FORMER Catholic Bishop of Armidale, Most Rev Luc Matthys, will officiate at the ordination of his successor at St Mary and St Joseph’s Cathedral tomorrow.
The co-consecrators will be Cardinal George Pell (Archbishop of Sydney) and Most Rev Gerard Hanna (Bishop of Wagga).
Archbishops and bishops from many dioceses will also participate.
There will also be a large gathering of clergy from the Armidale diocese and elsewhere, especially from the Wagga diocese, where 43 year old Bishop-Elect Michael Robert Kennedy has served since his ordination as a priest in August 1999.
Many members of his large family and a great number of his friends will also be attending.
Weather permitting, busloads will come from many of the parishes in the extensive Armidale diocese, although much of the western portion was under water last week.
The cathedral can hold about 850 people, and several hundred other people will view the ceremony on televisions in a large marquee.
Organisers have stressed that everyone is welcome.
After the ceremonies in the cathedral, a light luncheon will be served at Armidale Ex-Services Club.
It is understood that the Bishop-Elect arrived in Armidale on Sunday and has moved into the bishop’s quarters in the cathedral presbytery.
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