More than 1,000 dignitaries and parishioners jammed Toronto's St. Michael's Cathedral Wednesday as Thomas Cardinal Collins delivered his first mass since being elevated to the College of Cardinals earlier this month.
Collins, along with 22 other bishops, was elevated into the College in a consistory led by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Basilica on Feb. 18.
Collins, 65, was just the 16th Canadian to be elevated to the position.
"This is indeed an occasion of great joy in my life and for my family, but particularly for our whole community of faith in the Archdiocese of Toronto as well as our country as a whole," Collins told the congregation Wednesday.
"This I think is a recognition of our role as a country within the universal church throughout the world, one which is made very clear by the important role Canada plays when it comes to helping and serving others."
The mass was attended by 28 bishops and more than 400 priests from the Archdiocese of Toronto. The Homily was the message of Jonah who left his comfort zone and went out to preach the message of "Repent, Engage and trust in the Lord."
Dignitaries included Lieutenant Governor of Ontario David Onley, Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair, Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion, and former Canadian prime minister John Turner.
"I'm very glad to be here. It's a tremendous honour for now Cardinal Collins," Onley told CTV Toronto. "It's a great honour for the city. I have known him for a number of years so I'm here to help celebrate a great occasion."
Collins told CTV's Canada AM last week that he would divide his time between Toronto and Rome, where he is expected to sit on a number of committees including one that addresses the Vatican's role in social communications.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Andria Case
