Bishop Tomlinson (192)
Congratulations to all our graduates here this evening! I hope that you are really proud of yourselves and your accomplishments in completing your schooling. But let’s not forget all the people who also share in that pride –- your mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters; your grandparents and friends – your teachers; all of whom took this journey with you in ways both seen and unseen. So this is their day, too.
Homily: Ashely Caldow ordained to the Diaconate
Bishop Les TomlinsonIn a few moments Ashley Caldow will be invited to step forward, stand here in front of us all and, through his ordination as a deacon, commit himself as a member of that group of men whom we call the ordained ministers of our Church. He will declare before all of us his willingness to do his best to rise to the great challenges which this way of life will put before him ........
Bishop Les Tomlinson delivers a homily to two thousand members of the Catholic Education Community gathered in Bendigo on May 24-25, 2012 for the second Catholic Education Sandhurst Diocesan Conference
Since coming to the Diocese Bishop Tomlinson has considered the adoption by the Diocese of a Coat of Arms. Apparently Bishop Daly commissioned a Coat of Arms for the Diocese in 1979, but it was never used. With the help of a number of people a suitable Coat of Arms for the Diocese was devised.
The arms of the Diocese of Sandhurst are blazoned:
- Quarterly, per saltire or and azure on the former in fess two roses gules, in chief an estoile (or eight (8) pointed star) and in base a representation of the Paderborn Cross argent.
- The gold of the field represents the goldfields which is located within the diocese and the blue represents the Virgin Mary, Mother of God.
- The star and the two roses have their origin in an earlier design proposed for the arms of the diocese in 1979. This proposal does not appear to have been put into use, its existence is little known in the diocese and its original symbolism is not known at all.
- The Paderborn Cross which is represented in base was discovered at Paderborn in Germany which was the place of origin of Dr Henry Backhaus, the pioneer priest of the Bendigo Goldfields and the architect of the financial security of the diocese and of the cathedral.
The diocesan arms are displayed alone or impaled with those of the Bishop.
The diocesan arms were designed by Fr. Guy Selvester and Richard d’Apice AM KCSG and illustrated by Sandy Turnbull both of the Australian Heraldry Society.
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo
As we gather for the Mass of Chrism in this beautiful Cathedral, we are given the opportunity to reflect together on a significant aspect of our faith. Traditionally, the Chrism Mass helps us to focus on the sacramental life of the Church, as we bless the holy oils that will be used in the celebration of four of the seven sacraments. This reminds us that God communicates divine life to each of us by means of the sacraments.
Homily: Funeral Mass for Father William Edward Grogan
Bishop Les TomlinsonThe death of someone close to us always confronts us with our own mortality, although when the person is of advanced years we may seek to distance ourselves from death with the thought that a great deal of time separates us from the reality because we are not yet at such an age. Never the less, we cannot dismiss the inevitability of our own death. The second reading of today's Mass may further disturb us with the reminder of the encounter with God our Judge, following our death.
Solemn Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral
It is on occasions such as this, when we gather together in this magnificent Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, that we remember with deep gratitude that we were drawn into the life of God and indeed became part of God's family when we were Baptised in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Welcome message from Bishop Tomlinson goes here
Episcopal Coat of Arms - Bishop Leslie Tomlinson
Written by Matthew Price
Most Reverend Leslie Rogers Tomlinson DD
Seventh Bishop of Sandhurst
Since coming to the Diocese Bishop Tomlinson has considered the adoption by the Diocese of a Coat of Arms. Apparently Bishop Daly commissioned a Coat of Arms for the Diocese in 1979, but it was never used. With the help of a number of people a suitable coat of arms for the Diocese was devised.
As a consequence of the adoption of a Diocesan Coat of Arms, the diocesan coat of arms was incorporated into Bishop Les' episcopal coat of arms, hence the left side of the shield is the diocesan coat of arms and the right his personal elements.
The right side of Bishop Tomlinson’s episcopal coat of arms display:
- the Sacred Heart, originally adopted from the arms of Archbishop Knox - recalling the Sacred Heart Parish at Mildura where he received his earliest formal education, Archbishop Knox’s early encouragement and support of his priestly vocation, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart who taught him at St Paul’s National Seminary at Kensington and the Parish of the Sacred Heart at Carlton which was his first appointment as Parish Priest. Perhaps prophetically, it also represents the Cathedral of the Diocese of Sandhurst
- roses emblematic of the Mother of God and here representative of Our Lady of Good Counsel, the Patroness of the Diocese of Sandhurst, thus, traditional in the arms of bishops of the diocese, and
- the emblem of St Patrick’s Cathedral - recalling his period of service as a priest and bishop in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
The motto “In Christ’s name” recalls the invocation preceding the priest’s entry onto the sanctuary at the beginning of the Mass and encapsulates the dedication of all efforts for the sake of the Gospel.
In the language of heraldry, the arms are blazoned as: Gules in fess two roses between in chief a bezant Or charged with a Sacred Heart proper and in base a bezant Or charged with three chevronells conjoined the centre one throughout terminating in a Latin Cross Or.
The arms were designed by Richard d’Apice and Fr Guy Selvester and illustrated by Sandy Turnbull.
I am very humbled by the confidence that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and his advisers have shown in me, by appointing me as Bishop of Sandhurst. I am greatly delighted to accept this appointment.
Having been born and brought up in Mildura, just north of the Sandhurst Diocese, I am no stranger to country life. In reflecting on over almost forty years of my Priesthood, I believe that the richest and most fulfilling aspect of my ministry has been my work as a pastor. I look forward to being bishop and pastor of the clergy and people of the Diocese of Sandhurst.
Just over twelve months ago we were all deeply saddened by the sudden and untimely death of my predecessor, Bishop Joe Grech. Bishop Joe’s gifts to Sandhurst were many, but significantly amongst them was his unmistakable enthusiasm for and deep commitment to the Lord Jesus. As each of us is different, I pray that I can make my contribution to the Diocese through my gifts, to further build the life of Christ in the Sandhurst Diocese.
I am looking forward very much to the move to Bendigo, becoming part of the Church there and fulfilling my role of leadership as Bishop, Teacher and Pastor of the Diocese of Sandhurst.
BISHOP LES TOMLINSON
