Posted on 16 June 2016
Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains warmly welcomed Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv as the fourth Bishop of Parramatta on the evening of Thursday 16 June 2016 in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta.
In a traditional Catholic ceremony, Bishop Vincent said he wanted to be a bridge builder to all communities and reach out to abuse victims, divorcees and the LGBTIQ community in particular. “There can be no future for the living Church without there being space for those who have been hurt, damaged or alienated, be they abuse victims, survivors, divorcees, gays, lesbians or disaffected members,” Bishop Vincent said.
A special moment for Bishop Vincent and his Mum. Photo: Alphonsus Fok.
The Liturgical Reception and Mass of Installation was attended by thousands of faithful and visitors who overflowed from St Patrick’s Cathedral into Prince Alfred Square.
The Mass was concelebrated by the Archbishop of Sydney, Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, the Pope’s representative in Australia, the Apostolic Nuncio His Excellency Most Rev Adolfo Tito Yllana, Archbishops and Bishops of Australia, clergy of the Diocese of Parramatta and visiting clergy.
In his homily, Bishop Vincent said he was humbled by the appointment. “I am very honoured and humbled by this appointment and grateful for the opportunity to serve the Church in Parramatta,” Bishop Vincent said.
“As your Bishop, I am committed to being a bridge builder. The Scriptures we have heard tonight speak of a radical vision of love, inclusion and human flourishing. We should ask ourselves what it means to apply this expansive vision of God to our social matrix and what it means to be a house for all peoples.”
Echoing Pope Francis, Bishop Vincent said, “We are urged to be a Church where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live according to the Gospel … I am committed to making the Church in Parramatta the house for all peoples, a Church where there is less an experience of exclusion but more an encounter of radical love, inclusiveness and solidarity.”
Follow the event using hashtags #parracatholic and #bishopvincent
To read Bishop Vincent’s homily click here
To view the web stream click here (Please credit Diocese of Parramatta)
To view photos by Alphonsus Fok click here (Please credit Diocese of Parramatta)
To view photos by Giovanni Portelli click here (Please credit Diocese of Parramatta)
