WE LIVE IN TOWNSVILLE TO LIVE IN A COMMUNITY THAT CARES FOR ALL
Not in my wildest dreams did I ever believe I would become a Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church.
I certainly could not have envisaged becoming Bishop of Townsville.
In fact, this year my focus was on celebrating 25 years as a priest, so any thought beyond that was the furthest from my mind.
Having said this, I’ve always believed that God is a God of surprises.
Just when you think all is in place something new emerges in your life and you are called to an immediate adjustment. I can honestly say that God has never let me down as I reflect on my journey thus far.
The gift of my parents is where it all began and God’s hand I can clearly see at work there.
How privileged I am to still have Mum and Dad as part of my life. They have made me who I am today and they played their part giving me the start I needed.
As a Christian I thank God for that solid beginning and for the gift of Mum and Dad.
But the gifts have kept coming. I have come to see life as marathon not a race so it’s a continual moving forward that gives us time to reflect knowing that we have time to reach the end goal. In this sense if we fall then we get up again and strive for the future. We do all this in the present but we long for something more.
So, with this approach to life I come to Townsville as someone who continues to participate in the marathon of life. I have that sense that we are in this together whether we are people of faith or not. I come to Townsville as a leader among leaders but who must first listen to the people I seek to serve. They will teach me to become a good Bishop.
In this sense, the people will set the agenda because I have come to them and into their life. I will need to sit at their feet as they tell me their story. It’s only when I hear what they have to say will I be in a position to respond.
That’s why I like the image of life as a marathon and of journeying together.
If it was a race we would not have time to engage with each other let alone really care for anyone but ourselves.
I come to Townsville to care for everyone. We live in Townsville to live in a community that cares for all. No person is an island for we are made to be with others and for others.
This is the mark of a civilised community. I want to be with you and I look forward to meeting anyone who wishes to say hello.
The surprise of becoming the Bishop of Townsville is a happy one and I look forward to engaging with the community in whatever capacity I can. So the marathon continues. It’s relentless but it’s never boring. We take each day as it comes and hopefully wake up and say, “it’s good to be alive.”
It’s good to be alive in Townsville where I am sure I will discover many more surprises of lasting value. Already I have personally witnessed the genuine care and concern for those whose lives were turned upside down by Cyclone Debbie. As I visited Proserpine and Bowen recently I saw several examples of individuals reaching out to those in need.
These acts of generosity cheered my heart and cemented my belief that we innately have a desire to serve others. I have an innate desire to serve you so let the serving begin and may those surprises continue to come in abundance for us all.