ARMS outstretched to grasp the hands of well-wishers, beaming with joy Brisbane’s Archbishop Emeritus John Bathersby exited the packed St Stephen’s Cathedral after his farewell Mass last Sunday.
The vast congregation had gathered to pay tribute to a priest and leader who had shepherded the rapidly-growing archdiocese through 20 years that were challenging but ultimately rewarding.
Earlier Archbishop Bathersby had spoken of “the great privilege” of being able to preach the message of Christ’s love.
Now this same love was coming back to him in multiples as he walked after a final Mass from St Stephen’s to a future back in the arms of his original family, back to Stanthorpe his birthplace some 75 years past.
The Mass, a farewell and thanksgiving for the episcopal ministry of Archbishop Bathersby, was a worthy send-off and expression of gratitude.
Tributes came from speakers including Bishop Brian Finnigan and former archdiocesan pastoral council chair Margaret Vider.
The presentation of a copy of the archdiocesan image of the St Mary of the Cross MacKillop to the archbishop as a gift was also fitting.
Archbishop Bathersby last year successfully petitioned Rome to have Australia’s first saint declared the archdiocese’s patroness.
In his homily, the archbishop returned to a constant theme struck in this past year or so of his long farewell – the privilege of giving witness to the reality of Jesus Christ in the world through the celebration of the Eucharist.
“Being present is sheer delight because above all we have gathered to celebrate the Eucharist, the very centre of our spiritual world that brings us into Communion as brothers and sisters,” he said.
“Nothing is more powerful for us than the re-presentation of the life of Jesus, who He is and what He suffered for us through His life, death and resurrection.”
There was also a typical expression of humility in an acknowledgement of what he felt had been left unachieved.
“Coming here is a great thrill but like all of us I have a feeling that I have achieved less than what God desires for His Kingdom,” he said.
“In reaching the age of 75 I was both delighted, yet sad.
“Delighted, that I would like to feel as free as St Paul the apostle who said at the end of His life, ‘I have finished the course, I have kept the faith’.
“By no means am I in the same category of Paul, and most certainly I can in no way keep up with his brilliance and courage, but at least I would like to feel I have done just a little in both areas.”
The archbishop spoke of how he had reached a “painful” decision to “leave the people of Brisbane archdiocese behind”.
“I decided finally to return to Stanthorpe, my home town, because it was there I learned faith and it is there that I was in deep friendship with my sister, my brother and their spouses, together with their families and grandchildren,” he said.
“Only when I grew older did I become conscious of the shortness of life in this world.
“I became aware how little time is left for me to make contact with my relations.”
Bishop Finnigan, in paying tribute to Archbishop Bathersby, said the archbishop had been a leader nationally and internationally as well as in the archdiocese.
He noted the archbishop’s dedication to ecumenism and said this stemmed not just from “carrying out the mandate of Vatican II but he does it from the conviction of his heart”.
“We thank you for being such a great shepherd to us over the years,” Bishop Finnigan said.
“Our hope and prayer is that the Good Shepherd will walk closely with you as you move down the twilight years of your life.”
Ms Vider, who had worked with Archbishop Bathersby through her involvement in various lay leadership roles, addressed the archbishop saying “you have been absolutely full of ideas but not full of yourself”.
“We have been blessed by your presence among us – go gently and be kind to yourself,” she said.
Another speaker, Gerry Murphy, a friend and long-time member of the archdiocesan finance council, said 20 years ago he received a phone call from a friend from Sydney who had just heard an interview with the then new Archbishop of Brisbane (John Bathersby).
“He was impressed. He said the archbishop was a man with the common touch,” Mr Murphy said.
“My friend’s comment described what I believe is the defining characteristic of his (Archbishop Bathersby’s) time as Archbishop of Brisbane.
“He was a man of the people and a man who never lost his common touch.”
On behalf of the archdiocese, Archbishop Bathersby’s executive assistant Claudine Kelly presented him with a chalice and paten as a gift.
Jennifer and Adam Boyce, a couple whom the archbishop had recently married, presented him with a framed copy of the archdiocese’s commissioned painting of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
Then following a procession of bishops and priests, Archbishop Bathersby left St Stephen’s to a standing ovation.
His crozier remained behind however, in front of the cathedra, the “sede vacante”, the empty seat of the now vacant episcopal see.
The crozier will be taken up by Brisbane’s new archbishop at his installation.
