Patrick O’Regan will be installed as the ninth Archbishop of Adelaide on the solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians, Monday May 25, at 10.30am in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral.
The date for the Archbishop’s installation was announced by Apostolic Administrator Bishop Greg O’Kelly SJ this week following uncertainty around the timing of the event due to the coronavirus restrictions.
Currently serving the Diocese of Sale in Victoria, Archbishop-designate O’Regan will travel to Adelaide for the first time next month and will self-isolate for two weeks.
Bishop O’Kelly said the news was a “moment of joy and grace” for the Archdiocese and noted that the installation would take place on the solemnity of the patroness of Australia.
“Because of the circumstances around COVID-19, this will be a modified ceremony, and will involve simply the officiating clergy and attendants,” he said.
“Our plan is that when the restrictions and safety requirements around COVID-19 have eased, we will conduct a formal Liturgical Reception for the incoming Archbishop, hopefully associated with the Mass of Chrism.
“Naturally, we regret the inability for this to be a large ceremony open to all members of the Archdiocese but everyone understands the reasons why this cannot be so.”
It is believed to be the first time in the history of the Australian Church that an archbishop will be installed in the absence of clergy, bishops and the lay faithful. It had been expected that more than 2000 people would attend the service.
The quarantine restrictions also prevent the attendance of the Apostolic Nuncio and the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and any other bishop other than Bishop O’Kelly who will read the Bull of Appointment and witness the Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity.
Archbishop-designate O’Regan, the ninth archbishop and 12th bishop of Adelaide, will replace Archbishop Philip Wilson who resigned in 2018.
The installation will be livestreamed through the Archdiocesan website www.adelaide.catholic.org.au.
By Jenny Brinkworth. Reproduced with permission from The Southern Cross, the online news publication of the Archdiocese of Adelaide.
