Bishop Tim Norton SVD has promised to listen, pray, heal, and enjoy life with Broome’s faithful at Mass for his installation as the third bishop of the diocese in Western Australia’s Kimberley region on 4 December.
In his homily and comments at the end of the Mass held on the grounds of St Mary’s College in Broome, the former missionary priest with the Society of the Divine Word and leader of its Australian province expressed his happiness at what he said was a “fine appointment.”
“I really am happy, happy with the appointment and happy to be here with you,” he said.
“I am here for ministry with you, I’m here for healing if it’s needed and it may well be. I’m here for listening, I’m here for working, I’m here for praying and I’m here for having some fun with you as well.”
Recounting an experience as a priest leading a parish ministry to street gangs in Mexico, Bishop Norton said it had taught him to “take notice of the little ones, where this voice of God can be so prominent; the powerless ones, the ones who have no voice.”
“So, if we listen, particularly if we do it together, we can be changed and grow more fully into daughters and sons that God actually wants all of us to be,” he continued.
“I dare to say so that you can keep me accountable for listening, for learning, for working together so that the different gifts and different service is one and the same, it’s that same service to God.”
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President and Archbishop of Perth, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, installed Bishop Norton as the diocese’s new leader.
Archbishop Costelloe was joined by Bishop of Geraldton Michael Morrissey, Australia’s Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo, and more than a dozen other bishops for the Mass preceded by a traditional smoking ceremony and a welcome to country by Erica Bernard.
Broome diocese’s apostolic administrator Bishop Michael also addressed the congregation, telling them that during his three years in the role he had seen a “beautiful, resilient faith” in the community and assured them that their new bishop’s previous experience meant he was “well prepared” to serve them.
In a statement before the Mass, Archbishop Costelloe said Bishop Norton would bring enthusiasm and vision to the diocese.
“As a member of the Society of the Divine Word, Bishop Norton has a deep appreciation of the importance of cultural traditions in the living of the Christian faith,” Archbishop Costelloe said.
“Having lived and worked in many different settings, both here in Australia and overseas, Bishop Norton brings with him a love for the Indigenous people of our nation, a heart for the poor and marginalised, and a ‘down-to-earth’ approach to the needs and realities of our time.
“He will be a blessing not only to the Catholic community in the vast Diocese of Broome, but to all who live in the north-west.”
Bishop Norton has most recently served the Church as the auxiliary bishop of Brisbane following his ordination in February 2022.
He was born in Sydney in 1958 and trained as a physiotherapist, working in inner-city Darlinghurst with young people experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental health issues.
He entered the Society of the Divine Word in 1984 and took his first vows in 1986. He was ordained a priest in 1991 and ministered in parishes in Mexico until 1996.
Having undertaken post-graduate study in spiritual direction in Melbourne in 1997, he served as the Society’s prefect for theology students and novice and postulant director, based in Melbourne and Sydney, from 1998 to 2004.
Nine years as leader of the Society’s Australian province (which includes New Zealand and Thailand) was followed by ministry in Italy from 2014 until 2021.