Australians celebrate episcopal consecration of two Melbourne bishops

Melbourne, Australia, Dec 23, 2014 / 15:07 pm

Jubilation marked the episcopal concration of Terence Curtin and Mark Edwards as auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, which took place last Wednesday.

The two had been appointed auxiliary bishops of Melbourne by Pope Francis on Nov. 7, and were consecrated at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Dec. 17.

Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne was principal consecrator, joined by Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia and Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane.

Bishop Curtin and Edwards join Bishops Peter Elliott and Vincent Long Van Nguyen in serving as auxiliary bishops of the Melbourne archdiocese.

Bishop Curtin expressed thanks and appreciation for all the prayerful support and encouragement received.

"It has been very humbling because in moments like this, as I think all the bishops would know, you become acutely aware of your own failings and limitations. But that's not a bad thing. It means that we come to know all the more how much we depend on the grace of God and the gift of faith."

"The extent of that grace has been shown to us in what you, our friends, parishioners, students, have told us of our presence and ministry among you," he added. "It surprises, exceeds our expectations, and reminds us that it's God's work in us and not our own."

Archbishop Hart said, "All of us gathered here, pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit in their lives. May they give love and compassion to the life of the Church for many years."

Bishop Curtin also observed that "You have before you a bishop out of the diocesan clergy of Melbourne and a bishop out of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate."

Bishops Curtin was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Melbourne in 1971, and Bishop Edwards was professed as a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1984.

"With such firm foundations I can assure you we are both from good stock, but good stock is not much use unless it's well planted," Bishop Curtin said, "There lies your task, dear bishops, priests and people of God, to plant us well in the joys, the hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the men and women of our age."


Bishop Curtin was born in Cremorne, Sydney on July 20, 1945, and was educated at St Kevin's College, Toorak. Joining the Regional Seminary of Melbourne, he completed his priestly formation at the Pontifical Urban College, Rome.

Graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Education from the University of Melbourne and later a Doctorate of Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Melbourne on August 28, 1971.

Bishop Curtin worked in academia at the Australian Catholic University for almost 30 years and then at Catholic Theological College for the last 12 years.

Meanwhile, Bishop Edwards was born in Balikpapan, Indonesia on June 14, 1959 and was educated at Mazenod College, Mulgrave and Monash University, Melbourne.

Entering the Novitiate of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Mulgrave in 1980, he made his final religious profession on 17 February 1984 and was ordained a priest on Aug. 16, 1986.

Bishop Edwards has since worked as a teacher, novice master and lecturer in Melbourne. In 2010 he became rector of Iona College in Brisbane. Between 2001-2012, Msg. Edwards served as Counsellor of the Australian Province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Bishop Curtin concluded, "Keep us in your prayers. Ask that the joy of the gospel mark our lives and our service as auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese of Melbourne."

The Archdiocese of Melbourne holds a Catholic population of about 1 million in 219 parishes with 328 priests. There are about 280 religious order priests and over 1000 women religious.