Bede Vincent HEATHER

Auxiliary Bishop 1979-1986
Bishop of Parramatta 1986-1997

Born on 7 Oct 1928, Strathfield in New South Wales, Australia in the parish of Strathfield. (Sydney Archdiocese)
His father was William Heather and his mother was Alice. He was educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield, and attended Seminary at St Columba’s, Springwood; St Patrick’s College, Manly.
He was ordained on 15 Jul 1951, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney by Cardinal Norman T Gilroy and incardinated in the Archdiocese of Sydney.

He was elected as Bishop on 30 Jun 1979 as Titular Bishop of Obbi, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney.
He was consecrated (ordained as Bishop) on 04 Aug 1979, in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney by Cardinal James D'A Freeman (Consecrating Bishop) the Archbishop of Sydney. He was assisted by Archbishop Thomas Francis Little, the Archbishop of Melbourne, and Bishop Albert K Obiefuna, the Bishop of Awka (Nigeria).
He was subsequently translated (moved) as first Bishop of Parramatta 14 April 1986. Installed 18 May 1986.
He retired on 10 Jul 1997, to the Central Coast.
During his lifetime, he has been Assistant Priest of Brighton-le-Sands, Willoughby; Staff and lecturer St Columba's College Springwood, Bigard Seminary Nigeria.
He has received degrees in LSS Pontifical Biblical Institute Rome; and Bachelor of Arts UNE (Armidale).

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