Wagga Wagga priest Fr Peter Murphy has been appointed by Pope Francis to be the new Bishop of Armidale, something he says came as a shock.
“Well, I’m surprised and it’s a privilege,” he told The Catholic Weekly.
The current parish administrator of St Michael’s Cathedral, Wagga Wagga, and vicar general of the diocese said he wished to be a missionary leader who helped to “support families and their future” in his new role as bishop.
“Today we’re living in a very, you might say, fragile time, many people are disorientated and disillusioned, so we need to reaffirm them in their faith,” he told The Catholic Weekly.
“Bring the Gospel to them and help them in whatever possible way.”
Fr Murphy was appointed to lead the northern New South Wales diocese by Pope Francis on 26 February.
He said he wished the pope well, saying the parishes and the whole diocese was praying for the Holy Father.
“For him and his wellbeing, and his speedy recovery if it’s God’s will, we offer powerful prayer support at this difficult time.”
He said he felt most grateful to the Pope for appointing him during a period of precarious health, and hoped Pope Francis would not lose hope he may recover from the illness which has seen him hospitalised since 14 February.
Fr Murphy studied agriculture and worked as a field agronomist in Melbourne before entering the seminary.
He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the Angelicum and a licentiate in theology from the Urban University in Rome.
Following postgraduate studies, he was ordained priest on 11 July, 1992, at St Michael’s Cathedral, Wagga Wagga.
His first pastoral appointment was to Our Lady of Fatima parish, South Wagga.
Fr Peter then moved to Vianney College as vice rector of the diocesan seminary, where he has taught philosophy and moral theology for 30 years, in addition to being a visiting lecturer for the John Paul II Institute on Marriage and the Family.
While completing his doctoral studies in theology in Rome, he worked as an official at the Congregation of the Missions for two years.
Over his 32 years of priesthood, he has been a parish priest in Lockhart, Tumbarumba and Lavington.