Apostolic administrator no stranger to Brisbane

Published: 20 November 2011
By: Paul Dobbyn

Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett (left) congratulates Archbishop John Bathersby at a Mass in St Stephen's Cathedral on March 24 for the Archbishop's 25th anniversary of Episcopal ordination
Picture: Rene Marcel

BRISBANE archdiocese's interim leader Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett, despite being Victorian-born, once an Anglican priest and now Bishop of Lismore, is certainly "no stranger in town".

Bishop Jarrett, in his first full day as the archdiocese's apostolic administrator on the morning of Tuesday, November 15, made the observation from the Archbishop's residence at Wynberg in New Farm.

He was preparing to meet with Archbishop Emeritus John Bathersby, Brisbane's two Auxiliary Bishops Joseph Oudeman and Brian Finnigan and the archdiocese's Moderator Fr Peter Meneely.

The 73-year-old bishop recalled links with Brisbane reaching back to his boyhood and young manhood.

"My brother was born in Brisbane and our family lived just down the road from here in another part of New Farm," Bishop Jarrett said.

"In my early years as a Catholic from 1965 on, Archbishop Rush was a very kind and supportive friend of my mother and myself.

"However, I could never have dreamt when I first became a Catholic the day would come when I would be appointed apostolic administrator of this very diocese."

A letter from the Vatican informed Bishop Jarrett of his new appointment although he did acknowledge he had known of the decision for the past few weeks.

"It was a great honour to be asked by the Holy Father to take charge of a diocese during the interregnum," he said.

The official confirmation was quickly followed by "pledges of support which started to flow in".

"I have received a very warm welcome from bishops and priests throughout the archdiocese," he said.

Initially Bishop Jarrett will familiarise himself with archdiocesan administration procedures and issues needing close focus.

This process got underway with last week's meeting at Wynberg.

He said he would have "quite limited powers" in the role of apostolic administrator.

"The primary role is to protect and guard the deposit of faith," he said.

"These are quite limited powers in the sense they can only be used in a way that will not restrict the new archbishop.

"This means no new initiatives, no big decisions that would commit the new archbishop to a certain line of action."

Bishop Jarrett said it was unclear how much time he would be spending in the archdiocese.

He would not be involved in any official engagements, but has a busy program in Lismore diocese.

This week he flies to Sydney to attend the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference gathering.

He will be back to celebrate 10am Mass in St Stephen's Cathedral next Sunday (November 27).

The identity of Brisbane's new archbishop and his precise date of arrival are not known at this point.

"However, I would anticipate my appointment as apostolic administrator will continue into early months of the new year, by which time I expect the new archbishop will have taken office," Bishop Jarrett said.