Bishop Vincent Long installed as fourth Bishop of Parramatta

By Robert Hiini

First published by the Catholic Weekly on June 17, 2016

Thousands turned out on June 16, this year at St Patrick’s Cathedral – family, friends, and members of Parramatta’s numerous ethnic communities, as well as hundreds of bishops, priests and religious – to see Bishop Vincent Long van Nguyen OFM installed as the fourth bishop of the Parramatta diocese.

In introductory remarks, the Archbishop of Sydney, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Bishop Long’s immediate predecessor in the see, said that the times called for bishops “of faith and compassion, of courage and mercy” and that Pope Francis had “expressed confidence that Bishop Vincent is the man for this job”.

“I have known Vincent since seminary days and can assure the priests and people of Parramatta that they are receiving a shepherd after the heart of the Good Shepherd,” Archbishop Fisher told the gathering.

The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, read the papal mandate appointing Bishop Long to the role.

In his homily, Bishop Long said that – more than ever – the Church had to demonstrate its love for people who felt marginalized.

“To say that we are at a critical juncture is probably an understatement,” Bishop Long said.

“What we are witnessing as the people of faith is the flood of secularisation that has washed away much of the Church,” he said.

For the full article go to www.catholicweekly.com.au