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  • The Ordination and Installation of the 10th Bishop of Sale

Where and when?

The Episcopal Ordination and Installation of Bishop-elect Gregory Bennet as the tenth Bishop of Sale will be held at St Mary’s Cathedral Sale in late 2020. The date of the ceremony was dependent on the lifting of government restrictions in place due to the coronavirus. It will now be held on Tuesday 8 December at 11am at St Mary's Cathedral in Sale. It is only possible to have a very small assembly, who will be physically distanced. The ceremony will be livestreamed here from 10.45am with a Diocesan Welcome just prior to the ceremony.

Live Stream

Ceremony Booklet

Open Ceremony Booklet
About our New Bishop Prayer for Bishop-elect Bennet

What does an episcopal ordination and installation involve?

Some key elements of the Ordination and Installation of a Bishop
  • Presentation of the Elect: The Bishop-elect is presented to the principal consecrating Archbishop, Peter A. Comensoli (Melbourne), by the Diocesan Administrator Fr Peter Slater.
  • The Apostolic Letter (the Papal Bull): The official letter of appointment by Pope Francis is read aloud by the Apostolic Nuncio (if able to be present) or the Diocesan Administrator and testifies that the Bishop-elect may receive the third and final ‘degree’ of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, namely the Episcopate.
  • Assent: After the document is read aloud, all present give their assent to the election of the Bishop by saying: “Thanks be to God.”
  • Promises: After the homily, the bishop-elect is asked to give his firm promise to nine aspects of his role and duty as Bishop, including the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, to guard and uphold the Catholic faith, to build up and guide the Body of Christ, to be welcoming and merciful to all in need, and to be like the Good Shepherd in his care for the People of God entrusted to him.
  • Litany of the Saints: all the faithful call on the intercession of the saints for the Bishop-elect.
  • Laying on of Hands and Prayer of Ordination: Following the tradition of the Apostles the three consecrating bishops lay hands upon the head of the bishop-elect as an outward sign of the invoking of the Holy Spirit. As a symbol of the bishop-elect’s submission to the Gospel of Christ, the Book of the Gospels is placed above his head while the Prayer of Consecration is offered by the presiding Archbishop.
  • Anointing and Investiture: The Principal Consecrator anoints the head of the new bishop with the Oil of Sacred Chrism, hands him the Book of the Gospels, places the ring on his finger, the mitre on his head, and gives him the crosier or pastoral staff.
  • Installation and Seating of the New Bishop: The new Bishop is led to the cathedra (bishop’s chair) by the consecrating bishops. He then becomes the Presider for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
  • Kiss of Peace: Before the Mass continues, the Rite of Ordination ends with the kiss of peace from the principal consecrator and all the other bishops who are present.

Insignia

Episcopal Ring

Given by Pope Paul VI to the bishops who attended the Second Vatican Council 1962-1965, this ring belonged to Bishop Lyons, 5th Bishop of Sale.

Pectoral Cross

This Cross of gold, with inlaid amethysts, was presented to Bishop Richard Ryan at his ordination as Bishop of Geraldton, WA, by his former parishioners of St Joseph’s in Malvern, Victoria. Three years later, Bishop Ryan was installed as the 3rd Bishop of Sale.

Crosier

When Bishop Fox was appointed 5th Bishop of Sale in 1968, his parishioners of East Brunswick gifted him a crosier. By happy coincidence, Bishop Greg had been appointed to commence as Moderator 1 July 2020, to lead a partnership of parishes West Brunswick, Brunswick and East Brunswick before his appointment as 10th Bishop of Sale was announced. The crosier is made of silver gilt, overlaid on sterling standard metal. The crook features foliate ornamentation and terminates in a central cross. The staff also has engraved acanthus leaves. The crosier was made by T. Gaunt of Melbourne C.1956.

Sacred Vessels

Chalice and Paten

The chalice and paten of Bishop Corbett, the first Bishop of Sale, was purchased by him in 1890 from Le Roux Orfeure in Paris. The chalice is beautifully adorned with winged cherubs and the base is elaborately repoussed. The chalice is engraved below the base with F. J. Corbett Epus Salinesis.
From the chalice’s hallmark, it appears to have been crafted in the mid to late 1800s.
The paten is of silver gilt. On the reverse side, a central framed cast panel features the Last Supper.