Bishop Daniel Meagher has been installed as the 11th Bishop of Rockhampton in a packed ceremony at St Joseph’s Cathedral.
Presided over by Brisbane Archbishop Shane Mackinlay, the occasion on the morning of 28 May marked a “day of great celebration” for the central Queensland diocese and beyond, with many of the bishop’s Sydney-based family and friends in attendance, and more following via livestream.
Bishop Meagher succeeds the retiring Bishop Michael McCarthy. Bishop McCarthy was installed by Pope Francis in 2014, and Archbishop Mackinlay praised the outgoing leader for his nearly 12 years of service.
In attendance were the Papal Nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo, faith leaders and representatives from Catholic and other organisations, along with clergy and parishioners of the wider Rockhampton Catholic community.
Civic leaders present included Rockhampton deputy mayor Drew Wickerson representing the Federal government, and state member for Keppel Nigel Hutton representing the Queensland government.
Bishop Meagher, a former auxiliary bishop of Sydney, thanked Bishop McCarthy and the people of Rockhampton for their hospitality, and those who had travelled long distances to participate in the Mass, particularly his mother Elizabeth.
“Friends and family from Sydney, and especially my mother. It’s not easy to make long trips at the age of 90, so sincere thanks to you all,” Bishop Meagher said.
In his homily, Bishop Meagher spoke of the relationship between Christ and St Peter and encouraged his new flock to follow the Lord closely and receive his peace, healing and “simple joy at being alive”.
He also encouraged the people to be witnesses of that joy in the Lord to others, and to work with him in the mission of the church in the diocese.
“I promise you I’ll do everything I can to ensure it stays as beautiful as it is and we work to preserve it. But more fundamentally of course, God’s grace flows not through a building but through us.
“God’s grace flows through us and from us to the whole diocese, life teeming, good, healthy,” he said.
“That is also what God wants, God wants us to be happy.”
The bishop concluded his words by inviting the congregation to “let’s give it a crack, let’s be adventurous, try things, make mistakes, St Peter made lots of mistakes, and above all, let’s live.”
Sydney born and bred, over his 30 years of priestly life Bishop Meagher ministered in the Sydney parishes of Mount Pritchard, Mosman, Gymea, Hoxton Park, Carnes Hill, North Leichhardt, Penshurst-Peakhurst, Strathfield and Five Dock.
He was Administrator of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Broken Hill from 2012-2014 and was rector of the Seminary of the Good Shepherd from 2015-2020 before being appointed as auxiliary bishop of Sydney by Pope Francis on 18 November 2021.
The Diocese of Rockhampton
The Diocese of Rockhampton in Central Queensland is home to about 110,000 Catholics across more than 410,000 square kilometres.
Stretching from Bundaberg in the south, Mackay in the north, and to the Northern Territory border to the west, the diocese spans almost 700 kilometres from north to south and 1600 kilometres inland.
Its population is diverse, with Catholics originating from all over the world, including from the Philippines, Vietnam, and India, and more.
There are 31 parishes, the majority in Bundaberg, Gladstone, Emerald, Mackay, and Rockhampton, with 31 primary schools, 10 kindergartens, and 10 colleges.
Established in 1882, Bishop John Cani was the first bishop of the diocese, serving until his death in 1898.
