Bishop Daniel Meagher bid goodbye to the Archdiocese of Sydney at St Mary’s Cathedral on 5 May, telling the faithful gathered for his farewell Mass before moving to Rockhampton that Christ’s peace would sustain His people through every challenge and hardship.
The farewell liturgy came just two days after the conclusion of Sydney’s archdiocesan Synod, for which Bishop Meagher served as vice-chair assisting Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP.
Archbishop Fisher, Bishop Richard Umbers, Bishop Anthony Percy and Bishop Emeritus Terence Brady concelebrated the farewell Mass, joined by a large number of Sydney clergy.
Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Meagher as the 11th Bishop of Rockhampton in April, succeeding Bishop Michael McCarthy. The former auxiliary bishop of Sydney will be installed in Rockhampton later this month.
Opening his homily, Bishop Meagher thanked the priests and faithful who had come to the cathedral, before reflecting on the movement and hardship described in the readings of the day.
“In the first reading, St Paul is stoned and left for dead, but he gets back up again…and just keeps going,” he said.
Drawing parallels between St Paul’s missionary journeys and his own impending move north, Bishop Meagher admitted he was approaching the transition with mixed emotions.
“You would think that I would be utterly fearless in moving to Rockhampton,” he said.
“Sadly, no. I find my emotions on a real roller coaster.”
He compared himself to St Peter stepping from the boat into stormy seas, explaining that like all Christians he could become distracted by “the waves and the wind” rather than keeping his eyes fixed on Christ.
The bishop also acknowledged the many challenges facing the church in Sydney and beyond, including preparations for the International Eucharistic Congress.
“But remember, Jesus offers us his peace,” he said.
“My peace I bequeath you…which is to say, my presence, I give you myself. This is the peace of the risen Christ, the conqueror of the world.”
Reflecting on the demands of ministry, Bishop Meagher encouraged Catholics to remain steady and hopeful even amid difficulty.
“When everything might go pear shaped, and when we feel beaten and bruised, we can remember St Paul stoned and left for dead,” he said.
“So whatever happens, the truth is we must go on.”
He described proclaiming the Gospel as the church’s essential task.
“God has entered human life, has conquered our sin, and now offers his life, his divine life, to everyone,” he said.
“I promise you, there is nothing more important.”
Bishop Meagher concluded his homily by thanking the people of Sydney for the years of ministry they had shared together.
“God bless our people. God keep us all on the way that leads to eternal life,” he said.
In remarks at the end of Mass, the bishop made special mention of the community of David’s Place the Kings Cross ministry of spiritual friendship which serves many of Sydney’s homeless and marginalised and with which he has long been associated.
He thanked Sue Buckingham and members of the community who attended the Mass, saying he especially appreciated their presence.
Bishop Meagher also praised Archbishop Fisher’s leadership of the archdiocese and the energy surrounding Sydney’s evangelisation efforts.
He pointed particularly to the work of the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation, Sydney Catholic Schools, and CCD Sydney which supports catechists in public schools, as well as preparations for the International Eucharistic Congress.
“Great things are happening in Sydney,” he said.
“It’s exciting. It’s alive.”
In a final symbolic gesture, Bishop Meagher noted that the crosier he carried during the Mass had belonged to the late Australia’s first bishop, Archbishop John Bede Polding OSB, and had been handed to him by Archbishop Fisher before the procession preceding the Mass.
“It was a very beautiful gesture indeed,” he said.
