Fr Gregory Homeming OCD has
been appointed the sixth Bishop of Lismore, the Australian Catholic
Bishops Conference announced last Tuesday.Speaking about his appointment, Bishop-Elect Homeming, 58, said: "I am humbled by the news. I knew that I had to say yes after the past 31 years as a Friar. There is a lot that I have to learn. I hope that the people and the priests of the Diocese of Lismore will teach me how to be their bishop.
"I have travelled to the Diocese of Lismore many times as Superior of the Discalced Carmelites visiting the Carmelite nuns at Goonellabah, New South Wales."
Archbishop Denis Hart, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, congratulated Fr Homeming following the announcement.
"I join the Bishops of Australia in rejoicing at the appointment of Fr Homeming as Bishop of Lismore. He brings wide experience as a retreat-giver, spiritual director and leader. His gifts will be a great enrichment to the Church in Australia."
Born in Sydney in 1958, to a Australian Chinese family, Fr Homeming completed his primary education in Shepparton, Victoria, and secondary school in Sydney at St Aloysius College.
He took degrees in Economics and Law at Sydney University and then worked as a lawyer in a Sydney law firm from 1981-85.
At the end of 1985, Fr Homeming joined the Discalced Carmelite Order, making his first profession in 1987. He then studied a Bachelor of Theology at Melbourne College of Divinity and a Masters in Philosophy at the University of Melbourne.
The current Bishop of Lismore, Geoffrey Jarrett, has resigned and will continue as Apostolic Administrator until Fr Homeming takes his place.