Bishop Thomas Burns installed 11th Bishop of Menevia
The installation of Bishop Tom Burns as the 11th Bishop of Menevia took place during Mass in St Joseph’s Cathedral, Swansea, on Monday 1 December 2008 at 11.30am.
Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor conducted the Installation and the homily was preached by Cardinal Keith O’Brien of Edinburgh.
The Mass of Installation was concelebrated by Cardinals Murphy-O’Connor and O’Brien, alongside the Archbishop of Cardiff, The Most Rev Peter Smith, the Welsh Catholic bishops together with 27 other Bishops from England and Scotland, five Abbots of Religious Communities and over 80 priests from the Diocese of Menevia, Forces Chaplains the Marist Order, and elsewhere.
The Cathedral was full to capacity with a congregation of over 450.
Cardinal Keith O'Brien's homily
Cardinal Keith O’Brien of St Andrews and Edinburgh gave the homily at Bishop Tom's installation.
"The readings from Sacred Scripture chosen by Tom indicates something of his own realism as he accepts this particular office in the Church, an office which implies service for the rest of his life to the priests and people of Menevia.
The Old Testament reading from the prophet Isaiah reminds us of those wonderful words of the prophet, and later used by Jesus, indicating that he has received the spirit of God – that spirit given to bring 'good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken'.
Paul in his letter to the Romans in the passage chosen by Bishop Tom described as 'a hymn to God’s love' reminds in a special way a bishop that nothing on this earth or beyond life on this earth 'can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus Our Lord'".
Bishop Tom speaks after his Installation
"My priority is to take stock of the current situation, to speak with the clergy and the people, and to consult about whatever issues there may be. If there’s anything at all that I wish to start it’s this: I would welcome a new approach to decision-making, so that it is informed by consultation first of all, plus collaboration with as many of those involved as possible, and is completed by everyone taking responsibility for the outcome."
Bishop Tom "honoured yet humbled" to become the 11th Bishop of Menevia
Bishop Tom spoke shortly after learning he was to become the 11th Bishop of Menevia:
"I feel honoured yet humbled by the Holy Father’s wish that I should become the next Bishop of Menevia. It is with mixed feelings that I leave the Forces, which has been my life for over 25 years, first of all as a Naval Chaplain, then as Principal Chaplain and Vicar General, and for the last six years as military Bishop. I have enjoyed these years enormously. Now I am looking forward to joining my new family in Wales, and getting to know the priests and people of my new Diocese."
Image credit
© Marcin Mazur