Pope Francis appoints Pauline Father bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes, Australia

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has appointed Father Columba Macbeth-Green, of the Order of St. Paul the First Hermit (Pauline Fathers) bishop of Wilcannia-Forbes, Australia.

The Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes is geographically large and diverse. The diocese includes twenty two parishes in an area occupying half of the state of New South Wales. It has been without an ordinary bishop since 2009, when Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Bishop Christopher Toohey. Bishop Michael Kennedy had been acting as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese in the interim.

Bishop- elect Columba Macbeth-Green, OSPPE, was born June 30, 1968 in Forbes, in the diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes. After attending primary and secondary school in Forbes, he entered the novitiate of the Order of St. Paul the First Hermit.


He completed his ecclesiastical studies at the "Catholic Theological College" in Melbourne and at the "Vianney College " in the Diocese of Wagga Wagga . He made his solemn religious profession September 15, 1996. He was ordained to the priesthood on 22 November 1997 in Wagga Wagga .


After ordination he held the following positions: Assistant pastor and then pastor of Tarcutta, Wagga Wagga (1997-2001); Prefect of Novices in Tarcutta (1999-2000); First Counsellor of the Province of the Order of Australia (1999-2002); Master of Novices in Tarcutta (2001-2002); Secretary of the Province of the Order of Australia (since 2002); Sub- Prior of the Monastery of Penrose Park, Wollongong (2002-2006); Pastor of Moss Vale, Wollongong (2003-2006).


Since 2006 he has been the Prior of the Monastery and Rector of the Sanctuary of Marian Valley , Canungra , Brisbane, and since 2009 he was Vicar Provincial of the Order of Australia. In addition , he was chaplain of the Police of the State of New South Wales and at the time of his appointment, he was chaplain of the Police of the State of Queensland.

The Pauline Fathers' shrines are a ministry of the monks of St Paul the Hermit, a Religious Order founded by Blessed Eusebius in 1215 in Hungary. The Pauline monks were introduced to Australia in the Wollongong Diocese from Poland in 1982.

They are a semi-contemplative Order devoted to a life of prayer and service to Jesus through Mary. The life embraces contemplation, Divine Liturgy and devotion to Mary. Their ministry involves pastoral work in parishes, retreats and managing the major shrines as at Penrose Park and Marian Valley.