Pope Benedict has appointed Melbourne Auxiliary Bishop Christopher Prowse as the eighth Catholic Bishop of Sale. The news was announced by the Vatican today and communicated in Australia by the Apostolic Nuncio in Canberra, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto.
He succeeds Bishop Jeremiah Coffey who retired eighteen months ago.
Bishop Prowse, 55, was born in Melbourne. He is a former Vicar General of Melbourne and was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne in 2003.
On receiving news of his appointment, Bishop Prowse commented: "Pope Benedict XVI has given me an enormous responsibility to teach, govern and sanctify the good people of the Sale diocese. In thanksgiving, I hope to offer my life as a servant of the Gospel of Jesus, alive in the Catholic Church."
Bishop Prowse added: "May I implore humbly the prayers of people as I prepare to take up this pastoral responsibility of service."
The Diocesan Administrator of Sale, Father Peter Slater, said: "I am delighted with the news of the appointment of Bishop Christopher Prowse to Sale. I am sure the whole diocese will welcome Bishop Prowse and we look forward to his work among us as our Bishop."
The Solemn Mass and Liturgical Reception of Bishop Prowse as Bishop of Sale will be take place at St Mary's Cathedral, Sale, 2pm on Wednesday, July 15 2009.
Bishop Prowse's CV
Bishop Christopher Charles Prowse was born in East Melbourne on November 14 1953. He is the third child of six children of Frank Prowse and Marian Atkinson (both deceased).
His education was at St Francis Xavier Primary School, Box Hill (conducted by the Sion Sisters NDS) and St Leo's College, Box Hill (conducted by the Christian Brothers CFC).
He was an Altar Server at St Francis Xavier Parish, Box Hill. At St Leo's Box Hill he enjoyed Drama and Public Speaking involvements. He was School Captain in 1971.
His family lived in Blackburn. His father, Frank, played VFL football for Hawthorn (1948-1951). His football team is Hawthorn.
He studied for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College, Werribee (1972) and Clayton (1973-1980). He was ordained for the priesthood by Archbishop Sir Frank Little at St. Patrick's Cathedral on August 16 1980.
Bishop Prowse has a Bachelor of Arts (Monash 1978), a Bachelor of Theology (MCD 1979), a Licentiate in Moral Theology (Gregorian University, Rome, 1987), and a Doctorate in Moral theology (Lateran University - Alphonsianum, Rome, 1995).
After serving as a Deacon at St John's, Mitcham in 1979, he was appointed Assistant Priest at St Mary of the Angels, Geelong (1981-1983), and St Monica's, Moonee Ponds (1984-1985). He was a Diocesan Vocations' Director in 1984-1985.
Between 1988 and 2001 he was Lecturer in Moral Theology at Catholic Theological College. From 1988 he was Priest-in-Residence at St Mary's, Thornbury and in 1996 he was appointed Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Parish, East Thornbury.
Appointments during this time included Director of the Catholic Pastoral Formation Centre (1997-2001), and Media Spokesman (1999 - ).
In August 2001 he was appointed Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, after a short appointment as Assistant to the Diocesan Administrator. At this time he became a member of the College of Consultors of the Melbourne Archdiocese. He became a member of major Archdiocesan committees. On October 6 2001 he was appointed a Chaplain of His Holiness.
On April 4 2003, Pope John Paul II named him Titular Bishop of Bahanna and Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne. He was ordained a bishop at St Patrick's Cathedral on 19th May 2003.
From 2003 till 2007 he was Bishop with pastoral responsibility for the Southern Region of Melbourne and was Parish Priest of St Kevin's, Ormond.
From 2007 till 2009 he was Bishop with pastoral responsibility of the Western Region of Melbourne and Geelong, and resident at Corpus Christi Parish, Kingsville. In 2007 he became the Episcopal Vicar for Justice and Social Services, and, in 2008, Episcopal Vicar for Health. He was appointed onto key committees organising Days in the Diocese Melbourne and World Youth Day 2008, Sydney. He was particularly active in the apostolates to the aboriginal community, migrants, interfaith, and new ecclesial communities.
In the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference he is a member of the Commission for Relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and a member of the Commission for Ecumenical and Inter-Religious Relations.
From the Australian Bishops Conference he was appointed as Co-Chair of the Australian Anglican and Roman Catholic (AUSTARC) Dialogue, and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania.
In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him a Member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Source (CTHN)
SV (ED)