By Anthony Barich
THE diocese of Perth’s founding Bishop John Brady’s family from Ireland want to attend the late prelate’s interment in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, expected to take place on a date yet to be determined.
His remains returned to Perth on 11 April and were cleared by Australian Quarantine and Customs on 14 April, after which they were received by Archbishop Barry Hickey, who was attending an Archdiocesan Council of Priests meeting Cathedral Presbytery on Victoria Square.
The Archbishop’s executive secretary, Fr Robert Cross, the archaeologist who led the excavation of Bishop Brady’s remains in the French parish cemetery of Amelie-Les-Bains on 20 March, said the re-interment of the prelate’s remains are dependent upon the availability of the Brady family members who wish to be in attendance, and on finding a suitable date for the public ceremony.
After receiving Bishop Brady’s remains, the Archbishop led the Council of Priests in prayer for the late prelate’s soul.
Bishop Brady, who established the diocese of Perth in the Swan River Colony in 1845, left the State in controversial circumstances.
A detailed examination of Bishop Brady’s remains – which include almost his entire skeleton bar a few foot bones – will occur in the next two months and Catholic funeral directors Bowra and O’Dea will store them until the public interment ceremony is arranged.
Fr Cross is certain that Bishop Brady was about 6 foot tall, and announced as much to the Council of Priests who were also very curious about the prelate’s remains when they were brought to their meeting room on 14 April.
The ossuary of Bishop Brady’s remains includes most of his bones, with his skull, along with hair, cloth and bone fragments.
These fragments must be separated and identified as part of the re-examination by Fr Cross, archaeologist Jade O’Brien and retired surgeon Dr Michael Shanahan, who were present at the exhumation in France.
A space has been reserved in the St Mary’s Cathedral crypt for the late Bishop Brady.