WORSHIP & PRAYER
One of Newcastle’s own ordained as the new Bishop of Wollongong BY ASHLEIGH BANKS
The Most Rev Brian Mascord DD, the fifth Bishop of Wollongong “wasn’t overly keen on the priesthood” as a young man and never expected to be appointed a bishop. In front of a crowd of 4,500, the former Vicar General of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle was ordained as the senior authority over the Illawarra region’s Catholic church. It was one of the largest Catholic episcopal ordinations ever held in Australian history - attended not only by 34 Australian bishops and 113 priests but also by the Apostolic Nuncio in Australia, His Excellency Most Reverend Adolfo Tito Yllana. “It has been a really nerve-wracking experience, not in a horrible way, but I never thought this would happen to me,” Bishop Mascord said prior to his ordination. “It wasn’t a thing I had aspired to, I was very happy being a priest and working in parishes and with the people so it came as a real shock when the nuncio [the church’s ambassador] rang me in November and asked me to take this on. “But I see this as about the church, it was always about God. It is not about me personally, I’ve been asked to take on a leadership role, I’m a stranger in Wollongong and I’m going to have to learn a great deal – and I look forward to that. “Already the welcome I have received (in Wollongong) has been amazing.” Brian’s predecessor - Bishop Peter Ingham - had been in the role since 2001. Bishop Brian said he hoped he could put his own stamp on the Diocese of Wollongong while honouring the high-regard the community has for long-standing Bishop Ingham. “Peter has fulfilled an amazing role of leadership in a very difficult time – and I hope that I can build on that leadership,” he said. “The Royal Commission has given us profound opportunities
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