Our People

Auxiliary Bishop 1974-2005

Bishop David Cremin was born in Limerick, Ireland on 22 February 1930. He was ordained to the priesthood at All Hallows College, Dublin on 12 June 1955.

He moved to Australia in 1955 and served as an assistant priest in the following parishes: Broadway (23/11/55), Woollahra (1/2/58), on loan to Wollongong Diocese from 1/1/63 to January 1965, Concord (2/1/65), Elizabeth Bay (31/12/68), St Mary’s Cathedral (9/2/72).

David Cremin was consecrated Bishop on January 19, 1974 as Vicar General and Titular Bishop of Cunga Féichin.

He was appointed Parish Priest of Hurstville in January 1974, appointed to the College of Consultors on 1/1/84 and was appointed Vicar for Immigration on 1/12/89 and served as the Senior Vicar General and auxiliary Bishop.

On 22 February 2005, Bishop David turned 75 and in accordance with Canon Law submitted his resignation as Auxiliary Bishop to the Holy Father Pope John Paul II. Bishop David will remain as pastor of Hurstville in retirement.

Homily by David Cremin: BISHOP JOHN HEAPS Requiem - Tuesday, 29 June 2004

The Previous Archbishops of the Archdiocese of Sydney

• John Polding OSB, Vicar Apostolic of New Holland 1834-1842; Archbishop of Sydney 1842-1877.
• Roger Bede Vaughan OSB, 1877-1883.
• Patrick Francis Cardinal Moran, 1884-1911.
• Michael Kelly, 1911-1940.
• Norman Thomas Cardinal Gilroy, 1940-1971. Co-adjutor Bishop 1937-1940; Archbishop 1940-46; Cardinal 1946-1971.
• James Darcy Cardinal Freeman, 1971-1983. Auxiliary Bishop Sydney 1957-1969. Bishop Armidale 1969-1971.
• Edward Bede Cardinal Clancy AC, 1983-2001.

The Predecessor Auxiliary and Co-adjutor Archbishops
of the Archdiocese of Sydney

1. Charles Henry Davis OSB, 1848-1854. Also Titular Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle.
2. Joseph Higgins, 1889. (Appointed Bishop of Rockhampton 1889).
3. Michael Sheehan, Co-adjutor Archbishop 1922-1937.
4. Eris Norman Michael O'Brien, 1948-1953. (Appointed Bishop of Canberra-Goulburn 1953.)
5. Patrick Francis Lyons, 1950-1956. (Appointed Co-adjutor Bishop Sale 1956. Bishop 1957-1967.)
6. James Patrick Carroll, 1954-1965. Retired 1984. Died 1995.
7. James Darcy Cardinal Freeman, 1957-1969
8. Thomas William Muldoon, 1960-1986.
9. Edward Francis Kelly MSC, 1969-1975. (Appointed Bishop of Toowoomba 1975.)
10. Edward Bede Cardinal Clancy AC, 1973-1978. (Appointed Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn, 1978-1983.)
11. Patrick Laurence Murphy, 1977-1986. (Appointed Bishop of Broken Bay 1986. Retired)
12. Bede Vincent Heather, 1979-1986. (Appointed Bishop of Parramatta 1986. Retired)
13. John Edward Heaps, 1981-1992. Retired 1992. Died 2004.
14. Peter William Ingham, 1993-2001. (Appointed Bishop of Wollongong 2001.)
15. Geoffrey James Robinson, 1984-2004. Retired.
16. David Cremin, 1974-2005. Retired.

See also:

• Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
• Current Auxiliary Bishops of Sydney
  • Bishop Julian Porteous
  • Bishop Anthony Fisher OP
• Significant Early Pioneers in the Church in Sydney