Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Holy Spirit takes care of early ‘wobbly knees’

byEmilie Ng
9 July 2015 - Updated on 1 April 2021
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA

Bishop John Gerry

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Bishop John Gerry
Bishop John Gerry at his Jubilee Mass at St Stephen’s Cathedral on July 5, 2015. Photo: Alan Edgecomb

By Emilie Ng

BISHOP John Gerry’s episcopal mission began with wobbling knees as he processed down St Stephen’s Cathedral to be installed as one of Brisbane’s auxiliary bishops.

But like the prophet Ezekiel, whose words were proclaimed at Bishop Gerry’s Jubilee Mass last week, the Holy Spirit overtook the bishop and his wobbling knees became strong.

“It was something palpable, I can remember it still, and I floated into the cathedral,” Bishop Gerry (pictured below) said.

He shared his story of the Holy Spirit’s work in his 65 years as a priest and 40 years as bishop at his Jubilee Mass on July 5 in the same cathedral.

Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archbishop Emeritus John Bathersby, Bishop Brian Finnigan, Bishop William Morris, vicar general Monsignor Peter Meneely, cathedral dean Fr David Pascoe, and Bishop Gerry’s friends and family, including his brother Divine Word Missionaries Father Francis Gerry, were among those who joined him to celebrate.

“I like jubilees,” the bishop said in his homily.

“More than birthdays they invite us to stop and take a good hard look at the mystery of life that we are gifted with.”

Best wishes: Many people took time to congratulate Bishop Gerry on his 65th anniversary of priesthood and 40th anniversary as a bishop.
Best wishes: Many people took time to congratulate Bishop Gerry on his 65th anniversary of priesthood and 40th anniversary as a bishop.

Bishop Gerry has always looked at his appointment in 1975 with a touch of humility.

“There’s a voice that says to me, ‘John, don’t take yourself too seriously; it’s my Church, these are my people in whom I delight. I am still in charge’,” Bishop Gerry said.

Related Stories

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

“I thank God for the almost 65 years of ordained priesthood of Jesus Christ and 40 years as auxiliary bishop in this Spirit-blessed archdiocese.

“Priesthood still is the most marvellous gift and mystery – there is no end to the wonder of it; it’s a joyful life.”

Bishop Gerry recalled two blessed moments in his 65 years as a priest, firstly his love for parish life at Queen of Apostles Parish, Stafford, and his involvement with social welfare apostolates.

“I inherited the relatively young parish at Stafford,” he said.

“They were mostly young families; dinkum Aussie battlers.

“I couldn’t have been more blessed.”

The bishop said his early parish days inspired his episcopal motto.

“They taught me how to be a priest for Christ’s people, and that Stafford experience led me to choose for my episcopal motto, a Pauline maxim, ‘Though many, one in Christ’.”

Bishop Gerry’s work in his 25-year role as vicar for social welfare and 12 years as chairman of Australian Catholic Relief (now Caritas Australia) taught him the importance of reaching out to the poor, to regard people by what they have suffered, and the Church’s power to be an empowering home.

Bishop Gerry said he was “pleased” about Pope Francis’ insistence on God’s mercy, and the retired bishop said this must be at the heart of evangelisation.

“You may have noticed also how often Pope Francis speaks of tenderness,” he said.

“Tenderness I think is a beautiful word, but it’s more beautiful in action, when we see Jesus interact with people.

“Today’s world desperately needs us to live this Jesus way.”

Jubilee Mass: Bishop John Gerry (fourth from left) at his Jubilee Mass with (from left) Archbishop Emeritus John Bathersby, Bishop Brian Finnigan, Archbishop Mark Coleridge and Bishop William Morris. Photos: Alan Edgecomb
Jubilee Mass: Bishop John Gerry (fourth from left) at his Jubilee Mass with (from left) Archbishop Emeritus John Bathersby, Bishop Brian Finnigan, Archbishop Mark Coleridge and Bishop William Morris. Photos: Alan Edgecomb
ShareTweet
Previous Post

Ordained to be part of ‘God’s solution’

Next Post

Dialogue must continue

Emilie Ng

Emilie Ng is a Brisbane-based journalist for The Catholic Leader.

Related Posts

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia
Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church
Australia

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

26 May 2022
Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting
World

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

26 May 2022
Next Post
prisoner's hands through fence

Dialogue must continue

Choosing life over death

Winding the clock back

Popular News

  • Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Archbishop calls for prayers in “troubled times”

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia
Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

by Staff writers
26 May 2022
0

ETHIOPIAN Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel says his trip to Australia gives him the chance to thank individuals and...

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

26 May 2022
Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

26 May 2022
Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north

Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north

25 May 2022
Hong Kong

Cardinal Joseph Zen appears in court in Hong Kong on day of prayer for China

25 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping