Catholic Community To Welcome Seventh Bishop

On Tuesday, 11 July, the Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba will officially welcome Bishop Ken Howell as the seventh Bishop of Toowoomba. It is a significant event for our diocese.

A rough boundary of the Toowoomba Diocese is Helidon in the east, stretching to the South Australia and Northern Territory borders, the northern edge at Taroom and Augathella and down south to the New South Wales border.

As mentioned, it is the seventh time we have appointed a new bishop. Our most recent bishops were, in 2012 Robert McGuckin, 1993 Bill Morris and in 1976 Edward Kelly. It is not an everyday event.

The ceremony is anticipated to run for an hour and a half, with the Cathedral expected to be packed to capacity. Those unable to find seating in the Cathedral can watch live in the Cathedral Centre nearby. The service will be live-streamed on the diocese’s website, allowing those unable to travel to watch with their church or school community.

Some key moments in the celebration that are of note will be:
• At the beginning of the celebration, the Papal Bull, or public decree by Pope Francis, will be read aloud to the congregation, declaring Bishop Ken Howell the Bishop of Toowoomba.
• Bishops Emeritus Robert McGuckin and Bill Morris will present the crozier, or pastoral staff, of the First Bishop of Toowoomba, James Byrne, in a symbolic gesture that connects the past with the present and changing of leadership. They will then lead Bishop Ken to the the seat of the bishop.
• Representatives from across the diocese and various church ministries, as well as civic leaders and leaders of other faiths, will come forward to welcome Bishop Ken.

WHEN: Tuesday 11 July 2023 from 11am
WHERE: St Patrick’s Cathedral, James Street, Toowoomba

Submitted by:
Ingrid McTaggart
Communications Office | Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba
Email: imctaggart@twb.catholic.org.au