TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - Bishop Leonard Blair has led the Catholic Diocese of Toledo since 2003, but he is about to take on a new position.
Bishop Blair has been appointed by Pope Francis to head the Hartford Archdiocese. The bishop announced Tuesday that he's moving to Hartford, CT for this new role.
The archdiocese is about twice the size of the Diocese of Toledo – with 700,000 Catholics in three counties, compared to the 319,000 in the Diocese of Toledo. But leaders say Blair has served this smaller diocese very well and expect his legacy to be his dedication and involvement in local churches.
"This is home, and I think we grow good things here," said Father Monte Hoyles, chancellor and moderator for the Catholic Diocese of Toledo. "There's something good about this area and we shouldn't be surprised when someone has come here and grown with us and goes on to good things."
Bishop Blair will remain in Toledo until December. When he leaves, the College of Consulters has eight days to elect an administrator to oversee the daily operations of the diocese. Blair's replacement must be a Roman Catholic priest, at least 35 years of age and outstanding in "doctrines and prudence."
Father Hoyles says he's not sure who will fill the role, but he trusts the process.
