Archbishop Julian Porteous
officially took over the role of Archbishop of Hobart last night, at the
Reception and Solemn Mass of Installation at St Mary’s Cathedral.
The
Mass was attended by more than 600 people, including senior Australian
Catholic clergy, the Governor of Tasmania His Excellency The Honourable
Peter Underwood AC and Premier Lara Giddings.
Archbishop Porteous, who moved from Sydney to fill the position, takes over from Archbishop Adrian Doyle who is retiring from the post after 14 years of service.
After visiting Tasmania on many occasions to bushwalk and cycle, Archbishop Porteous said he had special place in his heart for the State.
“I believe [Tasmania has] very much its own identity and spirit and I’m very much looking forward to embracing that,” he said.
Archbishop Porteous said he was keen to take the time to travel through Tasmania to talk to all those doing wonderful work in the Church’s name including local priests and people working in health, education and welfare.
He said the New Evangelisation has always been a major part of his mission and will continue to be so in his new role as Archbishop of Hobart. With the focus of reconnecting with the Gospel and drawing closer to Christ, Archbishop Porteous said the Church needed to face the challenges of the times with the New Evangelisation at its forefront.
“What I really want to focus on and emphasise is the call for all of us... to draw closer to Christ, to centre our own lives and hearts more on him, to be more attentive to his voice and to be more aware of living our daily lives in union with him,” he said. “This is a universal call right across the entire Catholic world.”