The service of bishops

As we welcome the twelfth bishop in Tasmania, it is good to recall those who have served in episcopal ministry over the history of the Catholic Church here in Tasmania.

In 1842 Tasmania was elevated to the status of a diocese and English priest, Robert Willson, was appointed as the first bishop of Hobart on 22 April 1842. Bishop Willson served until 1866. Bishop Daniel Murphy was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Hobart the previous year and appointed Bishop on 8 March 1866.

He was to serve the Church in Tasmania for the next 22 years. The diocese was raised to the status of an Archdiocese in 1888 with Bishop Murphy now an Archbishop.

He was succeeded by Patrick Delany, who was appointed Coadjutor Bishop in 1893 and then Archbishop in 1907 upon the death of Archbishop Murphy. He was succeeded by William Barry who also was a coadjutor from 1919 and became Archbishop in 1926.

Upon Archbishop Barry’s death in office in 1929, William Hayden became Archbishop and served until his passing in 1936. In 1937 Justin Simonds became Archbishop and was translated to Melbourne as Coadjutor to Archbishop Daniel Mannix in 1942.

He was succeeded by Archbishop Victor Tweedy who served as Archbishop until 1955. Archbishop Guilford Young served as Coadjutor from 1952 and was appointed Archbishop upon the resignation of Archbishop Tweedy. He served as Archbishop for 32 years, dying in office in 1988. Archbishop Eric D’Arcy served until 1999 and was followed by Archbishop Adrian Doyle who served until 2013.

On 19 July 2013 Pope Francis appointed me as Archbishop of Hobart and I was installed on 17 September that year. As I reflect on the past eleven years of my service to the Church here in beautiful Tasmania, I am grateful to God for the many ways in which I have sensed his hand at work in what has been achieved for the good of the Church and in our contribution to Tasmanian society.

In particular, I am grateful that we have been able to ensure the provision of priests in every parish in the Archdiocese. I wish to acknowledge those priests who have come from overseas, leaving their own country, family and culture, to serve in the parishes here. It has been a special joy to ordain twelve men to the priesthood over my years as Archbishop.

In visiting parishes, I constantly marvel at the generosity of parishioners who serve their local parish community and many reach out into the broader community. Parish communities are the beating heart of the Church. They are the places where the faith is nourished and lived. 

Our Catholic faith inspires so many works of charity, most done quietly and without fuss. Organisations like St Vincent de Paul continue to provide for those who are disadvantaged.

Many of our official Church agencies have been able to advance their works in very significant ways. Catholic Education continues to attract families seeking a sound formation for their children. We educate one in five Tasmanians. We have made many advances in improving the Catholic identity of our schools and strengthening the quality of the education they provide.

I am particularly pleased that we have been able to contribute significantly in the area of provision of housing, through Loreto Community Housing which supports some 6,000 people and through our construction arm, St Joseph’s Affordable Homes, which as well as building social housing has an impressive apprenticeship program.

We have expanded our various works of social welfare provided through CatholicCare. Our work at Blueline Laundry continues to be an impressive means of supporting people with disabilities. Recently the Archdiocese has entered into the work of providing aged care by taking responsibility for Southern Cross Care.

I am conscious that those in political leadership are appreciating more and more the contribution that the Catholic Church is making to the wellbeing of Tasmanians.

I look back over the past eleven years with joyful gratitude to God and in thanks to so many who have shown me their love and support.

On 20 June Pope Leo chose the new Archbishop of Hobart. We welcome Tony Ireland as twelfth Bishop and eleventh Archbishop of Hobart. Since 1842 the Church here in Tasmanian has been blessed by some remarkable shepherds of the Catholic community and the Church here has benefited from their pastoral leadership and wise governance.

Now we pray for God’s abundant blessing upon Archbishop Tony Ireland as he takes up the ministry of Chief Pastor of the Catholic Church here in Tasmania at his installation at St Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart, on Tuesday 12 August, 2025.