Bishop Stuart Hall was consecrated on Saturday as Bishop of Australia’s Military Ordinariate at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral, where he was ordained a priest almost 40 years ago and more recently served as dean. Source: Melbourne Catholic.
The occasion offered a unique opportunity for clergy, the lay faithful, civic leaders, dignitaries and members of Australia’s defence force to gather in celebration and thanksgiving.
Archbishop Peter A Comensoli was the principal consecrator of Saturday’s Mass and was joined by co-consecrators Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra and Goulburn, and Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP of Sydney.
Cardinal Mykola Bychok CSsR of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Sts Peter and Paul in Melbourne also concelebrated the Mass, along with other bishops and priests from Melbourne and around Australia.
In his homily, Archbishop Comensoli encouraged his brother bishop to preach Christ’s peace “with constancy and fidelity”.
“Peace was the first word of the risen Christ, given to his disciples for them to receive. But it was given with an immediate call for them to be sent out with it,” Archbishop Comensoli said.
“You are not asked to undertake this ministry from your own strength. You are, rather, being asked to remain close to Christ, to listen for his voice, and to allow his peace to shape the way you teach, shepherd and serve.
“For the serving personnel and their families of the Australian Defence Force – to whom you are sent – who experience separation, sacrifice, and sometimes grief in their mission, may you embrace the prophetic calling to work for the work of peace.”
Bishop Hall offered words of gratitude and at times teared up as he acknowledged all those who have nurtured his faith since childhood.
The new bishop also paid tribute to his predecessor, Bishop Emeritus Max Davis, and Archbishop Christopher Prowse, who has served as Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinariate over the past five years.
Bishop Hall also outlined his mission for the Military Ordinariate.
“My mission is simple,” he said, “[it is] to bring the peace of Christ to every corner of the ordinariate, and to make it known to every member of our military community – from recruits to recent veterans … the peace Christ gives is not merely the absence of conflict; it is the peace that steadies the heart, gives courage in uncertainty, strengthens us in hardship, teaches us to give, and enables us to remain faithful, whatever lies before us.”
FULL STORY
‘The peace Christ gives’: Bishop Stuart Hall consecrated Bishop of the Military Ordinariate (Melbourne Catholic)
