New Archbishop of Hobart installed: ‘From descendant of a convict to a shepherd among you’
By Catherine Sheehan
The new Archbishop of Hobart, Most Reverend Anthony John Ireland, was installed on Tuesday 12 August at St Mary’s Cathedral in Hobart during a Mass attended by close to 600 people, including bishops, clergy and lay people from around the country.
During his address, Archbishop Ireland spoke of his ancestor, a convict from England who was transported to Tasmania.
“On 9 November 1824, a youth named John Carey Ireland stepped off the Princess Charlotte and onto the shores of Van Diemen’s Land,” Archbishop Ireland said.
“He was born in 1811 and so was just thirteen, when convicted of petty larceny—pickpocketing in Bristol—and sentenced to 14 years’ transportation. John was my sister Pat’s, my cousin Pauline’s, and my great, great, grandfather.
“Two hundred and one years after John’s arrival, I stand before you—thankfully not in shackles, but in hope—as a shepherd of the Church and an ambassador for Jesus Christ in this place,” Archbishop Ireland said.
As he concluded his speech, Archbishop Ireland gave thanks for his new role.
“But the greatest gift I received today is the shepherd’s care of you—the priests, deacons, religious, and people of the Archdiocese: for this I thank the Lord and I thank you.
“A new chapter begins today, and I do not walk it alone. Pope Francis has called this a Jubilee of Hope. Let us walk together as pilgrims of hope—bearing light, binding wounds, and lifting each other up in mercy.
“From the descendant of a 13-year-old convict to a shepherd among you—please accept my thanks as though it was said to you alone.”
Archbishop Ireland’s family and friends were among the hundreds filling the Cathedral for the historic Mass.
Concelebrating the Mass was His Eminence, Cardinal Mykola Bychok CSsR, Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Balvo, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, and Archbishops Emeritus of Hobart, Julian Porteous and Adrian Doyle.
Among the dignitaries present was the Governor of Tasmania, the Honourable Barbara Baker AC and Emeritus Professor, Don Chalmers AO.
At the beginning of the Mass, the Apostolic Nuncio read out the Papal Bull, declaring Pope Leo XIV’s appointment of Archbishop Ireland as Archbishop of Hobart.
Archbishop Ireland was then ceremonially led by Archbishop Costelloe, and the Apostolic Nuncio, to the Cathedra, the seat of the Diocesan Bishop. Bishop Martin Ashe presented Archbishop Guilford Young’s crozier to the new Archbishop.
Representatives of various parishes, schools, social welfare organisations, Christian churches, and civic leaders—then came forward to formally greet Archbishop Ireland.
“From convict chaplaincies to schools and parishes scattered across this island, Tasmania’s Catholic story has been one of quiet fidelity, courageous perseverance, and grace upon grace,” Archbishop Ireland said in his homily.
“To stand here is to stand in the footprints of missionaries, religious, laity and families—often poor, often struggling, but always faithful. We honour this history today with sacred objects that span our story—the chalice of Bishop Willson, the first bishop of Hobart, the pectoral cross of Archbishop Hayden, and the silver jubilee crozier of Archbishop Young.
Archbishop Ireland said “The Spirit” was “already at work in Tasmania” where the Church has “treasures” of “spiritual, historical, and human” nature. He urged the faithful of Tasmania to look to the future with hope and a sense of unity.
“So let us walk together—bishop, clergy, religious, and lay faithful. Let us be a Church of the Upper Room: Spirit-filled, alive with joy, and bearing peace.
“As we turn the page and write a new chapter in Tasmania’s Catholic story, may we walk as pilgrims of hope—and with our lives, sing the praise of God from whom all blessings flow.”
