Virgil Patrick Copas
Encyclopedia
Archbishop
Virgil Patrick Copas KBE
MSC (19 March 1915 – 3 October 1993) was archbishop of Kerema
and Port Moresby
, both in Papua New Guinea
.
Copas was born on in Toowoomba, Queensland
and on 23 July 1944, aged 29, he was ordained as Priest of the Order of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Archbishop James Duhig
.
On 19 December 1959 he was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Port Moresby
, Papua New Guinea
and on 15 November 1966 he was appointed Archbishop of Port Moresby. On 19 December 1975, aged 60, he resigned as Archbishop of Port Moresby, but was appointed Archbishop (Personal Title) of Kerema, Papua New Guinea
six months later. He resigned this position on 6 December 1988 and died in 1993, aged 78. He was a priest for 49 years and a bishop for 33 years.
Alastair McIntosh, who was a Scottish VSO volunteer (1977–80) in St Peter's Extension School which he established at Kerema, records this (presently unpublished) memory of him:
"My boss while I was there was Archbishop Virgil Copas. He’d retired from the capital city and had been proud to hand over to the first black archbishop. But instead of going back to Australia he chose to take up an unpopular posting in Gulf Province, one of the poorest parts of the country – a vast malaria swamp fringed with densely forested mountains to the north.
"During my first year, teaching in his school for no-hope kids, I became ever so close to him. He talked only when necessary, and people would complain about having gone for tea with the bishop “but he said nothing.” The truth was that he substituted words for presence and example. Maybe that was just as well because theologically he was conservative. His so-called “archiepiscopal palace” – a house made of asbestos-cement boarding – became a dormitory every night for homeless youth. You’d have to step over their bodies on the floor if you paid him a late visit. He simply lived for and with the poor. When people would steal from him, as they sometimes did, he’d say, “I hope they needed it more than we did.” I saw some people despise him for that kind of attitude. They thought him politically naïve and a bit of an impractical joke. I just saw love, and from time to time I still feel that love as a mentoring hand, even years after his passing."
He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(KBE).
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...
Virgil Patrick Copas KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
MSC (19 March 1915 – 3 October 1993) was archbishop of Kerema
Kerema
Kerema is the capital of Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea. It is located on the coast of Gulf of Papua. The Gulf region is aptly named for its concave coastline with large deltas. The Gulf area is a riparian region where many rivers from the southern slopes of the highlands drain into.-Culture and...
and Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, both in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
.
Copas was born on in Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
and on 23 July 1944, aged 29, he was ordained as Priest of the Order of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Archbishop James Duhig
James Duhig
Sir James Duhig, KCMG was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane from 1917 until his death. At the time of his death he was the longest-serving bishop in the Catholic Church .-Early life:...
.
On 19 December 1959 he was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
and on 15 November 1966 he was appointed Archbishop of Port Moresby. On 19 December 1975, aged 60, he resigned as Archbishop of Port Moresby, but was appointed Archbishop (Personal Title) of Kerema, Papua New Guinea
Kerema
Kerema is the capital of Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea. It is located on the coast of Gulf of Papua. The Gulf region is aptly named for its concave coastline with large deltas. The Gulf area is a riparian region where many rivers from the southern slopes of the highlands drain into.-Culture and...
six months later. He resigned this position on 6 December 1988 and died in 1993, aged 78. He was a priest for 49 years and a bishop for 33 years.
Alastair McIntosh, who was a Scottish VSO volunteer (1977–80) in St Peter's Extension School which he established at Kerema, records this (presently unpublished) memory of him:
"My boss while I was there was Archbishop Virgil Copas. He’d retired from the capital city and had been proud to hand over to the first black archbishop. But instead of going back to Australia he chose to take up an unpopular posting in Gulf Province, one of the poorest parts of the country – a vast malaria swamp fringed with densely forested mountains to the north.
"During my first year, teaching in his school for no-hope kids, I became ever so close to him. He talked only when necessary, and people would complain about having gone for tea with the bishop “but he said nothing.” The truth was that he substituted words for presence and example. Maybe that was just as well because theologically he was conservative. His so-called “archiepiscopal palace” – a house made of asbestos-cement boarding – became a dormitory every night for homeless youth. You’d have to step over their bodies on the floor if you paid him a late visit. He simply lived for and with the poor. When people would steal from him, as they sometimes did, he’d say, “I hope they needed it more than we did.” I saw some people despise him for that kind of attitude. They thought him politically naïve and a bit of an impractical joke. I just saw love, and from time to time I still feel that love as a mentoring hand, even years after his passing."
He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(KBE).