Edmonton Archbishop Stephen Hero, formally installed Jan. 23, now spiritually shepherds a city and region he called home for over 40 years.

He told The Catholic Register that he never anticipated he would be granted such an opportunity. The episcopal appointment was announced over two months ago on Nov. 21, gifting the 56-year-old significant time to contemplate the task God set before him.

“I’m certainly overwhelmed by God’s goodness to me,” said Hero. “I was very happy in Prince Albert (Saskatchewan) and ready to spend the rest of my life there. I wasn't thinking about moving. As time went on, as I thought about God's plan and how I was called back here, I'm very grateful to be back close to people that I know and the place that I know quite well.”

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Poignant memories flooded back to him. He reminisced about going to the first Friday adoration at St. Joseph’s Basilica as a young adult growing in faith. On June 29, 2000, he would be ordained a priest in this ornate house of worship. Years later, it would host the celebration of life for Hero’s late father, Louis Stephen.

Familiarity with his surroundings, the priests and many of the seminarians are a comfort to Hero, but he knows the complexion of these bonds will alter to a degree.

“It changes relationships to be shepherd now and not just a friend or a pastor,” said Hero. "It's a different kind of relationship with the priests of the diocese. There's a time of adjustment for all of us.”

He is  not worried about the adaptation process because “I'll be myself and I'll again try to bring all my prayer, my talents, my experience and my skills of listening to people to this ministry and give glory to God.”

Along with benefitting from being a longtime Edmontonian, Hero suggested that his four years away from the archdiocese will also prove helpful as “distance helps to give a certain objectivity.”

One of the messages he has relayed to the priests, archdiocesan staff and groups he has encountered in recent weeks is that “I come first as a servant and to humbly listen.”

During his few visits leading up to the installation, Hero was invigorated by the staffers who worked closely with his predecessor, Archbishop Richard Smith, who has moved on to shepherd the Vancouver archdiocese.

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“It was very inspiring for me to see their commitment to evangelization and the new initiatives supporting Catholic schools in their Catholic identity,” said Hero.

He also participated in the annual retreat for Western Canada bishops days before officially beginning his new role. That gathering at Westminster Abbey in Mission, B.C., was largely of a prayerful, reflective and fellowship nature. He anticipates that future meetings could centre around the bishops tackling big issues.

For example, his colleague in southern Alberta, Bishop William McGrattan of Calgary, is at the forefront of helping the Canadian Catholic Church navigate the new artificial intelligence frontier. Last May, McGrattan, the Edmonton archdiocese and various Catholic partners across Alberta hosted the 2025 Mission Collaboration Initiative (MCI) Summit: Artificial Intelligence and the Church. It was a listening and discernment event that convened theologians, medical professionals, tech experts and educational leaders.

Hero is ready to contribute to the conversation and said the Catholic Church is well-equipped to navigate the new terrain.

“We have such a blessing of a very long tradition of ethical thinking in the Catholic Church,” said Hero. “We're in a good place to be able to assess new developments and to try to think through the implications.

“Young and old people need guidance for what is good for human dignity. We need to think for ourselves and not quickly become dependent on a tool. We want to, as human beings, maintain the dignity of being made in the image of God. We are rational, loving beings, and a computer can't love you.”

Regarding the young, Hero has caught notice and is excited by the noticeable surge in child and young adult attendance at Mass over the past couple of years. He wants to keep this enthusiasm kindled through meaningful encounter and he hailed the young for modelling a better way forward.

“It's wonderful that we have these young people who are touched by Christ and the beauty of the liturgy,” said Hero. “They are drawn to Him and to give their hearts to Him,” said Hero. “They see past some of the lies or pitfalls around us that are confusing a lot of people.”

Hero will also keep up the strides made by the Edmonton archdiocese to walk with Canada’s Indigenous peoples.

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“I'm willing to take time to just build a relationship, become friends and just show that I'm committed for the rest of my life to work with people and minister to them,” said Hero.

Watch Archbishop Hero’s installation Mass on YouTube.