A loving farewell
The Townsville Diocese is placing a bigger- than- ever focus on safety and protection with the Diocese’s Safeguarding Coordinator notching towards one year in the new role.
Craig Brereton was appointed Safeguarding Coordinator by Bishop Tim Harris in August 2017 to guide the Church in making sure children and vulnerable adults are protected from abuse.
“My role has been to develop a safeguarding policy and procedures and to ensure this policy comes alive in practice so that our clergy, religious, paid staff and volunteers are fully educated about this vital aspect in their ministry,” he said.
Implemented with the help of a 12- person safeguarding committee, safeguarding practices include a code of conduct, safe recruitment processes, clear reporting processes, risk assessments and training and education.
Mr Brereton has travelled to Palm Island, Proserpine, Ingham, Ayr, Charters Towers, Hughenden, Mount Isa and beyond to research the diversity of the Diocese and ensure safeguarding procedures are relevant. MUCH loved former Bishop of Townsville and Archbishop of Adelaide, Most Rev. Leonard Faulkner died in Adelaide on Sunday, May 6, aged 91.
Bishop Faulkner arrived in Townsville in 1967 from Adelaide and remained Bishop of Townsville until 1983 when he returned to Adelaide as Archbishop.
During the Vigil on Sunday, May 13, at St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Adelaide, Bishop Tim Harris paid tribute to Archbishop Faulkner and all he did for the people of God.
“In his own words: ‘ We were aware of God as children, that there was ‘ someone’ who would look after us’,” Bishop Harris said.
“His smiling face spoke to me of someone in love with God whom he wanted to radiate with love and joy to the world.
“In Len Faulkner, we could see the face of Christ, however imperfect that face may be. Len nevertheless knew that because God in Jesus Christ smiled at him and he had a responsibility to smile at the world.”
Parish visitations were a priority of his Episcopal ministry because it was the “People of God” ( a theme of the Second Vatican Council) who consumed him.
The Church belonged to them and he wanted them to take their rightful place in the Church and world.
This extract from a reflection on a visit to Ingham within the Diocese of Townsville says it all: “Within a month of his consecration, Bishop Faulkner began to travel his Diocese.
“It was not unusual for him to spend as many as 200 days a year in this manner.
“One result was that Faulk- ner came to know his whole Diocese much as a good priest might know his parish.”
Bishop Tim reflected, “I will not forget the Archbishop handing me the Diocesan Crozier or Pastoral Staff at my ordination in Townsville on May 3 last year.
“The staff, of course, symbolises the role of Bishop as the Good flock.
“The Bishop, like a good shepherd, like Jesus, must model his life accordingly.
“I think Leonard Faulkner was a good shepherd and I was honoured to receive this symbol of office from him. I guess too, he was passing on to me something of his own good- Shepherd, leading his ness — his own love and care for the people, the sheep of his flock.”
The funeral for Archbishop Faulkner was held on Monday, May 13 with more than 1300 people attending including the South Australian Governor, Premier, Opposition Leader, religious leaders, bishops and priests from around Australia.