Richard John Grecco (born 4 March 1946) is a Canadian prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the 13th Bishop of Charlottetown from 2009 to 2021.


Richard John Grecco
Bishop of Charlottetown
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
SeeCharlottetown
In office11 July 2009 – 4 March 2021
PredecessorVernon Fougère
SuccessorJoseph Dabrowski
Previous post(s)Auxiliary Bishop of London (1998-2002)
Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto (2002-2009)
Orders
Ordination2 September 1973
Consecration2 February 1998
by Thomas Benjamin Fulton
Personal details
Born (1946-03-04) March 4, 1946 (age 78)
MottoHope in The Lord
Coat of armsRichard John Grecco's coat of arms
Styles of
Richard John Grecco
Reference styleThe Most Reverend
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Biography

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Born in Thorold, Ontario to Anthony and Lily Grecco, Richard Grecco attended St. Augustine's Seminary, Toronto and was ordained to the priesthood on 2 September 1973.[1] He furthered his studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome and the University of St. Michael's College, Toronto, from where he obtained a doctorate in theology in 1982. He served as a parish priest and a professor of moral theology at St. Michael's College, Toronto and St. Joseph's College, Edmonton.[2]

On 5 December 1997, Grecco was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of London, Ontario and Titular Bishop of Uccula by Pope John Paul II. He received his episcopal consecration on 2 February 1998 from Bishop Thomas Fulton, with Bishops John O'Mara and John Sherlock serving as co-consecrators.[1] He selected as his episcopal motto: "Hope in the Lord".[2]

Grecco was named Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto on 27 April 2002.[1] In Toronto, he served as the senior vicar general and the episcopal vicar of the Central Pastoral Region and Scarborough, composed of approximately 98 parishes.[2] He also worked with many lay associations and ethnic communities in the Toronto Archdiocese, and served on numerous boards and committees including the National Executive for Development and Peace and the Pontifical Mission Society.[2]

On 11 July 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Grecco the thirteenth Bishop of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.[1] He succeeded Vernon Fougère, who retired due to poor health after a 17-year-long tenure.[3] As Bishop, he was the spiritual leader of 63,240 Catholics[4] in Prince Edward Island.

On March 4, 2021, his 75th birthday, he resigned as the Bishop of Charlottetown having reached the retirement age set by canon law.[5]

Pope Francis appointed Bishop Joseph Dabrowski as Grecco's successor, 2 April 2023.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Bishop Richard John Grecco". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
  2. ^ a b c d "Most Reverend Richard J. Grecco". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. Archived from the original on 2009-02-07.
  3. ^ "Toronto bishop named to head Charlottetown Diocese". CBC News. 2009-07-11.
  4. ^ "Pope Benedict XVI Appoints Archdiocese of Toronto Auxiliary Bishop Richard Grecco as Bishop of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island". Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto. Archived from the original on 2010-09-22.
  5. ^ "Roman Catholic Bishop of Charlottetown resigns, plans to start chemo". CBC News. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Bishop Joseph Dabrowski replaces Richard Grecco as P.E.I top Catholic leader". CBC News. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Charlottetown
2009–2021
Succeeded by
Preceded by Titular Bishop of Uccula
1997–2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto
2002–2009
Succeeded by
Preceded by Auxiliary Bishop of London
1997–2002
Succeeded by