Dear Friends,

“Rejoice in the Lord always.” My heart is full of rejoicing!

Thank You Bunbury!

As I take up this ministry of bishop, I am deeply honoured to be welcomed by so many of you today. We are on sacred ground. I acknowledge and pay my respects to the Wardandi Noongar people. Their elders, past and present, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here with us today. I am deeply grateful to Archbishop Tim, who prepared and ordained me, and who led us so beautifully in the first part of our liturgy.

I am also deeply grateful to my co-consecrators, Bishop Karol and Bishop Gerry, to the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles, and to all the Australian bishops who have made great efforts to be here today.  Your support, personal welcome, and encouragement mean so much to me.

I am the second Salvatorian bishop in Australia – I assure you that we’re not trying to take over!

As we witnessed earlier, this gathering is made up of laypeople, religious, and priests from all parts of the world, all parts of Australia, and all parts of our diocese. I am grateful for the presence of representatives from other Christian denominations, other faiths, and the local community. Your presence is a sign of unity and shared respect, which I am committed to fostering and growing. Thank you for being here. 

Over the past few months, I have been overwhelmed by the many good wishes and prayers I have received from people all over the diocese. I look forward to getting to know each of you in the months and years ahead. 

It was my parents who first introduced me to God’s love and who modelled that love throughout my life: I think of them with deep gratitude today. I am also profoundly grateful to my family and friends, many who have travelled great distances to be here, including my two godsons Eryk from Poland and Dennie from Sydney and their families. Your presence and support are a great blessing to me.

I am particularly thankful to the Salvatorians and the friends of the Salvatorians, who are so well represented here today. I have always felt a deep sense of belonging in this community, which has nurtured and supported in my vocation, particularly over the 31 years I have been here in Australia. I acknowledge and thank the Salvatorian leaders who are with us today, Fr Chris, Superior General; Fr Jozef, Polish Province Superior; Fr Richard, Provincial Superior of Great Britain; Fr Adam, Superior the East Asia Mission, Fr Greg Superior of Salvatorians in Australia, Anne Cullender, Sammantha Da Luz leaders of the Lay Salvatorians. Your guidance and fraternity have been invaluable to me.

I am grateful to all religious brothers and sisters in Australia who are with us today,  especially Sr Mary Ryan, Sr Chitra Justin, Philip Watkins and the Executive director of Catholic Religious Australia, Anne Walker. I come to Bunbury with the blessing and richness of ministry in many different places in Australia. To the people of Greenmount, Pymble, Gosford, and Pittwater parishes, where I have had the privilege to serve—thank you. I have been truly blessed to grow in faith alongside you and to be part of your communities. Your support, kindness, and prayers have shaped me in countless ways.

To the staff and students of Chisholm Catholic College, St Leo’s Catholic College, and the Catholic Education Western Australia office — I have loved my ministry in your schools. I have been enriched by your wisdom, insights, faith, and friendship. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my journey.

An enormous number of people have contributed to this wonderful ceremony today—through planning, music, liturgical preparation, hospitality, logistics, technology, and many other ways. I am immensely grateful to each and every one of you. If I were to start naming individuals, we would be here until breakfast tomorrow! However, I must acknowledge Fr Pierangelo dela Cruz Repuyan Fr Jess Navarra, Fr Nathan Barrie, John Ogilvie, Aaron Faure, Janet O’Hare, Marsha Mariasusay, Kerrie Merritt. To those joining us online, thank you for your participation and prayers. Your presence, even from afar, means a great deal to me.

In his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul encourages the Church to “rejoice in the Lord always.” I have chosen this as my motto as bishop. My heart rejoices today.

I have thanked you all for being here, and now I ask for your prayers—that I may be a faithful servant of the Lord and a dedicated shepherd for this Diocese.  In that same passage, Paul reminds us that the Lord is always near. Here in Bunbury, on the lands of the Wardandi Noongar people, the Lord is near. He is present in the extraordinary coastline, the red earth, the forests, and in every living creature. But most of all, the Lord is near in His people—each and every one, created in the image and likeness of God. The Lord is near in our joys, our hopes, our griefs, and our sufferings. And most profoundly, He loves us—just as we are. That is Good News, and it is a reason to rejoice—always!

As the Church in Bunbury, we have the opportunity to share this Good News. To open our doors and our hearts to those who live here and to those who visit. To remove every barrier that might prevent someone from encountering the love of God. That requires more than waiting for people to come to us — we must go forth.

We are a missionary Church, called to reach out to every place and every periphery to share God’s love. Jesus himself modelled this in his life. He came near to those who others cast aside, and he asks us to do the same to welcome, to include, to heal, and to restore. This also means removing those barriers within ourselves and within our Church that prevent us from going towards others, whoever and wherever they are. We must be the loving presence that God calls us to be, showing people that the God of love is near to them, whoever and wherever they are. So let us rejoice together. The Lord is near.

Let us announce this Good News to one another, to our Diocese, and to the world. Like the lighthouse that adorns our shore, let us be a beacon of light in Bunbury, in Australia, and beyond. 

Thank you, and may God bless you all.