Newly ordained Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, the Most Rev Michael Dooley addresses his congregation in the Dunedin Town Hall last night. Photo / Peter McIntosh
Newly ordained Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, the Most Rev Michael Dooley addresses his congregation in the Dunedin Town Hall last night. Photo / Peter McIntosh
As a Southland farm boy, Michael Dooley used to stand, shepherd's crook in hand, watching his father's flock.
Last night, there was not a Swanndri or a pair of gumboots in sight, but Bishop Michael Dooley once more watched over his Father's flock.
On stage in the Dunedin Town Hall,newly ordained as Catholic Bishop of Dunedin and with a staff replacing the crook, Bishop Dooley told the 1000-strong congregation he felt a long way away from Heddon Bush.
"When I left school I did an apprenticeship in engineering ... so entering a seminary wasn't something that was expected.
Ordained in 1989, Bishop Dooley has been a parish priest in Otago and Southland, and served an eight-year term as chaplain of Kavanagh College.
For the past 18 months, he has been vicar-general to Bishop Colin Campbell, who last night wished his successor well as he moved on to become Bishop Emeritus of Dunedin.
Bishop-elect Dooley prostrates himself during the Litany of the Saints, prior to his ordination as the seventh Catholic Bishop of Dunedin. Photo / Peter McIntosh
Bishop Campbell was principal celebrant at last night's ordination, with assistance from Cardinal John Dew and Archbishop Martin Krebs, Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to New Zealand and Fiji.
