John Bathersby
Encyclopedia
John Alexius Bathersby DD
(born 26 July 1936 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
, Australia
), an Australian metropolitan bishop
, is the sixth Roman Catholic Archbishop
of the Archdiocese of Brisbane
, serving since 1991.
(1951 - 1954). From school he entered the Pius XII Provincial Seminary
in Banyo
, where he began his training for the priest
hood and, on completion of those studies (1955 - 1961), he was ordained a priest in his home parish
of Stanthorpe by Bishop William Brennan on 30 June 1961.
His first seven years as a priest were spent as an associate pastor and administrator at Goondiwindi
before being sent to Rome
in 1969 for further studies where he completed a licentiate
in theology
at the Pontifical Gregorian University
and a diploma in spirituality at the Teresianum
. In 1972 he was appointed to the staff of Pius XII Seminary in Brisbane where he served as spiritual director for seven years before returning to Rome for a doctorate in theology and spirituality in 1979. He returned to the seminary before being appointed Bishop of Cairns
in 1986.
Bathersby was a member of the International Catholic-Methodist Dialogue from 1989-1995, and a member of the executive of the Confederation of Bishops' Conferences of Oceania from 1991 to May 1994. He is Co-Chairman of the Australian Catholic-Uniting Church Dialogue. From July 1997 he served as President of the National Council of Churches in Australia
until July 2000.
In January 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed Bathersby as Co-Chair of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Working Group (IARCCUM). He is currently the Chairman of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
Commission for Mission and Faith Formation as well as being a member of the Bishops' Permanent Committee.
In July 2011 Archbishop Bathersby submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI
. An Administrator for the archdiocese was appointed in November.
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
(born 26 July 1936 in Stanthorpe, Queensland
Stanthorpe, Queensland
Stanthorpe is a town situated in south east Queensland, Australia. The town lies on the New England Highway near the New South Wales border 223 km from Brisbane via Warwick, 56 km north of Tenterfield and 811 m above sea level. The area surrounding the town is known as the Granite Belt...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
), an Australian metropolitan bishop
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
, is the sixth Roman Catholic Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Archdiocese of Brisbane
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Australia located in Brisbane and covering the South East region of Queensland, Australia....
, serving since 1991.
Early years
Bathersby undertook his primary schooling at St Joseph's, Stanthorpe, (1941 - 1950) and his secondary schooling as a boarder at Nudgee College in BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
(1951 - 1954). From school he entered the Pius XII Provincial Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Banyo
Banyo, Queensland
Banyo is a northern suburb of Brisbane, Queensland. It is a community split between residential and industrial land usage, the latter being attracted by the accessibility of local transport, including the Gateway Motorway.-Description:...
, where he began his training for the priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
hood and, on completion of those studies (1955 - 1961), he was ordained a priest in his home parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Stanthorpe by Bishop William Brennan on 30 June 1961.
His first seven years as a priest were spent as an associate pastor and administrator at Goondiwindi
Goondiwindi, Queensland
Goondiwindi is an Australian town of approximately 5,629 people. The town has an annual population growth of 1.4 percent. The name Goondiwindi derives from an Aboriginal word meaning "the resting place of the birds".-History:...
before being sent to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1969 for further studies where he completed a licentiate
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
in theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
and a diploma in spirituality at the Teresianum
Pontifical Theological Faculty Teresianum
The Pontifical Theological Faculty "Teresianum" is an institution of higher education of the Roman Catholic Church. It was established by the Carmelites in Rome for the study of scientific theology and anthropology.-History:...
. In 1972 he was appointed to the staff of Pius XII Seminary in Brisbane where he served as spiritual director for seven years before returning to Rome for a doctorate in theology and spirituality in 1979. He returned to the seminary before being appointed Bishop of Cairns
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns is a Latin rite suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, erected initially as a vicariate apostolic in 1877 and elevated to a diocese in 1941, covering the far north region of Queensland, Australia....
in 1986.
Bishop of Cairns and Archbishop of Brisbane
On 20 March 1986, Bathersby was ordained Bishop of Cairns by Archbishop Francis Rush, whom he succeeded as Archbishop of Brisbane on 3 December 1991. He was installed as the sixth Bishop (and fifth Archbishop) of Brisbane on 30 January 1992.Bathersby was a member of the International Catholic-Methodist Dialogue from 1989-1995, and a member of the executive of the Confederation of Bishops' Conferences of Oceania from 1991 to May 1994. He is Co-Chairman of the Australian Catholic-Uniting Church Dialogue. From July 1997 he served as President of the National Council of Churches in Australia
National Council of Churches in Australia
The National Council of Churches in Australia is an ecumenical organisation bringing together a number of Australia's Christian Churches in dialogue and practical cooperation.It works in collaboration with state ecumenical councils around Australia...
until July 2000.
In January 2001, Pope John Paul II appointed Bathersby as Co-Chair of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Working Group (IARCCUM). He is currently the Chairman of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is the national body of the Bishops of Australia. The President of the Conference is the Most Reverend Archbishop Philip Wilson, DD, D.Litt who was elected to a two-year term in 2006 and re-elected to subsequent two-year terms in 2008 and 2010...
Commission for Mission and Faith Formation as well as being a member of the Bishops' Permanent Committee.
In July 2011 Archbishop Bathersby submitted his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
. An Administrator for the archdiocese was appointed in November.