Pallium conferred on feast of St Francis Xavier
Events
It may not have taken place in Rome as planned but the Pallium Investiture Mass for Archbishop Patrick O’Regan was fittingly held in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, Adelaide, on the feast of St Francis Xavier.
Archbishop O’Regan was due to receive his pallium on June 29, the Feast of Peter and Paul, in St Peter’s Basilica, but with the pandemic restricting international travel, the pallium was sent to Adelaide and conferred by the Apostolic Nuncio Adolfo Tito Yllana on behalf of Pope Francis.
The pallium is a long, narrow adornment woven from the wool of lambs and decorated with six black crosses. Its use is reserved to the Pope and metropolitan archbishops.
Bishop Karol Kulczycki SDS and Bishop Greg O’Kelly SJ
Emeritus Bishop Greg O’Kelly SJ, Bishop of Port Pirie Diocese Karol Kulczycki SDS and Bishop-elect of Homa Bay, Kenya, Fr Michael Odiwa, concelebrated the Investiture Mass which was also attended my local clergy and deacons.
Archbishop O’Regan noted that Archbishop Wilson, who was installed as Archbishop of Adelaide on the same day in 2001, was unable to be there except “in spirit”, and that the Bishop of Darwin Charles Gauci and Emeritus Bishop Eugene Kelly had not been able to travel from the Northern Territory.
He thanked others who couldn’t attend due to COVID restrictions but were “tuning in” to the live streaming
“We’ve waited a little while for this but Advent is the season of patience,” he said.
During his homily, Archbishop O’Regan referred to the words of Pope Francis when he blessed the pallia in June.
“We need lives that manifest the miracles of God’s love, faith is not a do-it-yourself show,” he quoted.
“It’s not power but coherence, not words but prayer, we’re not to become rich but rather to love the poor, we’re not to save up for ourselves but to spend ourselves for others.
“We need pastors who offer their lives as lovers of God, lovers of humanity, as people in love with God.”
Archbishop O’Regan said he hoped and prayed he could live up to these words.
“I think part of my mission is to bring unity, to bring together a diverse community of baptised people, to see one another as sister, as brother.
“That’s a big responsibility and the pallium is just another little reminder to me of that.”
Jump to next article
Comments
Show comments Hide comments