A MEETING with diocesan clergy and seminarians was one of Archbishop Mark Coleridge’s first priorities when he arrived in Brisbane at the end of April.
Archbishop Coleridge, preparing for his May 11 installation as Archbishop of Brisbane, asked to meet and pray with the bishops, priests, deacons and seminarians at the Australian Catholic University’s Holy Spirit Chapel, Banyo, on April 27 in a move that has been widely welcomed by clergy.
Maryborough parish priest Fr Paul Kelly praised Archbishop Coleridge for the initiative.
“It was wonderful that the first thing he wanted to do after arriving was meet and pray with his priests, who are his assistants in his mission of pastoral care of this place,” Fr Kelly said.
He said Brisbane archdiocese was blessed with Archbishop Coleridge’s appointment.
“He is a wonderful and captivating speaker, intelligent, gentle but forthright,” Fr Kelly said.
“He knows what it means to be a leader and isn’t afraid to lead, but he is also humble and a listener and a man of great intelligence.
“I think we have been very blessed.”
Beaudesert parish priest Fr Bernie Gallagher agreed.
He said Archbishop Coleridge was the fourth Archbishop he had served under during his 42 years of ministry.
“I think we have been blessed by the archbishops we have had and we continue to be blessed with our new Archbishop,” Fr Gallagher said.
“This is my fourth archbishop; I think I was in the seminary when Archbishop Duhig died, but it is the first I have been older than.”
Fr Gallagher applauded Archbishop Coleridge for making the effort to gather the clergy to talk to them.
“I had a sense of someone who is enthusiastic about the role of being Archbishop of Brisbane and confident about some of the gifts that he brings,” he said.
Southport parish priest Fr Peter Dillon said he felt energised following the meeting.
“He seems to have a good lot of energy,” Fr Dillon said.
“I really was filled with a lot of hope that things were going to look hopeful into the future.
“I really like that (Archbishop Coleridge) thought we needed to rediscover ourselves as a biblical Church.”
Fr Dillon said communication appeared to be very important to Archbishop Coleridge who was aware of contemporary issues facing the Church.
“He was very honest with us,” he said.
“I think the fact that he really wanted to speak to his priests first was very important.
“I found him very hopeful and helpful and am feeling in myself a good energy.”
Fr Kelly said Archbishop Coleridge emphasised the central theme of God’s love as he spoke with the clergy.
He said the Archbishop quoted the late Pope John Paul II and how the pope described Christianity not so much as a “religion” but rather an “encounter” with God in Jesus.
“He says that this powerful image has stayed with him and deepened over his years,” Fr Kelly said.
“He says that our discipleship is about encounter with Jesus and the wonder that it brings, then communion with Jesus and then Jesus sends us out with a task – a mission …”
