To a world growing ever darker and emptier, Christians can bring people Christ’s light, fullness and “sense of order,” said Bishop Tony Percy following his episcopal ordination as Australia’s newest bishop.
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP consecrated the former priest of Canberra-Goulburn and former rector of the Good Shepherd Seminary to be the new auxiliary bishop for the Archdiocese of Sydney during Mass in a packed St Mary’s Cathedral on 2 May.
The soaring liturgy brimmed with powerful and touching moments, beginning with a grand opening procession of more than 40 bishops with priests and seminarians, some holding aloft gilded banners featuring Christ, Our Lady and St Joseph.
Bishop Percy’s large extended family were among those witnessing the laying on of hands, prayer of consecration, and anointing with oil of “this chosen one” by Archbishop Fisher, with Archbishops Mark Coleridge and Christopher Prowse as principal co-consecrators.
Superbly led by cathedral director of music Daniel Justin, the choir and congregation solemnly sang responses to the litany of saints as prescribed in the ancient ordination rite.
Unscripted were outbreaks of applause at moments, such as from groups of the bishop’s former parishioners as he went around the cathedral to bestow his first blessings, and laughter at quips from both the new bishop and Archbishop Fisher.
It was poignant, too, to hear the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo read the Pope Francis’ papal bull confirming Bishop Percy’s appointment—one of the last made by the late pontiff.
Many present had attended the cathedral the previous night for a Pontifical Requiem Mass for Pope Francis. This congregation included many religious and civic leaders, friends and former colleagues, parishioners and students of Bishop Percy.
Among them were representatives of other Christian churches and faith traditions, and civic leaders including NSW Labor Senator Deborah O’Neill and Liberal MLCs Damien Tudehope and Susan Carter, Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and former deputy Prime Minister John Anderson.
“Well, that wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be,” said the new bishop as the Mass drew to a close.
He then made it clear that the evening was not so much about him but a call for those present to work with him in evangelising to others.
“I hope this has been a wonderful experience for you,” he began.
“The world needs us desperately. As it grows ever dark, empty and chaotic, the word of Christ gives it lightness, brightness, fullness and a certain sense of order.”
The staunch advocate for marriage and family added that the best way to bring Christ’s light to the hurting world is “two by two,” before leading the congregation in a Hail Mary to pray for Pope Francis, the world’s cardinals, and the future pope they would soon elect.
Asking for prayers for his own ministry and his fellow bishops’, Bishop Percy said that God “chooses the weak and makes them strong.”
“So we need your prayers. The more prayer, the more mutuality in the Body of Christ.”
Repeating a theme becoming familiar to those following Bishop Percy’s journey to this point, he said the “greatest gift I’ve ever received” was a copy of the book The Soul of the Apostolate when he was aged 19.
It convinced him if he wanted to make a success of his life, he needed to pray every day.
“That so seared my soul, that then and there I decided that’s what I have to do. And that’s become so pleasurable, finding time for God each day. From that decision I discerned the calling to be a priest. It’s been a wonderful thing indeed and I’m very grateful.”
Faith and hope must become ever more united and deepened in today’s faithful today, Bishop Percy added.
“It’s so important in the modern age as people are searching for ways to try and get out of the mess they are in. The only thing that really will help them is God, because we come from him and are going to him.”
He ended his remarks with a wish that all present experience God the Father’s love as Christ did, so as to be able to love others with the same divine love.
In his homily, Archbishop Fisher drew richly on the timing of the ordination on the feast of St Athanasius of Alexandria, the fourth century bishop and doctor of the church who became the leading voice in establishing the Nicene Creed.
RELATED: ‘Intimacy and beauty’: why pilgrims should visit Goulburn’s Old Cathedral during Jubilee 2025
“He knew that getting right who Jesus was, mattered,” said the archbishop before explaining the saint’s convictions about the Catholic faith brought him fierce opposition for the rest of his life.
“What might our saint say to our bishop-elect? Well, for one thing, whatever our preferences or reservations, God’s will and the good of others must come first,” he said, adding that the saint would counter any doubts, worries and feelings of inadequacy in the new bishop with an exhortation, among others, that the church needs bishops, that God calls and plans for them and in the end, “someone must take responsibility.”
“You bring to this great responsibility a profound love of Christ, an Athanasian passion for church teaching, a concern for the formation of priests and faithful, and the courage to enter contest on behalf of Christ and his church when necessary, even if (as Athanasius found) that can be lonely,” said Archbishop Fisher to his new auxiliary.
“Like those courageous bishops of the early centuries, you have demonstrated manliness and trust in speaking up for Catholic anthropology, faith and morality in a secularising culture, and for Catholic institutions under threat.
“Like them, you have undertaken the theological formation necessary for such engagement. And like them, you come with many gifts and experiences, including as a parish priest, rector and vicar general.
“God has now chosen you to abide always in his love by keeping his commandments and giving your life for others, as our Gospel counsels (Jn 15:9-17). Like Peter, you must testify to the kerygma about Christ’s saving incarnation, passion, resurrection and return (Acts 10:37-43).
“And as Paul counselled in our epistle, you must be ready to give courageous and faithful testimony to the apostolic tradition and its Lord (2Tim 1:6-14).
“As a teacher of sacred doctrine, priest of sacred worship, and minister of sacred governance, let your every word and deed proclaim with Athanasius, “God became human so we might become God.”
With thanks to Marilyn Rodrigues and Catholic Weekly, where this article originally appeared.
