Pope Francis appointed Terence Curtin and Mark Edwards as auxiliary bishops of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. In a ceremony marked with festivity in St. Patrick's Cathedral on December 17, Curtin and Edwards were present to take part in their episcopal consecration.
Bishop Curtin, who completed his priestly formation in Rome, expressed joy in being appointed by the Holy Father.
"It has been very humbling because in moments like this, as I think all the bishops would know, you become acutely aware of your own failings and limitations. But that's not a bad thing. It means that we come to know all the more how much we depend on the grace of God and the gift of faith."
The episcopal consecration was also attended by Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne, Archbishop Paul Gallagher and Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane.
Archbishop Hart was the principle consecrator of Bishop Curtin and Indonesian-born Bishop Edwards.
With over a million Catholics and 219 parishes, the Archdiocese of Melbourne is an important city for the Church and Bishop Curtin acknowledged the important role bestowed on him and Bishop Edwards.
"With such firm foundations I can assure you we are both from good stock, but good stock is not much use unless it's well planted. There lies your task, dear bishops, priests and people of God, to plant us well in the joys, the hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the men and women of our age...Keep us in your prayers. Ask that the joy of the gospel mark our lives and our service as auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese of Melbourne."