New Archbishop for Sydney

201409019-img-bishopanthonyfishersydlgeAt 8pm on Thursday September 18, the official announcement came from the Apostolic Nuncio in Australia, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, indicating that Sydney has a new Archbishop.

The statement read in part:
“His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed as Archbishop of Sydney the Most Reverend Anthony Colin Fisher, O.P., who has been until now the Bishop of Parramatta.”

The appointment of Bishop Fisher as the ninth Archbishop of Sydney, follows the transfer of Cardinal George Pell to the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy.

Archbishop Denis Hart (Archbishop of Melbourne) speaking as the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, congratulated Bishop Fisher on his appointment to Sydney and welcomed the announcement on behalf of the Bishops of Australia.

“For my brother bishops I congratulate Bishop Fisher on his appointment to Sydney. He will use his many gifts with generosity and faithfulness to serve God and to lead his people in Sydney Archdiocese and beyond. I assure him of our prayers for his ministry.”

Bishop Fisher is certainly no stranger to the Archdiocese of Sydney, having served as an Auxiliary Bishop from 2003-2010. In 2010, he was appointed as Bishop of Parramatta.

Bishop Fisher has a most impressive Curriculum Vitae.

Baptised Anthony Colin Fisher in 1960 at St Thérèse Church, Lakemba, he then attended the parish school in 1965 and 1966. Following his early school years at Lakemba, the ninth Archbishop of Sydney, then attended St Michael’s School Lane Cove, Holy Cross College Ryde, and St Ignatius’ College Riverview.

He then continued his education at the University of Sydney, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Laws. He then practiced Law in Sydney.

In 1985, Anthony Fisher entered the Novitiate of the Order of Preachers (The Dominicans) and then studied for the priesthood in Melbourne. He graduated from his Theological studies at the Yarra Theological Union in Melbourne with Honours. He made his final Religious Profession as a Dominican Friar on February 18, 1991 and was ordained to the Priesthood on September 14, 1991.

Anthony Fisher would continue his studies, completing a Doctorate in Bioethics from Oxford University. According to his biography, “from 1995 to 2000 he was a lecturer in the Australian Catholic University. From 2000 to 2003 he was foundation Director of the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family, Melbourne. Bishop Anthony remains Professor of Moral Theology and Bioethics in the Institute. During this time he was also Master of Students (seminarians) in the Dominican Order and Socius (deputy) to the Provincial.”

In 2004, he became a Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life, which advises the Church on bioethics. He has also published Catholic Bioethics for a New Millennium (Cambridge University Press).

He was made Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. In that role, he was a Vicar-General for the Archdiocese of Sydney, Episcopal Vicar for Life and Health, Chair of the Sydney Catholic Schools Board and had responsibility for the coordination of World Youth Day 2008, in Sydney.

Bishop Fisher has since served as Deputy-Chancellor of the Catholic Institute of Sydney, Adjunct Professor University of Notre Dame Australia, and a “member of the Company of the Australian Catholic University”. In 2011 Bishop Fisher received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Notre Dame Australia. Through all of these achievements, evangelisation and youth remain a key priority.

The details concerning the installation of Bishop Fisher as the ninth Archbishop of Sydney are still to be determined and confirmed. Sydney Catholic Schools, look forward to welcoming the new Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher.

Original Article 19/09/2014

On November 5, RE Online was advised that the installation of the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP. as the ninth Archbishop of Sydney will occur at St Mary’s Cathedral on November 12, 2014 commencing at 7:00pm. We extend our warmest congratulations to the new Archbishop of Sydney.

For further details, click the following links.
Statement by Archbishop Dennis Hart President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

Biography Most Reverend Anthony Fisher.OP.DD. BA LLB., B.Theol., D.Phil (From the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference).

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