New Bishops for Maitland-Newcastle, Toowoomba & Syro Malabar Eparchy

Maitland-Newcastle, Toowoomba and the Syro-Malabar Eparchy have all welcomed new bishops to their communities, following a raft of appointments by Pope Francis.

The Holy Father appointed Bishop Michael Kennedy, formerly of the Diocese of Armidale, to be the new Bishop of the Diocese of MaitlandNewcastle, ending a 14-month vacancy, following the death of Bishop William Wright in November 2021.

Bishop Kennedy was installed as the ninth Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle on 17 March 2023 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hamilton, in a liturgy celebrated by bishops from across Australia, including Bishop of Broken Bay, Anthony Randazzo.

The appointment has temporarily left the Diocese of Armidale without a bishop, as Pope Francis determines who will replace Bishop Kennedy.

The Holy Father also announced Bishop Kenneth Howell, currently Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, would become Bishop of Toowoomba, after accepting the resignation of Bishop Robert McGuckin.

Bishop Howell was consecrated in 2017 and had served as the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 2021.

Bishop Howell will be installed as Bishop of Toowoomba on 11 July 2023 at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Toowoomba.

The St Thomas the Apostle SyroMalabar Catholic Eparchy of Melbourne also has a new leader. Mar John Panamthottathil was installed as the second Eparch of Melbourne on 31

May 2023, following the resignation of Mar Bosco Purther, who had reached the age of 75.

His installation, at Our Lady Guardian of Plants Chaldean Catholic Church, Campbellfield, was attended by Bishop Randazzo, along with many other bishops, including SyroMalabar Major Archbishop George Cardinal Alencherry.

In April, Bishop Randazzo was also appointed by Pope Francis to become the Apostolic Administrator of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, in addition to his role as Bishop of Broken Bay. He will take up his role on 1 July, when the current Ordinary, Monsignor Carl Reid, retires.

In March, the Holy Father also announced Bishop of Sale, Gregory Bennet, would be appointed a member of the Dicastery for the Clergy. The dicastry is responsible for overseeing matters regarding priests and deacons who do not belong to religious orders, and handles requests for dispensation from active priestly ministry, as well as the legislation governing presbyteral councils and other organisations of priests around the world.