Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne comments on Bishop Tim Costelloe’s appointment as the new Archbishop of Perth.
Perth’s new archbishop is “a great appointment for Perth and a big loss for Melbourne,” Archbishop Denis Hart told The Record today.
The Melbourne archbishop lauded Archbishop-designate Timothy Costelloe’s work both as a priest and as an Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne.
He singled out his work as a lecturer and formator including his contribution as Episcopal Vicar for Tertiary Education and as the bishop responsible for Melbourne’s youth office.
“He’s just been an all rounder who has been a tremendous asset to the diocese,” Archbishop Hart said.
“I’m sure he will be a tremendous asset to Perth.”
Archbishop-designate Tim Costelloe is presently Auxiliary Bishop of the Northern Region of the Melbourne archdiocese and will take up his new position in Perth on 21 March.
He is the second auxiliary bishop Melbourne has lost this month with the pope appointing Auxiliary Bishop Les Tomlinson as Bishop of Sandhurst on 3 February.
The post of Auxiliary Bishop in Melbourne, has in recent years, been filled by several well-known bishop, including the current Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn Mark Coleridge and Bishop of Sale Christopher Prowse.
The details of a farewell Mass for Archbishop-designate Costelloe at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne are expected to be announced shortly.