catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 28, March, 2021 Call 02 9649 6423 or visit www.catholiccemeteries.com.au Consecrated lawns and chapels Sydney’s only Catholic crematorium Monthly mass for the Repose of Souls Funeral directors available for a Catholic service Bereavement pastoral care Serving the Catholic community for over 150 years SYDNEY ARCHBISHOP An- thony Fisher OP was among the hundreds of faithful cel- ebrating the O’Mahony Ses- quicentenary in Armidale last week. Archbishop Fisher deliv- ered an historical oration marking 150 years since the installation of Armidale’s first bishop Timothy O’Mahony by his own predecessor Arch- bishop Bede Polding. Celebrations included an evening of sacred music, scripture, prayer and a Mass along with the blessing of a memorial stone to Bishop O’Mahony. Created in 1862 by Pius IX, the Diocese of Armidale origi- nally had three or four priests to minister to around 10,000 Catholics, many of whom were poorly catechised and sacramental-ised. The new Diocese was to make the unusual claim to fame of having three first bishops. Both Fr James Ber- nard Hayes OSA and Fr John Crookall refused the appoint- ment, with Fr Timothy O’Ma- hony named Bishop in 1871. Today the Diocese of Armi- dale covers a significant por- tion of the New England and North-West slopes and plains of NSW, and consists 91,500 square kilometres and bor- ders Toowoomba, Lismore, Maitland, Newcastle, Bathurst and Wilcannia-Forbes Dio- ceses. Archbishop Fisher wished a happy 150th birthday to Ar- midale and said “in the spirit of confidence inGod, I predict a glorious future of the not-so- infant diocese”. “Whatever challenges we have faced in the past, face now, or will face in future, anniversaries like this one are ¾ Debbie Cramsie Armidale marks 150 years young reminders that rather than ac- quiescing to the spirit of the age or our own negative emo- tions, we can andmust redou- ble our efforts to be faithful to the Lord’s command to love Archbishop Fisher OP presents an historical oration in Armidale on 9 March. PHOTO: Supplied and breathe the Holy Spirit of quiet and humble confi- dence,” he said. “We can and should draw courage and inspiration today from the contribution to all that of Armidale’s now 25 par- ishes, 46 priests, 18 religious and 42,000 lay faithful, now 24 schools educating over 6,000 children, and other Church agencies, associations and ministries.” Armidale Bishop Michael Kennedy said “just as the Catholic faithful of Armidale were grateful to Archbishop Fisher’s predecessor Arch- bishop Polding for making what was then the very ar- duous journey from Sydney to Armidale to install Bishop O’Mahony as our First Bish- op in 1871, we are grateful to, Your Grace, for making time to be with us”. I n this edition Our story begins in 1839 with the Australasian Chronicle, continuing with the Freeman’s Journal in 1850. Level 13, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 9390 5400 | Vol 73, No 5177. The Catholic Weekly is published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney ABN 60 471 267 587 and is printed by ACM Australian Community Media, 159 Bells Line of Road, North Richmond NSW, 2754. News Movies, books Archbishop’s homily Editorial & Letters 1-8 10-11 21 24-25 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Michael Kenny (02) 9390 5348 EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 Debbie Cramsie (02) 9390 5396 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 Katie Clarke (02) 9390 5402 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa Faith in the trajectory of life catch it now at: thiscatholiclife.com.au LEAVE A GIFT Archdiocese of Sydney Catholic CHARITIES Order your FREE Wills and Bequests Guide today 1800 753 959 or
[email protected] myWill SUPPORTINGTHE MINISTRIES OF THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY Leaving a gift in a We can and should draw courage and inspiration today from the contribution to all that of Armidale’s now 25 parishes, 46 priests, 18 religious and 42,000 lay faithful, now 24 schools educating over 6,000 children, and other Church agen- cies, associations and ministries.” Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP NEW