Bishop Timothy Costelloe is new Archbishop of Perth
Melbourne Bishop Timothy Costelloe SDB DD announced as Archbishop Barry J Hickey’s Successor for the Archdiocese of Perth
Auxiliary Bishop Timothy Costelloe SDB DD of Melbourne has been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to succeed Archbishop Barry James Hickey as ninth Bishop of Perth and sixth Archbishop of Perth. Archbishop Hickey endorsed the appointment and choice of Archbishop-elect Costelloe as his successor.
“We are delighted with the choice of Bishop Tim Costelloe to be the new Catholic Archbishop of Perth,” Archbishop Hickey said. “He has my blessings on his daunting task, which is at one time a burden and a privilege,” he said.
Archbishop-elect Costelloe said he was very grateful to the Holy Father for showing such confidence in appointing him Archbishop of Perth. He said he takes up the position “with a sense of gratitude and humility, and also a certain trepidation”.
Archbishop-elect Costelloe, who was ordained a Bishop in 2007, will lead the Catholic Church in the Perth Archdiocese after gaining several years’ experience serving the Church in the Archdiocese of Melbourne and as a member of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Archbishop-elect Costelloe is no stranger to Perth. He spent four years in the mid to late nineties based as parish priest at St Joachim’s in Victoria Park and as religious superior of the Salesian community based in Victoria Park and Kelmscott.
While based in Perth, the then Fr Costelloe was also lecturing in systematic theology at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle. He accompanied Archbishop Hickey to the Synod of Oceania in 1998 as one of Archbishop Hickey’s two theological experts.
Archbishop-elect Costelloe will officially take possession of the Archdiocese on 21 March 2012 during a Solemn Mass and Liturgical Reception in St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth. This news of a successor comes after a 10-month wait for Archbishop Hickey who handed in his letter of resignation following Church protocol on the occasion of his 75th birthday in April last year.
The Pope accepted this letter ‘nunc pro tunc’ (Latin: now for then), meaning that Archbishop Hickey was required to continue as Archbishop of Perth until a successor was announced, at which time, he could then effectively retire.
Archbishop Philip Wilson said today that this was good news not only for the people of Perth, but for the Church in Australia.
“Bishop Timothy Costelloe is a gifted, highly intelligent pastor who has shown consistent leadership in Melbourne where he has been an Auxiliary Bishop over the past five years”, he said. “He is a very insightful person who has an excellent pastoral manner and a keen intellect”, he said. “He will bring many new blessings to the Archdiocese of Perth, one of our largest Dioceses. This is indeed an honour for him to have been chosen to lead this Diocese and I will be praying for the Lord to bless him as he prepares for his installation”, said Archbishop Wilson.
Bishop Timothy Costelloe joined the Salesian order in 1977 at 22 years of age and following a diverse ministry as a parish priest, lecturer and theology professor, was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne on 30 April, 2007. Archbishop Wilson said that the Archbishop-elect would be warmly welcomed by the people of Perth. “Bishop Timothy spent a number of years there as a Parish Priest and theology lecturer so he is already known to people in the Diocese”, said Archbishop Wilson. At the beginning of 1996 he was Parish Priest of St Joachim’s Parish, Victoria Park in the Archdiocese of Perth, whilst teaching theology at Notre Dame University in Fremantle and continuing doctoral studies part-time.
Archbishop Barry Hickey will continue as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Perth until the installation of Bishop Timothy Costelloe. “I take this opportunity to extend by gratitude to Archbishop Barry Hickey for his generous service to the Archdiocese over many years and wish him well in his retirement”, said Archbishop Wilson.
“We are delighted with the choice of Bishop Tim Costelloe to be the new Catholic Archbishop of Perth,” Archbishop Hickey said. “He has my blessings on his daunting task, which is at one time a burden and a privilege,” he said.
Archbishop-elect Costelloe said he was very grateful to the Holy Father for showing such confidence in appointing him Archbishop of Perth. He said he takes up the position “with a sense of gratitude and humility, and also a certain trepidation”.
Archbishop-elect Costelloe, who was ordained a Bishop in 2007, will lead the Catholic Church in the Perth Archdiocese after gaining several years’ experience serving the Church in the Archdiocese of Melbourne and as a member of the Salesians of Don Bosco. Archbishop-elect Costelloe is no stranger to Perth. He spent four years in the mid to late nineties based as parish priest at St Joachim’s in Victoria Park and as religious superior of the Salesian community based in Victoria Park and Kelmscott.
While based in Perth, the then Fr Costelloe was also lecturing in systematic theology at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle. He accompanied Archbishop Hickey to the Synod of Oceania in 1998 as one of Archbishop Hickey’s two theological experts.
Archbishop-elect Costelloe will officially take possession of the Archdiocese on 21 March 2012 during a Solemn Mass and Liturgical Reception in St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth. This news of a successor comes after a 10-month wait for Archbishop Hickey who handed in his letter of resignation following Church protocol on the occasion of his 75th birthday in April last year.
The Pope accepted this letter ‘nunc pro tunc’ (Latin: now for then), meaning that Archbishop Hickey was required to continue as Archbishop of Perth until a successor was announced, at which time, he could then effectively retire.
Response of Archbishop-elect Timothy John Costelloe SDB
It is with a sense of gratitude and humility, and also a certain trepidation, that I take up my new position as Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth in Western Australia. I am very grateful to his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, for the confidence he has shown in me by appointing me to this role.
Although I have spent most of my life in Melbourne, where I was born and grew up, I was fortunate to spend a number of years in Perth in the mid to late nineties, as Parish Priest of Saint Joachim’s Victoria Park, as religious superior of the Salesian community based at that time in Victoria Park and Kelmscott, and as a lecturer in systematic theology at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle.
During my four and a half years in Perth I came to admire the commitment and strong sense of solidarity among the clergy of the Archdiocese. I hope that I will be able to foster this spirit of mutual respect and cooperation in my new role as archbishop. I came, too, to value the vibrancy of the faith of the Catholic people of the Archdiocese. We are a very multi-cultural society and, consequently, a very multi-cultural Church. This is a source of strength and hope for us all.
It is both a privilege and a joy to follow in the footsteps of Archbishop Hickey who has led the Catholic community of Perth with energy, enthusiasm and compassion. The beautifully restored and remodeled Cathedral is a powerful symbol of his leadership and vision.
While I am understandably sad about leaving family, friends and colleagues in Melbourne, I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead as I exercise my ministry of service and leadership in the Archdiocese of Perth.
Although I have spent most of my life in Melbourne, where I was born and grew up, I was fortunate to spend a number of years in Perth in the mid to late nineties, as Parish Priest of Saint Joachim’s Victoria Park, as religious superior of the Salesian community based at that time in Victoria Park and Kelmscott, and as a lecturer in systematic theology at the University of Notre Dame in Fremantle.
During my four and a half years in Perth I came to admire the commitment and strong sense of solidarity among the clergy of the Archdiocese. I hope that I will be able to foster this spirit of mutual respect and cooperation in my new role as archbishop. I came, too, to value the vibrancy of the faith of the Catholic people of the Archdiocese. We are a very multi-cultural society and, consequently, a very multi-cultural Church. This is a source of strength and hope for us all.
It is both a privilege and a joy to follow in the footsteps of Archbishop Hickey who has led the Catholic community of Perth with energy, enthusiasm and compassion. The beautifully restored and remodeled Cathedral is a powerful symbol of his leadership and vision.
While I am understandably sad about leaving family, friends and colleagues in Melbourne, I am looking forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead as I exercise my ministry of service and leadership in the Archdiocese of Perth.
President of Bishops’ Conference expresses delight at appointment of new Perth Archbishop
President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Philip Wilson has expressed his delight at the appointment by the Holy Father of Bishop Timothy Costelloe as Archbishop of Perth. Bishop Timothy replaces Archbishop Barry Hickey who has led the faithful of the Diocese since 1991.Archbishop Philip Wilson said today that this was good news not only for the people of Perth, but for the Church in Australia.
“Bishop Timothy Costelloe is a gifted, highly intelligent pastor who has shown consistent leadership in Melbourne where he has been an Auxiliary Bishop over the past five years”, he said. “He is a very insightful person who has an excellent pastoral manner and a keen intellect”, he said. “He will bring many new blessings to the Archdiocese of Perth, one of our largest Dioceses. This is indeed an honour for him to have been chosen to lead this Diocese and I will be praying for the Lord to bless him as he prepares for his installation”, said Archbishop Wilson.
Bishop Timothy Costelloe joined the Salesian order in 1977 at 22 years of age and following a diverse ministry as a parish priest, lecturer and theology professor, was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne on 30 April, 2007. Archbishop Wilson said that the Archbishop-elect would be warmly welcomed by the people of Perth. “Bishop Timothy spent a number of years there as a Parish Priest and theology lecturer so he is already known to people in the Diocese”, said Archbishop Wilson. At the beginning of 1996 he was Parish Priest of St Joachim’s Parish, Victoria Park in the Archdiocese of Perth, whilst teaching theology at Notre Dame University in Fremantle and continuing doctoral studies part-time.
Archbishop Barry Hickey will continue as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Perth until the installation of Bishop Timothy Costelloe. “I take this opportunity to extend by gratitude to Archbishop Barry Hickey for his generous service to the Archdiocese over many years and wish him well in his retirement”, said Archbishop Wilson.
