VIEWPOIN farewell to armidale

When I was ordained a priest almost twenty-four years ago, I never imagined that God would one day send me to the Diocese of Armidale. I did not hesitate to say ‘yes’ to this appointment. It was Pope Benedict XVI who once said words to the effect that “God, precisely because he is God, always deserves a ‘yes’ from every human person.”

Saying ‘yes’ to God has always brought me joy and fulfilment, from responding to his call to become a priest to accepting my appointment to the Diocese of Armidale.

I have no doubt that accepting the transfer to the Diocese of MaitlandNewcastle will lead to new joys and challenges for me, just as it did when I came to Armidale, and just as it does every time one of us says ‘yes’ to God.

God never leaves us alone to face the challenges. He is always with us as he promised, and he always sends people to assist and guide us.

I wish to say ‘thank you’ to the many people around the Diocese who have brought me joy as you live and share the joy of the Gospel, and to those who have helped me through the challenges.

I have met so many wonderful people in all the parishes, schools, and other works of the Church around the Diocese. We are many individuals, each of us differently gifted by God and each of us flawed as well, and each with our own particular views and approaches to all manner of things. This always has the potential to cause division.

One of the characteristics of the Diocese of Armidale which I noticed upon my arrival, and which I have sought to nurture, is its unity; the