Visiting local jails in the
lead-up to Christmas will be high on Christopher Prowse's agenda as he
begins work as the seventh archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of
Canberra and Goulburn, reports The Canberra Times.
Bishop Prowse will formally take on his new role during a ceremony at
St Christopher's Cathedral this morning.
The liturgical reception and
Mass will be attended by more than 30 bishops, other church and
community representatives, and federal and local politicians.
The former Bishop of Sale moved into his new residence next to Lake
Burley Griffin at the end of last week.
In a break between meetings and
and attending a rehearsal for the ceremony, Bishop Prowse said he wanted
to try and serve the entire local community, not just Catholics.
He was particularly keen to visit prisoners and see first-hand the
work charities were doing during the Christmas season. 'I want to reach
out to the periphery and the margins; particularly to the people who are
struggling,'' he said.
In his homily on Tuesday, Bishop Prowse will draw upon the biblical
account of Jesus telling St Peter to take his boat into deep water to
fish. In the same way, he said, the church needed to head into new
waters. ''It's a very exciting mission for the church today, in contrast
to a simple circling of the wagons and a siege mentality,' Bishop
Prowse said.
''The exact opposite response is needed. But not one that imposes, but proposes. When we start to impose we alienate. When we … propose we excite and give hope. I think Pope Francis is doing that.'