Diocese of Bathurst (in Australia) Dioecesis Bathurstensis | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Australia |
Territory | Central West and Orana, New South Wales |
Metropolitan | Archdiocese of Sydney |
Coordinates | 33°25′08″S149°34′35″E / 33.41889°S 149.57639°E |
Statistics | |
Area | 103,560 km2 (39,980 sq mi) |
Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2020) 232,701 65,681 ( 28.2%) |
Parishes | 21 |
Information | |
Denomination | Catholic Church |
Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
Rite | Roman Rite |
Established | 20 June 1865 |
Cathedral | St Michael and St John's Cathedral |
Current leadership | |
Pope | Francis |
Bishop | Michael McKenna |
Metropolitan Archbishop | Anthony Fisher OP |
Website | |
Catholic Diocese of Bathurst |
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst (Australia) is a Latin Church suffragan diocese of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1865, covering the Central West and Orana regions of New South Wales, Australia.
The Cathedral of St Michael and St John the Baptist is the episcopal see of the Bishop of Bathurst, presently Michael McKenna.
The Diocese of Bathurst was erected by Pope Pius IX on 20 June 1865. Prior to this date, the area was considered within the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Sydney, its present Metropolitan.
According to Roman Catholic Church records, the first Mass to be celebrated near Bathurst, was by John Therry in early November 1830, when he was called from Sydney to attend the execution of a convict. In July 1838, Michael O'Reilly and Thomas Slattery arrived from Ireland and were appointed to Bathurst, now established as a new church district and covered an area of 26 stations from Mt Victoria, Mudgee, Bathurst, through to Wellington and Dubbo. In June 1841, Dean O'Reilly visited Wellington and Dubbo, the first recorded visit of a priest to these districts. The area of the Bathurst mission was broken down in size as new mission centres opened. Hartley/Lithgow was already recognised as a mission centre as far back as 1842; Carcoar (1847), Sofala (1851), Mudgee (1852), Wellington (1856) and Orange (1864). [1]
With a Catholic population of 535, towards the end of 1839 work was commenced on the parish church situated on the corner of George and Keppel Streets – St. Michael's. The Parish of Bathurst was created in 1839 and St. Michael's was opened for worship in the middle of 1841, though its building was not completed for a further two years. After about 10 years, subsidence made it unfit for public worship. By 1853, Catholic schools in Bathurst had a roll call of 90 boys and 130 girls. Arriving that year, Dean Grant was to devote eight years of his life to the building and development of the Catholic Church in the Bathurst district and it was his responsibility to raise the funds needed for the proposed new cathedral. Work was also begun on new churches in Peel and O'Connell at this time. [1]
1865 saw Bathurst become a separate diocese with the appointment of Matthew Quinn as the first bishop. The area covered by the diocese changed little from when it was a mission in 1841, which extended from the River Murray to Queensland, and from the Blue Mountains to the border of South Australia, except that in on 10 May 1887 it lost territory to establish the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia, to which more territory was lost in 1917, when it was renamed Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes.
The following individuals have been elected as Roman Catholic Bishop of Bathurst: [2]
Order | Name | Date installed | Term ended | Term of office | Reason for term end |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Matthew Quinn | 1 November 1866 | 16 January 1885 | 18 years, 76 days | Died in office |
2 | Joseph Byrne | 9 August 1885 | 12 January 1901 | 15 years, 156 days | Died in office |
3 | John Dunne | 12 January 1901 | 22 August 1919 | 18 years, 222 days | Died in office |
4 | Michael O'Farrell | 16 June 1920 | 4 April 1928 | 7 years, 293 days | Died in office |
5 | John Francis Norton | 3 April 1928 | 20 June 1963 | 35 years, 78 days | Died in office |
6 | A. R. E. Thomas | 29 September 1963 | 12 April 1983 | 19 years, 195 days | Retired as Bishop Emeritus of Bathurst |
7 | Patrick Dougherty | 1 September 1983 | 11 November 2008 | 25 years, 71 days | Retired as Bishop Emeritus of Bathurst |
8 | Michael McKenna | 15 April 2009 | present | 15 years, 191 days | n/a |
John Francis Norton was coadjutor bishop from 8 Mar 1926 to 3 Apr 1928, at which time he became bishop of this diocese.
Today the diocese covers an area of 103,560 square kilometres (39,980 sq mi ) and comprises the territory immediately west of the Great Dividing Range. The eastern boundary, except from Mt. Coricudgy by the Great Dividing Range southerly to Mt. Boonbourwa by a range generally south-easterly and then south-westerly, by a line west to the junction of Coorongooba and Running Stream Creeks, by Running Stream Creek downwards to Capertee River, by a line south and a line west to Mt. Canobla by a range generally south-westerly to the Great Dividing Range at Mt. McLean. The southern boundary is the Abercrombie and Lachlan Rivers (including West Cowra). The western boundary is the Eurow-Nyrang Mountains, the Harvey Range, a line from the junction of the Brummagen Creek and the Macquarie River to a point on the Macquarie River 16 km north of Warren, thence in a northerly straight line to a point on the Barwon River, 16 km west of Walgett. The northern boundary is a south-easterly line from this point on the Barwon River to the parish of Gunnedah. [3]
The diocese has nineteen parishes with regular liturgical services held in the following locations, with churches dedicated to particular saints: [4]
In 1857, the foundation stone of St Michael and St. John's Cathedral was blessed by the Archbishop of Sydney, Dr John Polding OSB, with the blessing and opening in April 1861. The cathedral is located on the corner of Keppel and William Streets in Bathurst and is the sole cathedral church of the diocese. Commissioned by Dean Grant, the church was erected at a cost of £12,000 under the supervision of local architect, Edward Gell, initially dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. However, following the erection of the new diocese in 1865, the church was dedicated to dual saints as the cathedral church of the diocese. [1]
The cathedral was built in the early English style, constructed with red brick and locally cut sandstone facings. The aisles are low with an attracting clerestory below. Gell's parish church terminated at the end of the nave with a small temporary chancel until such time as funds would allow for a more suitable sanctuary to be built. Over the next hundred years, the cathedral underwent several expansions. An adjoining convent complex appeared in about 1895. In 1897 the temporary chancel was replaced by a larger one more in keeping with the cathedral's status and it was at this time that the east windows and marble altar were also installed. In addition several structures were erected on the north side between 1897 and 1922. In honour of its centenary, the cathedral was extensively renovated and enlarged during 1960. As the mother church of one of the oldest dioceses in New South Wales, the cathedral has seen many changes over its lifetime making it truly a historical document in stone. In spite of all the changes however the cathedral is today substantially the same imposing building planned and built by Dean Grant as his visionary 'cathedral' for Bathurst over a century ago. [5]
A high nave and a stained glass window by John Hardman & Co. dominate the west end. The tower, low in comparison to the nave, marks the old west end before a new narthex was added. The crenellated western tower is decorated by a clerestory, a tableau of the crucifixion and a statue of the Sacred Heart. The interior consists of an aisled nave with rounded sandstone piers and pointed Gothic arches which leads up to a distant sanctuary bathed in a mystical gloom. The wooden buttresses spring from corbells high on the walls in support of the open roof. The quasi-moorish arch and strainer beam is a result of the renovation as seen in a comparison with the original archway. The sanctuary is quite plain with the exception of the Sicilian marble altar introduced in 1897, from Dublin . The sanctuary is lit by two slim lancets placed in memory of Bishop Matthew Quinn, which show the Sacred Heart on the left and Saint Matthew on the right. Above is a trefoil which portrays the Holy Spirit. The marble altar is the focal point of the cathedral. After Vatican II the mensa was moved forward in order to accommodate the novus ordo with the bishop's throne and celebrant's chairs set behind it. The style of the altar is that of the pre-Vatican II era when the altar served both as the main focal point of the church and as the throne. [5]
The retable with its extravagantly carved canopy and columned tabernacle in the shape of a church door remains in its place but the mensa has been moved forward to allow the bishop's throne and celebrant's chairs to be placed behind to allow the versus populam as prescribed by the new order of Mass. Of interest is the central panel showing one of the Stations of the Cross (Jesus falling). To the left of the chancel is the former nun's chancel now used as the Blessed Sacrament chapel and to the right is the south transept. To either side of the sanctuary proper are two more lancets representing Saint Joseph and Saint Mary. Standing before the Joseph window is a statue of Our Lady and before the Lady window is the Sacred Heart. [5]
In 2011, it was reported that the repair work is necessary to restore the fabric of the building, in particular the bell tower, which has become unsafe. Some of the sandstone from the 1800s has not weathered well and shows extensive fretting and disintegration, while early brickwork, decorative stained glass windows and copper and slate roofing also need repairs. In addition there is rising damp in the south-west corner of the cathedral and concerns about sub-floor ventilation. A public appeal was launched with expectations of raising A$2.5 million with the work to be completed by 2015 when the diocese celebrates its sesqui-centenary and the city its bicentenary. [6]
The Diocese of Bathurst, like many in Australia, has been part of the Catholic sexual abuse scandal, which are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders. [7]
The most notable institution in the diocese where convictions for sex crimes have been recorded is St Stanislaus' College in Bathurst. During the 1970s and 80's sex crimes against young boys and men occurred, instigated by religious clergy: [8]
The Cathedral Church and Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians, Patroness of Australia is the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and the seat of the Archbishop of Sydney, currently Anthony Fisher OP. It is dedicated to the "Immaculate Mother of God, Help of Christians", Patroness of Australia and holds the title and dignity of a minor basilica, bestowed upon it by Pope Pius XI on 4 August 1932.
The Basilica-Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador is the metropolitan cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. John's, Newfoundland and the mother church and symbol of Roman Catholicism in Newfoundland. The building sits within the St. John's Ecclesiastical District, a National Historic District of Canada.
The Anglican Diocese of Bathurst is located in the Province of New South Wales. It includes the cities of Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo. The Bishop is the Right Reverend Mark Calder, installed on 23 November 2019.
The Anglican Diocese of The Murray is located in the south-eastern region of South Australia. Founded in 1970 as part of the Province of South Australia, it takes in the Fleurieu Peninsula, Riverland, Adelaide Hills, Murraylands and the southern suburbs of Adelaide. In 2011 the diocese had 22 parishes or pastoral districts. The cathedral church of the diocese is the Cathedral of St John the Baptist, Murray Bridge. The most recent bishop is Keith Dalby, who has served from June 2019 but stepped aside in December 2023.
The Archdiocese of Sydney is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church. Its episcopal see is Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
The Diocese of Wilcannia–Forbes is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church in Australia. It is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Sydney. The Diocese of Wilcannia–Forbes was established in 1887, initially as the Diocese of Wilcannia. The diocese adopted its current name in 1917 when six parochial districts of Diocese of Bathurst, including those of Parkes and Forbes, were added to its western neighbour. The diocese covers the Far West region of New South Wales in Australia. The Bishop's office is in Forbes but his seat is in Sacred Heart Cathedral, Broken Hill.
The Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church located in the Australian Capital Territory, and the South West Slopes, Southern Tablelands, Monaro and the South Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia. Erected in 1948, the archdiocese is directly subject to the Holy See.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Geraldton is a Latin Church ecclesiastical jurisdiction or diocese of the Catholic Church covering the Mid West, Western Australia. It is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Perth.
The Archdiocese of Brisbane is a Latin Church metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia located in Brisbane and covering the South East region of Queensland, Australia.
The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is a suffragan Latin Church diocese of the Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1847 initially as the Diocese of Maitland and changed to the current name in 1995. The diocese covers the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales in Australia. The bishop of the diocese is Michael Kennedy.
The Diocese of Wagga Wagga is a Latin Church suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Sydney, established in 1917, covering the Riverina region of New South Wales in Australia.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington is the metropolitan archdiocese of New Zealand. Catholics number about 83,214. Parishes number 22 and the archdiocese extends over central New Zealand between Levin and Masterton in the north to Kaikoura to Westport in the south.
St Stanislaus' College is an Australian independent Roman Catholic secondary day and boarding school for boys located in Bathurst, in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia, 200 kilometres (120 mi) west of Sydney.
The development of the ministry of altar server has a long history. In the early Church, many ministries were held by men and women. By the early Middle Ages, some of these ministries were formalized under the term "minor orders" and used as steps to priestly ordination. One of the minor orders was the office of acolyte. Altar servers are a substitute for an instituted acolyte.
Catholic sexual abuse cases in Australia, like Catholic Church sexual abuse cases elsewhere, have involved convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests, members of religious orders and other personnel which have come to light in recent decades, along with the growing awareness of sexual abuse within other religious and secular institutions.
The Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Joseph is an heritage-listed Catholic cathedral church in Auckland CBD, situated on the corner of Federal Street and Wyndham St. It is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Auckland and the seat of the Bishop of Auckland.
John Mary Dunne, an Australian suffragan bishop, was the third Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst, New South Wales. Reverend Dunne was consecrated by Cardinal Moran in 1901 and served until his death in 1919.
Michael O'Farrell, an Australian suffragan bishop, was the fourth Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst, New South Wales. O'Farrell was consecrated by the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Cattaneo in 1920 and served until his death in 1928. O'Farrell was the first Vincentian bishop in Australia.
Cathedral of St Michael and St John is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic cathedral at 107 William Street, Bathurst, Bathurst Region, New South Wales, Australia. It was designed by Charles Hansom and built from 1857 to 1861 by Edward Gell. It is also known as Cathedral of Saints Michael and John. The cathedral is the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Bathurst. The property is owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bathurst. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 5 June 2012.
St Michael's Cathedral, Wagga Wagga is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Wagga Wagga and the seat of the Catholic Bishop of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, currently the Most Reverend Mark Edwards OMI.