“When God’s courage moves into the human heart, it wants to spread itself to others, empowering the whole community to grow in love, truth and service. So today, what better way to celebrate our thanksgiving than by recognizing the power of (St.) Paul’s simple message to us to encourage one another and build up each other,” Grecco said.

Grecco, who joined the archdiocese of Toronto in 2002, thanked colleagues, parishioners and staff of the various archdiocesan offices, and also the sectors that he oversaw.

“I cannot begin to tell you how the archdiocese has been an encouragement for me in various ways,” he said. “For example, it encouraged me to see the Holy Spirit at work in the lay associations evangelizing this archdiocese within and beyond the parish. Also, the ethnic parishes encouraged me by their commitment to hand down the kind of faith to their children despite the difficulties, threats and fears that many face — they are prayerfully making many changes in a new country and new culture while striving to support their children through the unchanging truths of the Holy Gospel.”

Grateful to have witnessed the church at work in Canada’s multicultural fabric, Grecco will now head to Prince Edward Island as the Charlottetown diocese’s newest bishop. He replaces retiring Bishop Vernon Fougere, Charlottetown’s bishop since 1992. The inauguration in Charlottetown will take place Sept. 21.

There is no word on a replacement for Grecco in Toronto.

(To view more photos of the event and hear Bishop Grecco’s farewell address, go to www.archtoronto.org .)