Pope Francis has appointed Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Sydney, Anthony Randazzo as the fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Broken Bay.

The 53-year-old bishop has been an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Sydney since 2016. He succeeds Peter Comensoli who was appointed Archbishop of Melbourne in 2018.

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP has congratulated Bishop Randazzo on his appointment and paid tribute to him for his contribution to the Archdiocese as one of its three auxiliary bishops, alongside Bishop Richard Umbers and Bishop Terry Brady.

“As the Episcopal Vicar for Formation, he has contributed much to the initial formation of our seminarians and the ongoing formation of our priests,” Archbishop Fisher said. “As Chair of the Board of Sydney Catholic Schools, he has contributed to the governance of schools that serve thousands of young people and their families.”

“I am deeply grateful to have had Bishop Randazzo as my close collaborator in Sydney over the past three years.

“I have been enriched by [Bishop Randazzo’s] counsel and inspired by his love of god and god’s people.

“While the Archdiocese of Sydney will be sad to see him leave, we are pleased that he will not be moving far and look forward to continuing working with him in service of the people of our region”, Archbishop Fisher added.

“Bishop Randazzo also brings to his new task broad experience as a parish priest, canonist, seminary rector and bishop. He will now shepherd a flock of more than 200,000 Catholics across Sydney’s north shore, northern beaches and the Central Coast”.

Appointment ‘not about me’ but Jesus says Bishop

Bishop Randazzo said he was honoured and humbled by the appointment, and grateful to the Holy Father for the confidence he has shown in him.

“Ultimately, this appointment is not about me; it is about Jesus Christ, and about how we, as living members of the body of Christ, bring him to the world by the way we live out our baptismal vocation with love."

“We are instruments in His hands”, he said. “While I accept this appointment with great anticipation, I am also sad to leave the Archdiocese of Sydney.

“The three years that I have spent in Sydney have been a great blessing”, he added.

“Archbishop Fisher has been a father and brother to me, a mentor and guide, a helper and wise friend. I am grateful to him for his leadership, and for his example of how to be a priest and Bishop”.

“Another highlight has been moving around the various regions of Sydney, particularly the western region for which I have been responsible. There is a wonderful dynamic of vibrancy in the people of Sydney, and I will be eternally grateful to God for my time with them”, Bishop Randazzo said.

The Administrator of the Diocese of Broken Bay, Father David Ranson, who has led the diocese over the past 15 months, said the diocese was very much looking forward to welcoming Bishop Randazzo as its new shepherd.

“We have an enormous sense of delight at this news, and express our joyful gratitude to the Holy Father for enabling this appointment,” Fr Ranson said.

Born in Sydney, Bishop Randazzo grew up in southeast Queensland and went on to study at the Pius XII Provincial Seminary and the University of Queensland. He was ordained a priest for Brisbane Archdiocese in 1991.

After parish and diocesan responsibilities in Brisbane, Bishop Randazzo moved to Rome, where he gained qualifications in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He would later work for five years at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Upon returning to Australia, Bishop Randazzo served as rector of Holy Spirit Seminary, which trains priests for the five dioceses of Queensland, before being appointed an auxiliary bishop for Sydney in 2016.

Bishop Randazzo said during his ministry, and especially his ministry in neighbouring Sydney Archdiocese, he has observed the Diocese of Broken Bay to be “a vibrant, animated, and Spirit-filled Church”.

“I have a great sense of hopeful expectation as I anticipate how we will live the life of faith and discipleship together and how we will give witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ in our world,” Bishop Randazzo said.

“I am grateful to God and to Pope Francis for the trust that has been placed in me to lead, guide and accompany the people of God in the Diocese of Broken Bay.

“With the priests and deacons by my side, I pray that we will serve Christ’s faithful with charity, mercy and joy. I look forward to meeting the people of the diocese from all walks of life, age and culture.”

In welcoming the appointment, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Mark Coleridge said Bishop Randazzo would bring to Broken Bay gifts of both grace and nature, as well as a broad experience of the Church local and universal in Brisbane, Sydney and Rome.

“The prayers and good wishes of all the bishops are with Bishop Randazzo as he prepares for his new mission and with the people of God entrusted to his care,” Archbishop Coleridge said.

Source: Catholic Weekly
https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/bishop-randazzo-to-lead-diocese-of-broken-bay/