Bishop Daniel Meagher bid goodbye to the Sydney Archdiocese, telling the faithful gathered for his farewell Mass that Christ’s peace would sustain his people through every challenge and hardship. Source: The Catholic Weekly.
The farewell liturgy at St Mary’s Cathedral on May 5 came just two days after the conclusion of Sydney’s archdiocesan Synod, for which Bishop Meagher served as vice-chair assisting Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP.
Archbishop Fisher, Bishop Richard Umbers, Bishop Anthony Percy and Bishop Emeritus Terence Brady concelebrated the farewell Mass, joined by a large number of Sydney clergy.
Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Meagher as the 11th Bishop of Rockhampton in April, succeeding Bishop Michael McCarthy. The former auxiliary bishop of Sydney will be installed in Rockhampton later this month.
Opening his homily, Bishop Meagher thanked the priests and faithful who had come to the cathedral, before reflecting on the movement and hardship described in the readings of the day.
“In the first reading, St Paul is stoned and left for dead, but he gets back up again … and just keeps going,” he said.
Drawing parallels between St Paul’s missionary journeys and his own impending move north, Bishop Meagher admitted he was approaching the transition with mixed emotions.
“You would think that I would be utterly fearless in moving to Rockhampton,” he said.
“Sadly, no. I find my emotions on a real roller coaster.”
He compared himself to St Peter stepping from the boat into stormy seas, explaining that like all Christians he could become distracted by “the waves and the wind” rather than keeping his eyes fixed on Christ.
The bishop also acknowledged the many challenges facing the church in Sydney and beyond, including preparations for the International Eucharistic Congress.
“But remember, Jesus offers us his peace,” he said.
“My peace I bequeath you … which is to say, my presence, I give you myself. This is the peace of the risen Christ, the conqueror of the world.”
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Bishop Meagher bids farewell to Sydney with a call for all to trust in Christ’s peace (By Marilyn Rodrigues, The Catholic Weekly)
