Bishop to be installed before Lent

by NZ CATHOLIC staff
Bishop-Elect Stephen Lowe will be ordained and installed as the third Bishop of Hamilton on
February 13 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton. The ordination Mass will be
celebrated at 6pm.
Hamilton diocese Pastoral Services team leader Peter Richardson said the diocese is preparing
for the event, and other details are being sorted.
“It’s a bit like a bride who’s just got engaged. A few days later, she doesn’t know all the details,” he said. “We’ll know more at a later date.”
Parishioners are preparing a powhiri to welcome Bishop-elect Lowe the day before his episcopal
ordination. They plan to hold it at Hui Te Rangiora Marae, Clarence Street, Hamilton.
Bishop-Elect Lowe, the first New Zealand bishop appointed by Pope Francis, will succeed Bishop
Denis Browne, who has held the position since 1995. Pope Francis also accepted Bishop Browne’s
resignation.
Before becoming Bishop of Hamilton, Bishop Browne was the bishop of Auckland.
Christchurch Bishop Barry Jones welcomed Bishop-Elect Lowe’s appointment.
“We are delighted that Bishop-Elect Lowe has been appointed to serve in the Hamilton diocese. However, we also know that Hamilton’s gain is a significant loss of one of our priests here in
Christchurch. It is not easy to lose him from the priestly fraternity of Christchurch,” he said.
Palmerston North Bishop Charles Drennan said the appointment is good news for the New Zealand Catholic Church.
“This is joyous news for the Hamilton diocese in particular, but also for the Church in New
Zealand. Fr Steve is a fine person: a humble man of prayer, with a deep spirit of service, and one ready to lead and motivate with enthusiasm, care and humour,” Bishop Drennan said.
Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn said Bishop- Elect Lowe will bring a lot of expertise as a result of
his formation work in the seminary and his broad knowledge of the international Catholic Church.
“But he is also someone I know who has a very priestly heart. His own passion really is for
parish work. So, for all his professional expertise in the area of formation, he is first and foremost
a pastor. And I think he would really be a wonderful shepherd,” he said.