This week, Archbishop Barry Hickey thanked the people of Perth for their support. Here is the text of his message.
As we look forward to the Solemn Liturgical Installation of Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB as the new Archbishop of Perth, I take this opportunity to thank the Catholic people of Perth for their prayerful support, their tolerance at times and their forgiveness, but most of all for their inspiring witness to Jesus Christ and his Church led by the successor of St Peter, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
To be a Church leader these days is not easy, but it never has been easy.
The challenges facing Archbishop Costelloe will be a little different from those that I had to face, but in every age bishops in their position as successors of the Apostles have had to face the challenges of the age.
Sometimes they had to face imprisonment and martyrdom in remaining faithful to Jesus’ call.
Today, in Australia, we face an increasing secularism, unbelief, the legitimising of sexual practices and unions not in accord with the Gospel, tensions within the Church for changes, some legitimate, some not so.
We face a particular challenge to draw young people to Christ in the Church.
In this, some clear progress is being made, especially when the demands of discipleship are presented in all their countercultural radicality.
We face the problems of proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to a world that in the main is not listening.
We also face the challenge of authenticity, that is of living lives of simplicity, love, generosity and inclusion that reflect what we believe and profess.
I ask you to welcome Archbishop Timothy with joyful anticipation and to pledge your loyalty to him and his important office, as you did to me.
In the quieter days of my retirement, I will continue to pray for you the people, for the priests, deacons and religious who labour so hard for the Lord, and I hope to be of some small service in the time to come.
I thank all those who have wished me well in my retirement, for those who have given me gifts and who have prayed for me.
Your love and affection has touched me deeply.
May Mary our spiritual mother and mother of the Church continue to support us all with her prayers.
+B J Hickey
March 2012