Christians today know that Christ is Risen, first and foremost because they can experience and draw upon his divine power for their lives. Easter, therefore, is not primarily a celebration of a historical event, like Australia Day. Though certainly an historical event, Christians celebrate Christ’s resurrection at Easter because, through their experiences of him, increasingly, like St Paul, they grow to :
BISHOP’S 2004 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: THE EUCHARIST AND PEACE ON EARTH
Christmas is a time to get back to basics. One of these is the secret to true peace. This is the peace for which every human heart yearns.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
This is our Golden Jubilee Year as a diocese, established by Pope Pius XII in November 1954.
17 April 2004
We gather for this, the first of our diocesan Golden Jubilee liturgical events, on what is, for us, holy ground – the site of the first mission within the area of the Diocese of Bunbury. It is holy ground because of those who lived and struggled here.
A jubilee is a celebration. A Church jubilee is always a celebration of the blessings of God.
A diocesan celebration is a celebration of God’s blessings, received through the ministry of Christ, in the parish communities and Mass centres that make up the broader diocesan community.
Whenever I pray at the tombs of St Peter and St Paul, my thoughts always go first to how little – if anything – must remain of them. I remember that Peter and Paul were human, with all their self confessed frailties, like me.
Then my thoughts always seem to turn to the magnificent Basilicas built over the Apostles’ tombs. These express the faith of so many. They have been the focus too of the faith of hundreds of millions of pilgrims over centuries.
The annual celebration of Easter keeps before us the reality that Christian faith is, first and foremost, a personal relationship with the Risen Christ. Unless this relationship is growing, our faith is weakening. This is true, regardless of how strong our intellectual conviction about Christian beliefs and teachings may be.
For Christians, Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as a human person. They remember that Jesus came to bring ‘peace on earth!’
Peter Quinn was born in Highgate Hill, Perth on February 17, 1928 to Jeremiah and Aileen Quinn who met in Kalgoorlie where both their families had moved for the Gold Rush. Jeremiah had come from Ireland, and Aileen from Victoria.
Peter attended Sacred Heart Primary School, and Christian Brothers College, Highgate before being accepted as one of the 20 foundation students when St Charles Seminary opened in February 1942.
In 1947, Archbishop Prendiville asked Peter to go to Rome to continue his studies at Propaganda Fide College. It was here that he was ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1950. Fr Peter stayed in Rome for another four years to complete his studies in theology and a post graduate degree in Canon Law.
In February 1955, Fr Peter took up his first appointment in Sacred Heart Parish, Highgate Hill, where he spent 5 years as parish priest. This was followed by an appointment as Secretary to Archbishop Prendiville until 1965, when he was appointed to the new parish of Mirrabooka.
Fr Peter was appointed as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Perth in 1968, and as Auxilliary Bishop of Perth in 1969.
After 13 years as Auxilliary Bishop, Bishop Peter Quinn was installed as Third Bishop of Bunbury on August 4, 1982. Bishop Quinn spent 18 years in Bunbury, and resigned on December 20, 2000. In retirement, he continued to serve the people of the Perth Archdiocese until his death on August 23, 2008. Bishop Quinn’s funeral was held at Bunbury Catholic College on September 3, 2008 and he was buried in Bunbury Cemetery as the new St Patrick’s Cathedral was not yet complete.
Bishop Peter Quinn’s body was interred into the crypt of St Patrick’s Cathedral on August 29, 2011.
Myles McKeon was born in Drummin, County Mayo, Ireland on April 3rd, 1919 to John and Bridget McKeon.
Upon completing his schooling, Myles was accepted into All Hallows College in Dublin, a seminary run by Vincentian priests that specialised in preparing students for foreign missions. After 7 years at All Hallows, which included 3 years spent at University College, Myles was allocated by the seminary to the Archdiocese of Perth.
Myles spent his first four years in Maylands Parish, before being transferred to the Cathedral as an Assistant Priest. After two years in this role, he then spent eight years working in the roles of Catholic Missions, Catholic Migration and Welfare.
On the fifteenth anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, Myles received a letter from Rome appointing him Auxiliary Bishop of Perth. He was Consecrated a Bishop on September 12, 1962. Very soon after, Bishop Myles and Archbishop Goody flew to Rome for the Second Vatican Council.
Bishop Myles was appointed Second Bishop of Bunbury on March 6, 1969. He is remembered for his many initiatives in the Diocese, including:
Bishop Myles retired as Bishop of Bunbury in 1982 due to ill health, but continued to work in the Diocese in the role of Director of the Propagation of the Faith.
Bishop Myles McKeon passed away on May 2, 2016 at the age of 97.
His funeral was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Bunbury, where his body now lies in the crypt.