Our People

Ordination as Bishop

St Mary's Cathedral

By Most Rev. Julian Porteous
Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney
3/9/2003

St Paul’s words in his second letter to the Corinthians -“We preach Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake” have expressed my understanding of my life and mission as a priest, and tonight these words speak to me concerning my new role as a bishop.

I thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit given at Baptism which has fostered my faith and enabled me to know salvation in Jesus Christ.

That Holy Spirit has been quickened in me over my lifetime. I sense my life has been caught up in a “stream of grace.” That grace has led me to the priesthood for which I thank God. It has been a wonderful blessing for me to share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ and be an instrument of his saving truth and power.

This grace of priesthood is brought to a fullness tonight in this ordination as bishop.

I am deeply unworthy of all that has been given me. The kindness and mercy of God is humbling. I remain a frail and imperfect human being, one undeservingly called and chosen.

Tonight I dedicate myself afresh to “preach Jesus Christ as Lord,” and to be a servant to the brethren of the Lord, and indeed to all people.

I am aware that the gift of grace has been nurtured in my home environment. I honour the memory of my father, and salute my mother here present tonight. I rejoice in the love and support of my brothers and sisters, and extended family.
My life of faith was nourished in Catholic schools, and I recognise the great tradition of Catholic Education that has blessed the Church in Australia. I seek the intercession of our first saint, Blessed Mary MacKillop, and thank especially the De La Salle Brothers for their part in my education.

Becoming a priest, 29 years ago, has led into the fraternity of priests. I want to particularly acknowledge the priests of the Archdiocese of Sydney whom I greatly admire and respect, and look forward to working among them as bishop.

Through the years of my priestly ministry, I have served in a number of parishes and worked closely with a number of ecclesial movements. The lay faithful have been a wonderful source of love and life to me. I thank God for the many close brothers and sisters in the Lord who have walked with me in the Church, and especially in the ministry of evangelisation.

Now I enter the College of Bishops and am to have “solicitude for all the churches.” I pledge my loyalty to Archbishop Pell, Archbishop of Sydney. To the Australian bishops, many of whom are here tonight and whose most warm greetings I have received in recent weeks, I offer my affection. Through His Excellency, Archbishop Canalini, Apostolic Nuncio, I joyfully declare my total obedience and fidelity to the Holy Father, Pope John Paul.

Finally I am grateful to all who have contributed to this inspiring liturgy. To those here tonight may I ask your prayers — for me, unworthy servant — that I may be faithful. And that through my ministry now as bishop Jesus Christ may be proclaimed as the one true and lasting source of life and salvation.