when Christ came into the world he said sacrifices and offerings you have not desired but a body you have prepared for me in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure then I said as it is written of me in the scroll of the book see God I have come to do your Will O God when Christ said you have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings these are offered according to the law then he then he added see I have come to do your will he abolishes the first in order to establish the second and it is by God's will that we have been Sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all the Lord be with you [Music] a reading from the holy Gospel According to Luke the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the House of David the virgin's name was Mary and he came to her and said Hill full of grace the Lord is with you but she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be the angel said to her do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God and now you will conceive in your womb and bear us on and you will name him Jesus he will be great and will be called a son of the most high and the Lord God will give to him the Throne of his father David he will reign over the house of Jacob forever hand of his kingdom there will be no end Mary said to the angel how can this be since I am a virgin the angel Saturn the holy spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you therefore the child to be born will be holy he will be called Son of God and now your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived us on and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren for nothing will be impossible with God then Mary said here am I the servant of the Lord let it be done into let it be done to me according to your word then the Angels departed from her hmm the gospel of the Lord praise be Jesus Christ brothers and sisters friends family and distinguished guests what a great joy it is to be here together with you thank you so much for coming out even this terrible weather we have a cathedral full of people coming to worship God and spirit and in truth I greet your eminence as Cardinal Thomas Collins Apostolic administrator and Shepherd of this particular church for over 16 years of Canada and Archbishop of the oldest diocese Quebec I welcome and acknowledge the numerous members of the lay faithful the many archbishops and Bishops including many maritai that have come from across Canada numerous priests and deacons consecrated men and women seminarians and all of you here gathered in this wonderful Cathedral Basilica the mother Church of the Archdiocese consecrated to almighty God under the patronage of Saint Michael the Archangel in a special way I'm most appreciative for the presence and participation of the people represented of the Canada has Excellency Ivan yurkovic Archbishop in our Apostolic nuncio who was conveyed the papal mandate appointed me Archbishop and was formally installed me as cheap Shepherd your Excellency your presence with us today brings a special closeness of Pope Francis and reminds us all that we are part of The Universal Church of Jesus Christ called to walk together along the path of holiness please do convey to the Holy Father our filial sentiments and gratitude for the gifts of his ministry and witnessing wish to acknowledge the most Reverend Gerard burgie Bishop of Saint Catharines and president of the Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario thank you for being here and I look forward to working collaboratively and intently with you and all the Bishops of the assembly as well as in amor a concerted fashion the Bishops of the Metropolitan province of Toronto I'm delighted that so many of our communical and Interfaith leaders Faith leaders as well as our Civic leaders vignitarians and members of The Diplomatic Corps have joined us today for the celebration I truly value and respect our relationships and I will work hard hand in hand for the welfare of our people in promoting the common good the spiritual and social transformation and the promotion of the Dignity of every human person my family and friends from Montreal from the United States and as far away as Australia I thank you for your affectionate presence here today on this very solemn occasion celebration of faith and a word of Welcome to those many persons and communities who are participating through social media and especially through the auspices of Salt and Light and our own archdiocesan platforms the first and most important of sentiments that must be expressed at this time is that of gratitude gratitude to our Heavenly Father to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the Holy Spirit grateful for the love of God which is constantly being poured into our hearts by The Same Spirit grateful for the Salvation Christ brings us the mercy he shows us The Compassion with which he lavishes us the wisdom he shares with us the courage he instills in US the healing with which he cares for us the Forgiveness which he affords us the grace with which he lifts us up the Holiness he communicates to us generously and abundantly how could we ever live without God I'm grateful to Pope Francis who for us is Peter and with whom we are in sincere and ecclesial communion acknowledging him as our Universal Shepherd showing respect and filial obedience as church here and together we minister to God's holy people as Vatican 2 tells us we pray for his Holiness as he guides and leads holy mother church and for his faithful and fruitful Ministry in confirming his brethren in faith before I go further I would like to acknowledge a very special person to all of us as Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins I wish to thank you for their very kind and gracious welcome you extended to me in this archdiocese at the time of my transition and from the moment of our first telephone conversation February 11th but most of all on behalf of the Archdiocese of Toronto I want to express our profound recognition we are faithful and fruitful ministry as its Archbishop for all of these past 16 years the Cardinal has been outstanding outstanding witness the Christ he is a kind and considerate pastor a loving servant leader who has effectively shepherded this local church and has vigorously navigated Rough Waters he has given admirable testimony over the many years in his selfless and committed ministry as a devoted spiritual father he has put into place so many new initiatives for the growth of the faith and its flourishing your eminence may this new chapter of your life as Emeritus Bishop be marked by good help and deep spiritual Joy [Applause] on this Most Holy of liturgical celebrations we commemorate the Incarnation of God by the power of the Holy Spirit Christ was conceived in the immaculate womb and the loving heart of the Blessed ever Virgin Mary and through her wholehearted consent how can we not stop and give thanks for the gift of Christ Our Savior who came to us through Mary and through still in our days is born in our hearts and our families and in our communities by the power of the most high and through the prayers of the mother of God theotokos and mother of the church the creative life-giving and world-changing Fiat of that teenager Miriam of Nazareth I am the servant of the Lord let it be done to me according to your word becomes a model of response to the Lord's many in diverse callings those Christian and human Virtues Of openness and gentleness courage and compassion humility and Purity charity and faith attitudes they should always imbue our responses to the loving Lord Of Our Lives she is a gift that the Lord offers to us she must be known loved welcomed and served she makes Jesus real and personal to us through the action of the Holy Spirit the Annunciation as the church fathers remind us can be a daily experience as with and like Mary we open our hearts we open our relationships we open our families and our communities so that Christ is born Anew therein and fills us with the blessedness and joys of the Kingdom our greatest claim is that we are Servants of the Lord and no one better than the mother is able to teach us this important lesson I am very grateful for the service given by those who in addition to the auxiliary Bishops are a Diocesan priest first and closest collaborators the priests I Look to them to you here present and those who could not make it today as co-workers and supporters our sons and brothers as friends and fellow missionary disciples co-responsible for the mission of evangelization I'm thankful for the gift of the calling to the priesthood of Jesus Christ I'm grateful for the priests of this Archdiocese who selflessly and generously give their lives for the life of their communities ordained as a priest over 26 years ago I often look back I'm so grateful for the fine examples of the missionary Priests of my own home Parish they were palpable presence of Christ to us they mediated the grace which brings Jesus to life within us enabling us to live a supernatural life of Holiness all the while with both feet on the ground serving others with compassion and generosity the world needs priests because the world needs Christ priests speak to us of Jesus give us Jesus Love Like Jesus show us Jesus and bring through the ministry of the word and Sacrament his kingdom to life in our lives one of the aspects I loved most in my Ministry has been teaching at the different levels of the academic structures High School Seminary and University I especially enjoyed lecturing patristics and petrology one of the most beautiful inspiring passage comes to us from Saint Ignatius of Antioch now he was the second Bishop of Antioch was arrested condemned to death and transported to Rome to be thrown to the wild beasts in the arena and martyrd in the year 107. in the course of his journey to Rome he wrote seven letters to various churches on a variety of topics including the organization of the church in his letter to the Christians in in Ephesus he spoke specifically about the need for Unity and harmony and these are themes very close to my heart he wrote and I quote I'm taking the opportunity to urge you to be United in Conformity with the mind of God for Jesus Christ Our Life without whom we cannot live is the mind of the father just as the Bishops appointed over the whole world are in Conformity with the mind of Jesus Christ it is fitting therefore that you should be in agreement with the mind of the bishop as in fact you are your excellent presbyters who are accredited to God are as suited to the bishop as strings to a harp so that your Harmony of mind and heart in your Harmony of mind and heart the song you sing is Jesus Christ every one of you should form a choir so that in harmony of sound and through the harmony of hearts and in unity taking the note from God you may sing with one Voice through Jesus Christ to the father if you do this he will listen to you and see from your good works that you are members of his son it is then an advantage to you to live in perfect Unity so that all at all times you may share in God it's a beautiful image strings on the heart playing and singing In Harmony It's a Wonderful ideal to pursue together in tandem I'd like to Express gratitude to the permanent deacons and their wives the entire the akonal community thank you for your service and dedication to the life of the church and for witnessing to Christ the servant in your work with the needy and the vulnerable through your passional and liturgical Ministry social and charitable works you share in Christ's Mission and Grace in a very special way and there's a delightful little sentence again of saying Ignatius of Antioch in one of his letters he said let everyone Revere the deacons as Jesus Christ the bishop has the image of the father and the presbyters as the center of God and assembly of the Apostles for without then one cannot speak of the church consecrated Life as We Know is a tremendous gift to the church and to The Wider Society I'm very pleased to know of the many committed women and men of consecrated life who through their prophetic witnessing contribute enormously to building up the body of Christ in this archdiocese and have for many many years through the Living God of the religious vows they witness us to us the beauty of belonging entirely to the Lord of living for him and of serving him through the manifold apostolates they have established and in which their charisms continue to inspire new generations king of new generations allow me to speak to and about young people again in Ministry I thoroughly loved during my years and pastoral parochial Ministry the youths are a gift to us their gift to our families to our communities of faith into the wider Society youth brings strength idealism and hope for the future they need to be loved and accompanied listen to and cherished welcomed and witnessed to and we need to give them our Attention our time our means and our wisdom the Holy Father wrote in his exhortation Christos keep following your hopes and dreams but be careful about what Temptation can that can hold us back it is anxiety anxiety can work against us by make by making us give up whatever we do not see instant results our best dreams are only attained through hope patience and commitment and not in haste at the same time we should not be hesitant we're afraid to take chances and make mistakes I remember long ago when I was 18 years old and had just applied to enter the seminary in Montreal had been an altar server for many years in my home Parish or a leader consolata our Parish was staffed by many dedicated pastors of souls Dynamic missionaries I remember especially the energy the creativity and the generosity of our pastor back then father adminergildo crespi another loving priest was father Luigi test now God Rest the soul one day when we were about to begin mass at the Sacristy door he stopped me and he said to me I heard that you asked went to the Seminary and to become a priest this is very good and I am proud of you there's nothing more beautiful than to give your youth to the Lord these words have remained deep inside of me and have never left my heart and Italian I can still hear him saying so I appealed to the young people here this morning and throughout the Archdiocese do not be afraid of the world do not be afraid to give your life in service to others do not be afraid to Dream Big Dreams to want to transform the world do not be afraid to commit to Jesus and to his gospel do not be afraid to love the church and to be an integral part of her witnessing and to live a life of heroic virtue do not be afraid to give your youth to the Lord stay close to your Parish Church and to the movements and associations in the church get involved in the realities of school of neighborhood and social needs share your talents discover your giftedness ask the Lord to reveal to you his will for your life your authentic vocation reach out to others Let Jesus into your heart and allow mother Mary to take you by the hand whenever a new bishop arrives in the diocese that he is called to lead and serve there are no doubts many questions who is he where does he come from what's the story what makes him tick you can find some answers to these questions in the program provided my biography is all there as I like to put it one of the best obituaries I've ever had the pleasure of reading in my message the people of God in Toronto at the time of my appointment I shared a little about myself and my leadership I spoke about being a son of Italian immigrants from the old country where respect sacrifice hard work Family Faith and taking care of one another were and remain vital now we know that Bishop Michael power buried here Below on the Crypt was the first Bishop of Toronto and that he came from the Archdiocese of Montreal where he had been serving as Baker General sounds and feels very familiar sometimes I stop and ask myself how he must have felt Toronto was quite different back then with thousands of Catholics mainly of Irish immigrants the spiritual and Social Challenges were many back then as they are now I pray and I ask you all to pray for me that I will serve with the same courage and wisdom with his committed pastual Zeal and love for the people and to serve until death with Fidelity with heart and generosity with respect to my vision for the Archdiocese I will take the necessary time to come to know the priests the deacons the religious and the faithful of our local church and the other key players and the life of the larger Community civil and otherwise I will listen to you from you I would like to learn about our Community of Faith about its history its Rich diversity its changing Trends and the challenges before us then together we shall discern the signs of the times I appreciate even more than many wonderful Ministries that already exist and are thriving and wish to welcome together the great the grace-filled opportunities which lie before us it is only then together we can set forth a vision of which where we would like to go as Church rooted in sacred scripture and sacred tradition working out of the deposit of faith and in an openness to the newness and the surprises that the holy spirit will show us and provide for us as missionary disciples and as we reach out to all peoples and our communities at the peripheries and at the center we seek to become a friend a neighbor a brother and a sister to all and as we sang in the entrance hymn for we can only Wonder at every gift you send at blessings without number and mercies Without End there are however some aspects of our witnessing that are known and which will never change for example our care for the poor and the marginalized our Outreach to the neglected and the Forgotten our welcoming of migrants displaced persons and refugees our defense of human life at its in his dignity at all of its stages protecting and promoting the sacredness of holy matrimony of the family the gift of Catholic Education to be encouraged the institutions of Health Care and Social Services to be faster than recognized for the outstanding Works of Mercy are common and collaborative Endeavors with persons of different Faith traditions in building a more fraternal and just Society all the while addressing the systemic and structural deficiencies at hand our efforts at healing a reconciliation with the indigenous persons who have suffered much our protection of minors invulnerable adults and the preventing of all forms of abuse our care for our common home our engagement and the social networks of our society all of this is part of our common calling and how vital it is to come together to work in tandem so that even in our Beloved Country men and women of Faith are able to worship and to be respected through policies and laws that seriously and conscientiously honor the makeup of our society that is made up of many people of faith and cultural traditions furthermore how attentive we must be in and remain in avoiding harmful and divisive ideologies that corrode the moral and spiritual fabric of Our Lives we know and we weep for the violence that is taking place in different parts of the world in Ukraine and in the countries and continents we hear and we are heartbroken at the knowledge of how basic human rights and freedoms in Primus religious freedom are being trampled upon in no way can we remain silent before such injustices and the different forms of persecution we see we must stand strong we must love the world for God so loved the world that he sent his only son to save it but we must not kneel before it a Jacques Maritime prophetically wrote that decades ago if we want to be guided by the Holy Spirit as we read in the Acts of the Apostles regarding the early church we must at all costs remember remain humble and meek learning from our Lord and our lady it is only in emptying ourselves the gospel kenosis that we will be led and animated by Jesus's spirit and making a lasting lasting contribution to the church into the world arrogance and pride self-sufficiency spiritual worldliness and self-reference our vices and attitudes that we are destructive and divisive and always a Temptation we need to reject them vehemently and remain in an attitude of self of facing humility we are called and empowered to bring people together to bring people together to God and God to them to lift people up to provide and Foster opportunities of Grace so they may receive and shine with the Bright Light of Christ but not just shine we are to Enlighten our surroundings and the lives of those around them there's a beautiful phrase of the angelical Doctor Thomas Aquinas and his that is it is better to Bright to enlightened than merely to shine we have not we have received the gift of faith and we carry within us the Light of Christ not to be kept hidden under a bushel we must not merely shine but rather seek to Enlighten the lives of others with humility we do this or rather we allow the spirit in US to illumine persons and communities through us the challenges before us are many during his recent pilgrimage of penance to Canada at the beautiful cathedral of Notre Dame's Quebec in Quebec City during evening prayer Pope Francis highlighted three pointed challenges in in proclaiming Jesus Christ today one to make Jesus known to to witness and three fraternity I hope that we will be able as a church Community to engage with and unpack together these insights in building our future since my ordination to the Episcopal sea every day I re-read the nine promises that a bishop makes during the ride of consecration by which Sacrament the holy orders he becomes a success of the Apostles their daily reminder of who I am or rather rather to whom I have committed my life and how I am to live one of these nine promises in part reads do you resolve to guide the holy people of God in the way of salvation as a devoted father this hits home for me since the marital nuptial symbolism of the relationship between a bishop and the diocese is very meaningful and Powerful in fact one of the symbols which is given to a newly ordained Bishop is a ring it's my wedding band it signifies a covenantal bond a true marriage it speaks the Fidelity and to selflessness self-sacrifice unconditional love fruitfulness and long lifelong commitment it's a daily reminder that I am wedded to the church my bride this archdiocese in particular and that I am to give my life for her as a loyal and committed husband as a devoted father as the promise goes there is a rich symbolism picking up from one American prelitz astute observation of course my appointment Toronto is an arranged marriage and Pope Francis is the wise Matchmaker now what arranged marriages the expectation of course is that in due time the spouses get to know each other and come to love one another now given that I'm 51 years old and that Bishops normally retired the I at the age of 75. we've got about a quarter of a century to get to know each other and to fall in love as an all successful marriages commitment patience forgiveness and sacrifice will be required it's a Covenant of Love A Fidelity Mark bind founded upon the grace of Jesus Christ Our Lives are interwoven by Divine Providence the Lord guides the events that make up our Salvation history personally and in community I trust and firmly believe that the Lord will not let us down and he will generously pour out his love into our hearts so that we may love one another and all people with the life-giving unconditional fruitful creative love of Jesus know of my commitment to you for now Toronto is my new home and you are my family now we must address the proverbial elephant in the room the leaves and the Habs [Applause] well in keeping with the symbolism of marriage I'm told that the ability to compromise is essential for a lasting marriage however I think we're going to probably need some marriage counseling for this one in conclusion as we make our journey together be assured of my prayers and my closeness as we Proclaim together the Gospel of Jesus Christ and are active and our pastual care and our creative Outreach the Lord will continue to be our strength and we will know Holiness of life and greatness of soul it is a Holiness that can only come from reclining like his beloved disciple upon the Christ's Eucharistic and Sacred Heart Eucharistic adoration will allow Christ to gradually transform our hearts so that we may be ready to receive the wisdom the strength so as to spend our lives in service to God through service to others it is the way of Christ brothers and sisters let us be one in beseeching the maternal intercession of Mary our Blessed Mother May her example of Charity of openness of trust of faithfulness be our strength our light and our guide and invoking the intercession of the powerful patron saint of archdiocese Saint Michael the Archangel maybe we United in faith and Ministry truly strive to become one heart and one soul and resisting all divisions celebrate the Eucharistic sacrifice together as a community of Believers and as a family in doing so always and everywhere celebrating echoing Mary's Fiat with her steadfast Fidelity and humility we call down upon us the powerful and Abundant Blessings of almighty God I conclude with this beautiful poetic and challenging Sentiments of Pope Saint Paul VI they resonate with me and I hope they resonate with you as well we will love those who are near and those who are far from us we will love our country and that of others we will love our friends we will love our enemies we will love all social classes but especially those most in need of help of assistance and advancement we will love The Young and the old the poor and the sick we will love those who mock us those who scorn us those who oppose us and who persecute us we will love those who deserve and we will love those who do not deserve to be loved we will love our adversaries we will want no one to be our enemy we will love our times our civilizations our Technologies our Arts our Sports our world we will love striving to understand to have compassion to esteem to serve and to suffer we will love with the heart of Christ amen and God bless you [Applause] let us stand us together we profess our faith being at the Feast of the Annunciation at the words and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate the Virgin Mary became land we will take a few moments to kneel in silence I believe in one God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and Earth of all things visible and invisible I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God born of the father before all ages God from God light from light true God from true God begotten not me for his potential with the father through him all things remain for us men of our Salvation he came down from heaven and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate that the Virgin Mary and became for our sake he was crucified then the Pontius Pilate he suffered them and was buried and rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures he ascended into heaven and the Sea of the right hand of the father he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end I believe in the Holy Spirit the Lord The Giver of Life who proceeds in the father and the son who with the father and the son is adored and glorified who has spoken to the prophets I believe in one Holy Catholic Apostolic church I confess one baptism for the trusting in God's infinite mercy and confident of his love we offer our petitions in the Name of Christ Our Lord and brother for his Eminence Cardinal Thomas Collins in gratitude for his 16 years of good and faithful stewardship a shepherd of Duchess of Toronto caring for the gathered and reaching out to the scattered may he be granted unfailing joy and the health as he embarks on new Pathways of ministry and pastoral care for his grace Archbishop Francis Leo our new Shepherd and servant leader May the Holy Spirit endow with him the necessary Grace to carry out the sacred apolistic Ministry of faithfulness and humility and that entrusting his pastoral service of God's holy people to the intercession of blessed ever Virgin Mary Mother of the church he may Shepherd the flock of Christ with wisdom courage and charity we pray to the Lord [Music] a year ago today the Holy Father consecrated Russia Ukraine along with the church in the entire world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary he had invited all communities to join him in this act of solemn entrustment of the intercession of the mother of God just a few days ago on the Wednesday General audience Pope Francis recalled the act of consecration which he had presided a year ago in Union with all the Bishops of the world likewise on Wednesday he invited every believer and community to renew annually every 25th of March the act of consecration so that as he stated she who is Mother May preserve us all in unity and peace and so in virtue of this invitation and as Chief Shepherd of this portion of the people of God entrusted to my pastoral care I solemnly consecrate this Archdiocese its people and its Ministries and apostolates its clergy consecrated persons and laity it's faithful of different communities and cultures its structures and passion administrative planning to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed ever Virgin Mary and as we knock at the door of her heart May our lady intercede on our behalf with her only begotten son Jesus Christ as she did at the wedding of Cana so that the new wine of Hope Joy Holiness and peace gifts of the Spirit May flow abundantly upon the Beloved Church of Toronto and please God in and through my own committed Service as Shepherd and servant leader We Lift Up To You O mother of the word incarnate all of our families and all of those brothers and sisters of your son who need your maternal attention and your intercession through your powerful and loving prayers bring the consolation of Christ Our Lord to all the Pastors in the entire flock of your beloved Son Jesus to The Young and the elderly the sick and the abandoned the lonely and the dejected those who are to be born and those who are dying those trying to find their way and those who have strayed away with a mother's heart welcome our petitions and so forth your great compassion and love to those who have become your children entrusted to your motherly Care by the crucified the Redeemer by your merciful gaze look upon all those who are persecuted for their faith the victims of war and of abuse those who are afflicted by addictions those who Despair and have lost all hope you who are the gift of our loving lord gave to us on Calvary receive our prayer and deny us not The Graces we humbly implore from you Hail Mary full of grace the Lord has with thee blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the food of thy womb Jesus holy Mary Mother of God pray for our sins Mary Mother of the church gracious God you desire that your flock enjoy everlasting life and so you sent your only son to live as one of us and to guide us home to you hear our prayers that we might cling to his every word and so be transformed into a people after your own heart and we make this prayer through Christ Our Lord [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] I'm not alone [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Applause] [Music] pray brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the almighty father be pleased almighty God to accept your Church's offering so that she who is aware that her Beginnings lie in the Incarnation of your only begotten son may Rejoice to celebrate his mysteries on the solemnity who lives and reigns the Lord be with you lift up your hearts let us give thanks the Lord our God it is truly right and just our duty in our Salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks Lord Holy Father Almighty and eternal God through Christ Our Lord for the Virgin Mary heard with faith that the Christ was to be born among men and for man's sake by the overshadowing power of the Holy Spirit lovingly she bore him in her Immaculate womb that the promises of the children of Israel might come about and the hope of Nations be accomplished beyond all telling through him the host of angels adores your majesty and rejoices in your presence forever May our voices read pray join with theirs in one chorus of exalt and praise as we acclaim [Applause] [Music] [Applause] to you therefore most merciful father we make humble prayer and petition through Jesus Christ your son our Lord let you accept and bless these gifts these offerings these holy and unblemished sacrifices which we offer you firstly for your Holy Catholic Church be pleased to Grant her peace to guard unite and govern her throughout the whole world together with your servant Francis our Pope me your unworthy servant and all those who holding to the truth hand on the Catholic and Apostolic Faith remember Lord your servants it all gathered here whose faith and devotion are known to you for them we offer you this sacrifice of praise or they offered for themselves and all who are dear to them for the Redemption of their souls in Hope of health and well-being and paying their homage to you the Eternal God living and true in communion with those whose memory venerate especially the Glorious every Virgin Mary Mother of Our God and Lord Jesus Christ and blessed Joseph her spouse your blessed Apostles and martyrs Peter and Paul Andrew James John Thomas James Philip bartolomew Matthew Simon and Jude Linus Cletus Clement 6 to Cornelius cyprian Lawrence Chris organos John and Paul Cosmos and Damian and all your Saints we ask that through their merits and prayers in all things we may be defended by your therefore Lord we pray graciously accept the salvation of our service that of your whole family order our days in your peace and command that we be delivered from Eternal damnation and counted among the flock of those you have chosen be pleased though God we pray to bless acknowledge and approve this offering in every respect make it spiritual and acceptable so that it may become for us the body and blood of your most beloved Son our Lord Jesus Christ on the day before he was to suffer he took bread in his holy and venerable hands and her eyes raised the heaven To You O God his Almighty father giving you thanks he said the blessing broke the bread and gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be given up for you in a similar way when supper was ended he took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands and once more giving you thanks he said the blessing and gave the Chalice to his disciples saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is the Chalice of my blood the blood of the new and eternal Covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the Forgiveness of sins do this the mystery of faith [Music] foreign Lord as you celebrate the memorial of the Blessed passion the resurrection from the dead and the Glorious Ascension into heaven of Christ your son our Lord we are servants and your holy people offer to your glorious Majesty from the gifts that you have given us this pure victim this holy victim the Spotless victim the holy bread of eternal life and the Chalice of everlasting salvation be pleased that to look upon these offerings with the Serene and kindly countenance and to accept them as once you were pleased to accept the gifts of your servant Abel the just the sacrifice of Abraham our father in faith and the holy offering of your high priest Melchizedek a holy sacrifice a spotless victim in Humble prayer we ask you almighty God command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your Holy Angel to your altar on high in the side of your Divine Majesty so that all of us who through this participation at the altar received the most holy body and blood of your son may be filled with every Grace and Heavenly blessing remember also Lord your servants who have gone before us with the sign of faith and rest in the sleep of peace grant them O Lord we pray in all who sleep in Christ a place of refreshment light and peace to us I'll sow your servants who though sinners open your abundant Mercies graciously Grant some share and fellowship with Holy Apostles and martyrs with John the Baptist Stephen Matias Barnabas Ignatius Alexander arcelinas Peter Felicity perpetua Agatha Lucy Agnes Cecilia Anastasia and all your Saints admit us we beseek you into their company not weighing on our merits but granting us your pardon through Christ Our Lord through whom you continue to make all these good things O Lord you sanctify them fill them with life bless them and bestow them upon us through him and with him and in him o God Almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours [Music] [Applause] [Music] Deliver Us Lord we pray from every evil graciously Grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the Blessed hope and the coming of Our Savior Jesus Christ Lord Jesus Christ who said to your Apostles peace I believe you might be say give you look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and graciously Grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will who live and Reign forever and ever the Peace of the Lord be with you always on yourself please [Music] Behold the Lamb of God Behold Him who takes away the sins of the world blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb thank you Act of spiritual communion my Jesus I believe that you are present in the most holy sacrament I love you above all things and a desire to receive you into my soul since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally come at least spiritually into my heart I embrace you as if you are already there and unite myself holy to you never permit me to be separated from you amen why am I refreshed weird [Music] I take the same God of salvation [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] praise God [Applause] foreign [Applause] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] confirm in Our Minds The Mysteries of the true faith we pray O Lord so that confessing that he who was conceived of the Virgin Mary is true God and true man we may through the saving power of his resurrection Merit to attain Eternal Joy through Christ Our Lord may share Friday sir the secretary Monsignor Leo it is indeed a time of great joy as we receive our new Shepherd as he comes to be the Archbishop of Toronto and to begin his ministry a Ministry which I have shared for the last 16 years and it is indeed a joyful Ministry because of the great vibrancy and the love which is found in this Archdiocese I've had the privilege over the last few weeks of introducing Archbishop Leo to the various Ministries to various people involved in the service of the Lord God here in this diocese it is diverse it is a marvelous the great inspiration and edification and over the many years that I have known Archbishop Leo from the days especially when he was the General Secretary of the Canadian Bishops I've always been edified by his Devotion to the Lord and it is indeed with great joy in my heart that I am able to see him begin this marvelous ministry as Archbishop of Toronto anyone who is the Archbishop of Toronto will frequently have good people who care for him say it must be a terrible burden being Archbishop of Toronto the the weight that weighs upon your shoulders and indeed there are times there are burdens and challenges uh that is certainly true for we are in a world which is not yet the Heavenly City Jerusalem it too often seems too much more like Babylon the great than the Heavenly City we are passing through we're Homeward Bound but we're not there yet and I think it's always good children on a long journey say are we there yet well no we're not there yet we're on our way and as we do so we we go through the valley of the shadow of death we go through this Valley of Tears but we do so With a Song in our hearts because we're headed home to the Heavenly City Jerusalem and we know that every step of the way as we serve the Lord we are surrounded by God's grace and that is what gives Joy to the heart of the the Archbishop of Toronto to be able to go around throughout this Sarge diocese and to see The Marvelous works of God's grace to see it abundantly around us in the midst of of darkness and heaven knows we have many things in this world in our country particularly where they're great evils that need to be confronted and they are worldly evils but they're also evils that reflect the powers and principalities that are Beyond this world and we need to be aware of that and yet in the midst of it all the Lord is with us every step of the way serve the Lord with gladness come before him singing for Joy not out of a naivete but out of an awareness that despite the cares and troubles that burden Us in this world the grace of God triumphs over all things and so we are confident in his grace and that is what what gives Joy to the mission of being Archbishop of Toronto and I'm I'm delighted to be able to welcome on this day Archbishop Leo as he begins this this great Mission within the church in the service of the Lord in this archdiocese and Beyond in doing this we rely always on the grace of God and also of course on our blessed mother who shows us the way to do what the Lord tells us to always be obedient Servants of the Lord be it done unto me according to your word we look to our Heavenly Patron Saint Michael in the great battles that confront us we are happy Warriors in the battle for good against evil and we do so under the patronage and with the defense and the strength of of Saint Michael and we look to the people who have given us a great example when Archbishop Leo arrived with a very short time I took him down to the tomb of Michael power down below the sanctuary here we since spent some time in prayer there Michael power was a priest of the Archdiocese of Montreal responsible for the English sector of that diocese so many many years ago and so now his successor who has has been in that mission and now is in the same Mission which Michael power undertook when he became our very first Bishop Michael power was a man of great self-sacrificing love cared for the needy who cared for the refugees who came to the shores of Lake Ontario so very many years ago in that terrible summer of 1847 and who gave his life for the flock and so he's a great example that's why everything around here is named after Saint Michael not only Michael the Archangel but the great and holy and saintly Michael power our first Bishop and as Archbishop the burdens are lightened and the joy is made complete as well because of the great love of all of those who serve the Lord in this world in this diocese they give themselves to the Lord this is a line in the old marriage right that said you will face many troubles in life but love will make them bearable and true love will make them a joy and I can say to anyone who undertakes the mission of Archbishop of Toronto you face many troubles and cares and battles and things of that nature but love will make them bearable and true love will make them a joy not only the love and the Heart of the Archbishop but in all those who serve here I think of the Bishops of the priest the faithful self-sacrifice and constantly serving the people I think of the deacons of the religious of the seminarians of all the lay people of this diocese to be Archbishop of Toronto is to experience constant edification and the love in the hearts of all the people who serve here who serve so Faithfully for which I know I am so grateful after 16 years as Bishop here I know with each passing day Archbishop Leia will also be filled with deep gratitude to have the privilege of being able to be Archbishop of Toronto surrounded by so many vibrant vital loving Disciples of the Lord Jesus when I was a little boy I learned the prayer which I still say angel of God my guardian dear to whom God's love commits me here ever this day be at my side to light to guard to rule and guide amen what do you think of the Guardian Angels but I think particularly we think of Saint Michael the Archangel our great patron of this archdiocese may he always be near in the heart and the life of our new Shepherd to light to guard to rule and guide amen so before the final blessing an apology and a gratitude first of all I'm sorry for the length of the homily and I promise it won't always be that long and secondly I want to say how grateful I am not only to his eminence and that's a lot of gratitude for him but since I got here the competency the goodness the kindness of the staff Personnel here at the Cathedral at the residents the and at the pastual center has been outstanding the logistics can you just imagine the liturgical Communications everything to bring this together has been wonderful I want to thank them very much from the bottom of and then did you hear the singing absolutely phenomenal choir here saying Michael thank you fabulous every Sunday 12 o'clock if you're in the neighborhood please come to the mass they'll be singing the Lord be with you blessed be the name of the Lord our health is in the name of the Lord May almighty God bless you the father and the son and the holy spirit amen go forth the masses ended thanks Saint Michael the Archangel defend Us in battle be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil may God with you can we humbly pray and do thou Prince of the Heavenly Host by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the rule of Souls we will bring our God is forever [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] else in water foreign [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] foreign [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] foreign [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]
