The Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese, Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett, has warmly welcomed the announcement of the appointment by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI of the Most Reverend Mark Coleridge as Metropolitan Archbishop of Brisbane.
Archbishop Coleridge already is a distinguished leader in the Church in Australia, and his appointment to Brisbane will be of great significance for the Archdiocese and the Catholic Church and community in Queensland.
As well as his experience as a priest for 38 years and a bishop for ten, Archbishop Coleridge is a theologian and teacher especially qualified in the fields of Sacred Scripture and the Church’s liturgical worship, in both of which he has taught extensively in Australia and overseas.
In the five years before appointment as a bishop he served in the Vatican as an official in the Secretariat of State, receiving the appointment of Chaplain to His Holiness.
The Archbishop has also served as Chairman of the international editorial Committee responsible for the new English translation of the Roman Missal, which came into use throughout the parishes of Australia last December. He continues an international rôle as the Chairman of the Commission for the preparation of the forthcoming new Lectionary of scripture readings for the Mass.
Born and educated in Victoria, and ordained as a priest in Melbourne in 1974, Archbishop-elect Coleridge has led the Church in the Australian Capital and a wide area of country NSW since 2006, giving him also experience in public advocacy for human values and the common good with the federal government.
The Archbishop-designate will be the first non-Queensland born Archbishop appointed in almost 50 years, since former Archbishop Patrick O’Donnell (1965-1973) who was born in Ireland.
The Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Jarrett of Lismore, continues in office as arrangements are made to welcome the Archbishop-elect and the plans are completed for Archbishop Coleridge’s installation in St Stephen’s Cathedral.
An Installation Mass will be held in the Cathedral of St Stephen on Friday 11 May.
On behalf of the Archdiocese of Brisbane and the province of Queensland our new Archbishop can be assured of a warm and happy welcome and a ready anticipation of his pastoral leadership in the Church and wider community.
Released by the Catholic Communications Office
April 2, 2012