QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh hosted a farewell reception for Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane on Monday night.
Several hundred guests attended the state reception at Queensland Art Gallery’s Watermall.
Among them were State Cabinet members, other Members of Parlia-ment, former Premier Wayne Goss, former State Treasurer Joan Sheldon, Queensland Chief Justice Paul de Jersey, heads of Churches, bishops, priests, representatives of religious orders, family and friends of the Archbishop.
The farewell reception followed Archbishop Bathersby’s recent 75th birthday and the mandatory submission of his resignation to the Pope.
Ms Bligh said the event was more than a celebration of a birthday; it was to take a moment to recognise the remarkable achievements of a remarkable man.
Speaking with genuine fondness, she said Queensland had been “very blessed” to have had Archbishop Bathersby serve as a priest and spiritual leader for a half a century.
“From Stanthorpe to Brisbane, Goondiwindi to Cairns, Queensland has been your pasture and Queenslanders have been your flock,” Ms Bligh said.
She spoke of having taken great heart from a personal message she received from Archbishop Bathersby during the state’s flood crisis in January.
“Knowing I was in your prayers made me stronger,” she said.
Ms Bligh paid tribute to Archbishop Bathersby’s special support of families, young people and children, as well as his dedicated support of education and ecumenism.
Archbishop Bathersby said that, while he loved his hometown of Stanthorpe – where he intended to retire – and its people, he also deeply loved Brisbane and its people.
“My love of you here will remain here and in the world to come … (and) I’m sure we’ll meet again, maybe in this world, or in the world to come,” he said.
“… I really and truly do love Queensland.”
