A two-hour ceremony with all the celebrated colour, pomp and religious history of the church yesterday marked the ordination of the 10th and youngest ever bishop of the Armidale diocese.
The celebration of the episcopal ordination and installation of Bishop Michael Robert Kennedy included 90 priests, 29 bishops and two cardinals, as well as a host of family, friends, and Catholic parishioners from across the region.
The former Catholic Bishop of Armidale, Most Rev Luc Matthys, was the principal celebrant with co-consecrators Cardinal George Pell, the Archbishop of Sydney and Bishop Gerard Hanna, the Bishop of Wagga Wagga, at Saint Mary’s and Saint Joseph’s Catholic Cathedral in Armidale.
Ecumenical visitors also came from the Wagga Wagga diocese and the Riverina, where 43-year-old Bishop Kennedy had served since his ordination into the priesthood in August 1999, under former Armidale local, Bishop Hanna. Among the clergy in attendance were more than 90 priests, 29 bishops and two
cardinals.
Bishop Kennedy said he was both honoured and humbled to be chosen as a successor of the Apostles as the Bishop of
Armidale.
“As I begin today, the task of chief shepherd of the Church of Armidale, I am heartened in the knowledge that I am not alone. I have my brother priests, who, as co-operators with the bishop, also bear with him the co-responsibility of teaching, sanctifying and governing,” Bishop Kennedy said to parishioners.
“I know that I can rely on the support and prayers of you, the faithful. Please pray that I do what is right and preach what is true. Please pray that the care of the shepherd never be lacking for his flock.”
The new bishop said that teaching and learning in the diocese were fundamental concerns for him.
As demonstrated by his predecessor, it was important for a new bishop to visit all parishes in his diocese as soon as he can, adding that getting out to visit flood-affected parishes in the diocese, such as Moree, Narrabri, Walgett and Wee Waa will be a particular priority.
There are 23 parishes and 24 Catholic schools in the 91,500 sq km Armidale diocese.
Floods prevented some parishioners from witnessing the consecration but up to 1000 people attended, with 850 in the cathedral and others outside who viewed the ceremony from a marquee on television screens.
The ordination is the 10th since 1869.
Bishop Kennedy was raised in the Riverina and says he was so happy at school that he became a schoolteacher.
He taught at a Catholic high school in Albury for three years before studying to be a priest.
He was ordained in 1999 and since 2007 had been parish priest at Leeton.
Bishop Gerard Hanna was delighted that one of his senior priests was appointed.
“Over the last 13 years he has shown a very balanced approach to his pastoral ministry,” he said.
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