“I think the most exciting thing for me is to meet the people, to meet the priests and to learn about how the diocese operates and functions,” Grecco told The Catholic Register.

Grecco was born in St. Catharines, Ont., March 4, 1946, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1973. He was ordained a bishop in 1998 for the diocese of London where he served until 2002 when he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Toronto.

When asked about his favourite memory from the past seven years spent in the metropolitan diocese, Grecco said that’s easy. World Youth Day sticks out for him as a highlight because Catholics literally overflowed in the streets.

“That was such a wonderful and uplifting experience,” Grecco said. “I remember walking back with (Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic) when the cross arrived in town and I turned to him — and we were all in very high spirits — and I said ‘wasn’t that wonderful’ and (jokingly) ‘could we do this again next year?’ It was such a wonderful experience for everybody, and not just Catholics.”

But another highlight were his main duties. Grecco said his responsibility for confirmations in the central area of Toronto and Scarborough, although a busy time at Easter, was very enjoyable. Across the diocese, he was also responsible for the ethnic parishes, as some of these parishioners might have, in their former country, emphasized different feast days or hosted special processions.

“It was up to me to minister as best I could to help them celebrate the faith of their nation in their parish and we celebrate Eucharist in this archdiocese in 36 different languages, so that was a good learning experience for me,” he said.

Neil MacCarthy, head of communications for the archdiocese, said Grecco was very supportive of effective communications in the church and did well in his responsibility for overseeing approximately 200 lay movements in the archdiocese.

“He’s just somebody who was was certainly willing to listen to concerns and consult and be an advocate for the work of the church and for our priests and how much they do day to do,” MacCarthy said. “He’s been a real blessing for the archdiocese and we’re certainly going to miss him. But certainly our loss is P.E.I.’s gain.”

MacCarthy said that although Grecco might be regarded as a big city bishop, he grew up in Thorold, Ont., a small community of about 5,000 people.

“He’s had the experience of being in a larger community in Toronto, but also certainly growing up and serving in pastoral ministry he’s had that experience of smaller communities as well. I think that will bode well for the people of Charlottetown.”

Ann Andrachuk, the bishop’s executive assistant, said she believes the people of P.E.I. will embrace him as a wonderful teacher and someone who is filled with compassion.

“He’s a great leader, very approachable and one of his best skills is listening,” Andrachuk said. “They’re getting a fabulous person out there.”