Ballarat Diocese marked the conclusion of a chapter of leadership, pastoral care and dedicated service to the community with a Mass of Thanksgiving for Bishop Paul Bird CSsR as he retires as Bishop of Ballarat.
Bishop Bird has served as the Bishop of Ballarat since 2012.
When bishops turn 75, they are requested to offer their resignations to the Pope. Bishop Bird turned 75 in 2024 and offered his resignation but was asked to stay on till a successor could be found.
On January 7, Pope Leo XIV appointed Hobart priest Fr Mark Freeman to be the new Bishop of Ballarat. At the same time, Pope Leo appointed Bishop Bird as Apostolic Administrator, to care for the diocese until Bishop-elect Freeman is ordained and installed as the ninth Bishop of Ballarat on March 19.
The Mass of Thanksgiving was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Ballarat, with about three hundred people in attendance, including priests and parishioners of the diocese and Redemptorist priests.
Bishop Bird expressed deep gratitude for the people of the diocese and the privilege of serving them.
“As I draw towards the end of my service as Bishop of Ballarat, I’m glad of this opportunity to give thanks for the years I’ve spent in this role and I’m grateful to you all for joining me in the Eucharist, our great prayer of thanks,” Bishop Bird said.
“I give thanks to God for the blessings of my time as Bishop of Ballarat and I give thanks to each one of you – those here in the cathedral and those joining us online. I thank you for the support you have given me in this ministry.
Bishop Bird led the diocese through the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Responses to Child Abuse and then through several hearings of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse. These were particularly difficult years – for those who had suffered abuse, for their families, for parishes and schools and for the community.
During the celebration, there was recognition of the bishop, on behalf of the laity and the diocese’s religious and clergy.
A poignant moment at the end of the celebration was when all stood and gave Bishop Bird blessing by singing May God Bless and Keep You.
Bishop-elect Mark Freeman will be installed as the ninth Bishop of Ballarat on Thursday, March 19 at 11am AEDT. The ceremony will be livestreamed on the Ballarat Diocese’s YouTube channel here: Episcopal Ordination of the Ninth Bishop of Ballarat.
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Bishop Paul retires (By Jane Collins, Ballarat Diocese)
