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

Toowoomba has change of bishop

byStaff writers
8 May 2011 - Updated on 16 March 2021
Reading Time: 2 mins read
AA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

THE Holy See has announced that Bishop Brian Finnigan will become the apostolic administrator of Toowoomba diocese, following a decision by Pope Benedict XVI to accept the retirement of Bishop Bill Morris.

Bishop Finnigan is an auxiliary bishop of Brisbane.
He will serve as the leader of Toowoomba diocese until a permanent appointment is announced.

The announcement was made by the Holy See on Monday at 8pm Queensland time.

In a letter to Toowoomba diocese prior to the official announcement, Bishop Morris said it was with “true sadness” he wrote his final letter to the diocese, having come to Toowoomba from the Gold Coast with little knowledge of this wonderful local church, yet found “a real sense of belonging”.

“To the entire diocese I say heartfelt thanks for your support, friendship, love and prayers over the last eighteen years,” Bishop Morris wrote.

“You have been a great gift to me, it has been a privilege to serve you.”

Bishop Morris spoke in his pastoral letter of an ongoing investigation by the Holy See following his Pastoral Letter in 2006.

Archbishop John Bathersby of Brisbane paid tribute to Bishop Morris for his pastoral care of Toowoomba diocese for the past 18 years and said the diocese would be well cared for under the leadership of Bishop Finnigan.

“I am aware there had been matters of concern between Bishop Morris and the Holy See in recent years which have culminated in Monday night’s announcement,” Archbishop Bathersby said.

“Despite the sadness of priests and people, Bishop Brian Finnigan will make a fine apostolic administrator of the Toowoomba Diocese.

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

“Bishop Brian has diligently served as one of my auxiliary bishops since 2002 and is a former general secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.”

Archbishop Bathersby said he was only too happy to assist Bishop Morris and Bishop Finnigan in this time of change for the Diocese of Toowoomba and its priests and people.

Bishop Finnigan, who will remain as auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane, said that while he cannot claim to know all of the priests and people of Toowoomba diocese, he does know a number of them.

“I am aware of the many verbal reports of the fruitful ministry of the priests, those active and those retired, and also of the religious as well as the parishioners who have ministered and lived in city, urban, country and isolated areas of the diocese,” he said.

“The unpredictable weather conditions and the recent natural disasters have been the stage on which lives of faith and service have been lived with pleasing results.”

Bishop Finnigan made very clear the good work Bishop Morris has done to address the needs of the victims of sexual abuse would continue under his leadership.

He also acknowledged Bishop Morris for the grateful and generous welcome he has afforded him and said the diocese would fulfil its responsibilities of caring for Bishop Morris as Emeritus Bishop of Toowoomba.

“I seek the prayerful support of all so that my shepherding might be modelled on that of Jesus Christ who came to serve and not to be served,” Bishop Finnigan said.

“May Mary of the Southern Cross and St Mary of the Cross MacKillop support and inspire all of us in Toowoomba with their intercession and example of fulfilling the will of God.”

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Catholic students embrace their faith

Next Post

The Catholic Guy’s dream

Staff writers

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

The Catholic Guy's dream

Justice for asylum seekers does make common sense

Catholic and meaning it

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