A journey with the Toowoomba faithful and the Holy Spirit

Ordination of Bishop Robert McGuckin

Photo courtesy of the Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba

Most Rev Robert McGuckin DD MCL JCL, sixth Bishop of Toowoomba. Photo: Alphonsus Fok & Grace Lu

The Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev Robert McGuckin DD MCL JCL as the sixth Bishop of Toowoomba was celebrated in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Toowoomba on Wednesday morning 11 July, the Feast of St Benedict.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Most Rev McGuckin as Bishop of Toowoomba on 14 May. Prior to his appointment, Most Rev McGuckin had served as the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta’s Vicar General & Moderator of the Curia since 1997. Most Rev McGuckin is the first Bishop from the clergy of the Parramatta Diocese.

Four Archbishops, 24 Bishops, more than 80 Priests and five deacons took part in the Ordination Mass and Ceremony.

Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge was the ordaining Prelate, with Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto and the Bishop of Parramatta, Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, the co-consecrators.

The newly appointed Australian Ambassador to the Holy See, Mr John McCarthy QC attended the ceremonies, with civic and community leaders, interfaith representatives and interstate guests also joining delegates from Parishes throughout the Toowoomba Diocese. The ceremonies were witnessed by 1,500 of the faithful both inside St Patrick’s and in a marquee that was erected in the cathedral grounds.

In concluding the ceremonies, Bishop McGuckin thanked his predecessor Bishop William Morris for his years of service and dedication, and said he looked forward to the journey ahead with the Toowoomba faithful.

“I identify very much with the words of St Augustine who said: ‘For you I am Bishop, but with you I am a Christian.’ I am not daunted by this, because I know I don’t journey alone. You also journey with me, as does the Holy Spirit,” Bishop McGuckin said.

“To all of you in this vast Diocese, I pray God’s blessing upon you and I hope to visit and meet many of you as soon as possible, as together we work to build up the Kingdom of God in this special place.

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