BISHOP'S ILL HEALTH FORCES HIS RETIREMENT
P ERTH, WA: FEBRUARY 25 .— MARCH 3, 1982 TELEPHONE: (09) 328 1388
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Bishop Myles McKeon has been forced by ill health to bring his 13-year term as bishop of Bunbury to a close and Pope John Paul II has accepted his resignation.
He has been named by the pope to be apostolic administrator with full jurisdiction over the diocese until the appointment of his successor, probably in several months time.
Bishop McKeon formally in June, 1947, following of Perth, Bishop McKeon rian Fathers; the Little announced the papal his studies at University was named second bishop Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. acceptance of his resigna- College and All Hallows of Bunbury. On the educational scene, tion at the conclusion of College there. the annual three-day con- After his arrival in Aus- Bishop McKeon says that Bishop McKeon initiated ference of the priests of tralia early the following among the significant the co-educational systems Bunbury diocese held last year he spent his first four events of his time in Bun- in the Catholic secondary years as assistant priest at bury has been the intro-' c olleges at Bunbury, week. He told the priests that he Maylands-Inglewood. He duction of two religious Albany, Manjimup, and had submitted his resigna- spent a further two years as orders from Asia: The Collie. tion early in January fol- ,assistant priest at St Dominican Sisters from During his time the size of Manila, who conduct St Bunbury diocese was lowing advice from Mary's Cathedral. medical specialists that a His next nine years were Vincent's Hospital and increased with the transfer spinal condition from spent as director of the who will shortly take over of the parishes of Pinjarra which he is suffering shows Catholic Missions office the Ocean Star aged hostel, and Mandurah from Perth little hope of improve- and as director of Catholic and the Carmelite Sisters to Bunbury dioceses. from Bangkok, Thailand, Bishop McKeon blessed migration. ment. new churches at Harvey, The specialists said that This not only took him on who are at Dardanup. introduced orders Hopetoun, Greenbushes Other the of parish every to visits restrict he would have to car travel to minimal dis- archdiocese but also into the diocese during his and Balingup. A new tances and Bishop involved him in pastoral term include the Francis- church complex is nearing McKeon said that in view care for the many young can Missionaries of Mary completion at Esperance of such advice he had little migrant children who were who are soon to be joined and new churches are option but to resign from graduating from the in their work for Abori- shortly to be undertaken at gines by a Carmelite priest; M argaret River and Catholic institutions. office. Later the bishop said that During this period he was the Brothers of St Gerard Augusta. he had formulated no made a privy chamberlain Majella; the Blessed Sacraplans for his retirement but with the title monsignor. ment Fathers; the Salvato- (see also Page 2.) he hoped to continue residOn the 15th anniversary ing in Bunbury. "I hope they can find of his ordination to the prisome light duties for me esthood he was named that will be within the auxiliary bishop to the late range of a retired bishop," Archbishop Prendiville. he said with some relief at He was given the title of making what he called "the the ancient diocese of hardest decision of my A ntipyrgos in North Africa — the modern life." The appointment of a Tobruk. s uccessor to Bishop McKeon will be handled His consecrator in St. by the apostolic pro- Mary's Cathedral on Sepnuncio to Australia, Arch- tember 12, 1962, was bishop Luigi Barbarito, Bishop Goody, then of who resides in Canberra Bunbury, whom he would and who visited the dio- later succeed in that see. ceses of Western Australia Within a month of his conlast year. Following consultation secration as bishop, with the bishops of West- Bishop McKeon was ern Australia and a cross- seated as the second junior section of clergy of laity in rank among the 2300 the apostolic pro-nuncio bishops who attended the will then forward his opening of the Second recommendation to the Vatican Council. pope. Back in Perth, Bishop Bishop McKeon, who is McKeon had to assume 62, has given 34 years of much of the parish visitato the Catholic tion and confirmation The months of frustration and setback experienced by service Church in Western Aus- ceremonies as well as other the archdiocesan youth office were reversed last Mon- tralia, 20 of them as administrative duties during the latter illness of day night with the announcement by the Shire of Swan bishop. Prendiville. that approval in principle has been given for the use of a B orn in Westport, Archbishop Gidgegannup property as an educational centre. County Mayo, in the west On March 25, 1969, after he was the promotion of Bishop As a result, planning will start imme- cover the balance of purchase and build- o f Ireland diately to modify an existing residence ing operation will be raised in a special ordained priest in Dublin Goody to the archdiocese and build an extra seminar facility on a fund drive by a committee led by Mrs 17.5 ha property on O'Brien Road, Margaret Gardiner, of North Beach. Gidgegannup, to become a residential It is anticipated that small groups will be t raining centre for youth. able to use the facility in the near future :The partially cleared property is oppo- and activity will increase with the prosite the Walyunga national park and gressive building stages. • sweeps magnificently down to Wooroloo The granting of educational status to Brook. the rural zoned Gidgegannup property On the property is a superior modern overcomes the very hurdle on which an brick and tile home and two self- earlier attempt to establish a youth centre contained chalets that will be modified to, at Bedfordale failed to achieve the approa Page 12 —Margaret Lynch. accommodate about 30 young people. val of the Armadale Shire Council. There is also a swimming pool, outdoor Repeated approaches to the Armadale unbury mina Page 3 — Priests transferred. sauna and large machinery shed. council failed to get permission for an The property has been acquired by the educational establishment in the special Frank Grogan. archdiocese of Perth for $175,000 and rural zone. this cost will be offset by $70,000 already Following that setback the youth buildortham ...• Page 6 — Sick anointed. in hand from the sale of the former youth ing committee set about searching for centre, Marian Lodge, in Kalamunda. A another site and through a happy coincifurther $60,000 has already been raised dence the diocesan youth chaplain, from youth, schools, parents and Father John Jegorow, was directAi Town & Country Permanent Building Society businessmen. towards the Gidgegannup site. 297 Murray Street, Perth. Telephone: 327 3333. The additional $100,000 required to (See F 7e 11.)
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C HURCH BUYS YOUTH C ENTRE FOR $175,000
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