TOOWOOMBA’S newest and sixth bishop Robert McGuckin emerged from his memorable two-and-a-half-hour episcopal ordination into one of the city’s famous winter fogs.
Inside St Patrick’s Cathedral, the climate had been warm and welcoming with a packed congregation of at least 1000 including a vast number of clergy and religious from as far afield as Broome, West Australia.
The July 11 event was also streamed live across the diocese via the Internet to an estimated 2000 viewers.
Principal consecrator Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane laid his hands on the head of the bishop-elect after the official Apostolic Letter from Rome was read, confirming the papal appointment.
Bishop McGuckin acknowledged this support in his address after Communion. “It is wonderful to share this special moment with so many of you and I look forward to sharing more special moments with you, the people of the Diocese of Toowoomba,” he said.
Co-consecrators were apostolic nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto and Bishop Anthony Fisher of Parramatta.
Bishop Fisher’s presence and that of other clergy and religious from Parramatta diocese was a reminder of Bishop McGuckin’s links with that diocese since 1986.
During this time he had held a number of leadership roles including vicar for religious, diocesan administrator and more recently judicial vicar of the Regional Tribunal for NSW and the ACT.
A lei, presented by Lusiana Kuriuci of the Tribunal Office of Suva archdiocese, recognised Bishop McGuckin’s ongoing assistance to the Episcopal Conference of the Asia and Pacific Region (CPAC) over seven years.
The bishop received the lei during the Procession of Gifts and wore the striking token of appreciation for the rest of the Mass.
Former Toowoomba Bishop Bill Morris’ presentation of the diocese’s pastoral staff or crozier to Bishop McGuckin was among the most significant moments on the day for the diocese’s faithful.
The symbolism of the handover pointed a hopeful way forward for a diocese Archbishop Coleridge, in his homily, had earlier described as one which “has known turbulence in recent times”.
Other moments of rich symbolism in the episcopal ordination included – the laying on of hands of all bishops present, the holding of the Book of Gospels above the head of the new bishop to signify his call to promote the Word of God and the leading of the bishop to the cathedra or chair of the bishop and symbol of teaching authority.
Bishop McGuckin said his ordination was “a new beginning for me as it is for each of us, as we strive to live out our baptismal call to live out in this place, in this time, the mission that Jesus entrusts to each of us”.
He quoted St Augustine by saying “For you I am a bishop but with you I am a Christian.”
“So I’m not daunted by this challenge because I know I don’t journey alone – you also journey with me as does the Holy Spirit,” he said.
Bishop McGuckin thanked people who had contributed to the event including Archbishop Coleridge, the co-consecrators and the diocese’s priests including Fr Brian Sparksman, Fr Peter Dorfield and Fr Peter Schultz.
“Special thanks to Bishop Bill Morris for his support of me in recent weeks and for the role he has played in this church for so many years,” he said.
The applause, which followed this statement, was sustained and heartfelt.
Further appreciative applause also came when Toowoomba’s new bishop acknowledged Bishop Brian Finnigan’s work as the diocese’s apostolic administrator for more than a year.
Bishop McGuckin concluded the address by invoking St Benedict, upon whose feast day the ordination was held.
“(He) invites us to contemplation and prayer and to work,” he said.
“To all of you in this vast diocese – and it is vast – I pray God’s blessings upon you.
“I hope to be visiting all of you as soon as possible as together we work to build up the Kingdom of God in this special place.”
Bishop McGuckin’s reference to the diocese’s vastness recalled his comments to The Catholic Leader, some weeks before his episcopal ordination.
The bishop said he was used to travelling considerable distances in various roles, including last year’s review into the Wilcannia-Forbes diocese.
He said Toowoomba diocese (more than 490,000 sq km reaching as far south as the New South Wales border and west to the Northern Territory and South Australian borders) was “something else again”.
Similar comments were made at a post-ordination press conference.
“As far as I can make out I might even be Bishop of Birdsville,” Bishop McGuckin said with a chuckle.
“I have already been asking many people today if they have a pilot’s licence so they can fly me around.”
Diocesan spokesman and chancellor Fr Sparksman said the ceremony marked the beginning of a new life for the Toowoomba diocese.
“Having been without a bishop for more than twelve months, the diocese can now embrace leadership and pastoral care again,” he said.
