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WA's only Catholic weekly newspaper
Former St Brigid's, Apostolic Nuncio Lesmurdie, pupil blesses Fremantle wins at Paralympics fishing fleet
All Saints Chapel to be refurbished
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Bishop ealy retires By Peter Rosengren Pope John Paul II has accepted Bishop Robert Healy of Perth's resignation letter, bringing an end to an episcopal career spanning 25 years. The Pope's representative in Australia, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Francesco Canalini, announced the acceptance at a meeting with Perth clergy at St Thomas More College this Wednesday. No announcement of a replacement for Bishop Healy was made. Bishop Healy, auxiliary bishop to Archbishop Barry Hickey, this week wanted to say simply, "Just 'thank you'," to the Catholics of Perth and Western Australia. It was with these words that he signed off this week as he reflected back on more than half a century as a priest. "It's been a great life. I've enjoyed it, and I wouldn't change it for the world," he told The Record in an interview at his Manning home on Monday. Bishop Healy submitted a letter to the Pope offering his resignation upon his 75th birthday in July last year. All Bishops are required by Canon Law to offer their retirement to the Pope after they turn 75. During this week's interview Bishop Healy, among other things, praised youth who had journeyed to Rome for World
Youth Day two months ago, reflected on the problems facing the Church, revealed himself as an optimist and gave his thoughts on the papacy of Pope John Paul II. He also said the Synod of Bishops for Oceania held in Rome in late 1998 had given him a great sense of the universality of the Church. When he was administrator of the archdiocese for a short time in 1991 after the death of Archbishop William Foley. he said, he felt it was the Holy Spirit guiding him through a difficult time for himself and the Church in Perth. On Pope John Paul II, whom he met when In Rome for the Synod, the Bishop said he was a rare phenomenon in the life of the Church. "I think when he was elected we didn't know anything about him and couldn't have anticipated his pontificate would be so extraordinary and include so many great and astounding events," he said, adding "Or that he would lead the Church in such an outstanding way." He agreed Pope John Paul II would probably go down in history as one of the alltime greats of the successors of St Peter, something like an equivalent to the sixth century reforming Pope, St Gregory the Great. "I have no doubt in the world about it, he said. He said he highly admires both what the Pope has done and the way he's done his job but, he added, it would be a tough act for any successor to live up to.
Bishop Healy at home this week: thankful for his life as priest and bishop.
Photo: Peter Rosengren
"I'd hate to be the fellow who follows today, Bishop Healy said the Church was him." he said. The legacy of John Paul II facing serious problems. One was that people are not participating would be "a great love of people - but also his great leadership in terms of faith and In their faith in the way they used to, particularly the young. evangelisation and witness to the faith." Another was that Religious life was not as "He's probably the type of Pope," he said, strong as it used to be. "who only happens once in a while." Meanwhile, on the Church and the world Continued on Page 9
Fr Sorahan: witness to Jesus Christ in life and death By Glynnis Grainger The real riches of the character of Father Sean Sorahan as a man and priest were seen in the final months of his life, Auxiliary Bishop Robert Healy told mourners at the Funeral Mass for Fr Sorahan last Thursday in St Joseph's Church, Subiaco. Fr Sorahan died at the St John of God Villas, Subiaco. last Saturday week, 14 October. At least 30 priests celebrated Mass with Archbishop Barry Hickey, Bishop Robert Healy, retired Bishop Myles McKeon of Bunbury, and two Irish friends of Fr Sorahan's, Fr Joseph Kelly and Fr Frank Kelly. Fr Joe Kelly is an Irish-based Discalced Carmelite priest working in Sydney and a friend of the family, and Fr Frank Kelly is a cousin of Fr Sorahan's from Ireland. Mourners, including relatives from overseas, packed the church. Bishop Healy said Fr Sorahan had the "gift of good wit and great humour; he exaggerated in the company of priests [rather] than in the
company of friends. I had the good fortune to have him as a prefect in my seminary days and friend and advisor in our adopted diocese and for all that I am deeply appreciative. "This was one of the great good fortunes of my own life." Bishop Healy said Pope John Paul II had said many times that the best teacher was the best witness and, likewise, the best priest was also the best witness to the life and death of Jesus Himself. "It was with this in mind that the Gospel from St Luke was chosen for this Funeral Mass. "With His final breath, Jesus accepted totally and without reservation His sufferings and death; it was expressed in the last of the seven words on the Cross - 'Father into your hands, I commit my spirit.' To be truly followers of Christ, we, too, must accept the will of God for us and that is never easy; in fact, it has to be a special grace from God that enables us to do it, Bishop Healy said. Continued on Page 4
Priests and bishops form a guard of honour for Fr Sorahan's coffin after the funeral Photo: Glynn's Grainger Mass.
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