Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As we approach the joyful season of Christmas this year, we have heavy hearts. The Royal Commission into Institutional Child Sexual Abuse has concluded. The Church with so many other Australian institutions carries the responsibility for so much harm done, and for the failure to have adequately responded to previous crimes. Like you, I am ashamed and distressed. I don’t think that I will ever be able to say all that should be said, nevertheless, I will, over the coming months, speak to you as your bishop.
On behalf of the Church in the Diocese of Lismore I apologise to every person who was abused as a child within any of the Church’s parishes, schools, and other bodies. This should never have happened, we failed in what happened to you and in the trust which you were entitled to have. We should have cared for you. I will do whatever I can do to support you.
I would like to assure you; the Church in Australia has put in place a stringent safeguarding protocol which, we hope, will ensure that child abuse will never happen again in the Church. I know that no protocol will ever provide the perfect safety net, and so we will continue to scrutinize and improve our safeguarding procedures.
The Church will do its best to comply with the recommendations of the Royal Commission.
As a new bishop, I have, over the last 9 months, visited every parish in the diocese. I have been impressed by the goodness and commitment of each priest.
As I look at our country and indeed the world, I have an intense desire to return to the Monastery from which I came. Why continue to be part of this? However as I stand at the altar and look at you, my brothers and sisters, who I am growing to love, I know that I must stay here with you; praying, supporting and caring. In the present darkness, we must walk together carrying the Church into a new future.
In the past, when I have had to do challenging and difficult things, I would always ask God to help me; I did a deal with Jesus – “I will do my best so long as you bring me through as a better person”.
Let’s all pray this prayer! Let’s focus on what the Church is about: living and preaching the Gospel, and caring for those in need. If we do this, together we will make the Church of the future a better Church.
With my prayers and best wishes for a blessed Christmas,

Bishop Greg Homeming OCD
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A Wonderful Night of Prayer                   The Diocese of Lismore and the Cathedral Parish joined in prayer to welcome Bishop Gregory Homeming as the sixth Bishop of Lismore on Wednesday night.  People, Clergy, Religious,   students and families have expressed their joy in   being part of the Prayers.
We really welcome Bishop Gregory into our Parish family as our Bishop, whose leadership, governance and preaching will assist us greatly on our journey with Jesus. 
We pray with and for Bishop Gregory at every Mass. We also look forward to Bishop Gregory in his pastoral work as a successor to The Apostles in our Cathedral.                                                                                     
 
A Quote from Bishop Gregory:                                                                                                                                        Following the ordination Bishop Homeming told the congregation, ‘I am your bishop; with the emphasis        on “your”. I belong to you. The people, religious and priests of Lismore will show me my job. I will listen to you, and together we will discern God’s will for  our diocese. Our weaknesses and failings will not be an obstacle because, I believe, they will guide us. As Our Lord said to St Paul, “I am strong in your weakness”. My role is that of a shepherd who leads his people, with a simple focus, to stand in the presence of God. I pray that I will not be an obstacle. I pray that you will come to know the love of Christ and be filled with the utter fullness of God,’ he added.

 SIXTH BISHOP OF LISMORE
Pope Francis appoints Fr Gregory Homeming O.C.D. as sixth Bishop of Lismore and accepted the resignation of Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett. Bishop Jarrett has served the Diocese of Lismore for the past 15 years.
Fr Homeming is currently the Regional Vicar of the Discalced Carmelite Friars in Sydney, Australia. Speaking about his appointment today, he said, ‘I am humbled by the news. I knew that I had to say yes after the past 31 years as a Friar. There is a lot that I have to learn. I hope that the people and the priests of the Diocese of Lismore will teach me how to be their bishop.                                                                                                                              
​Fr Homeming brings wide experience as a retreat-giver, spiritual director and leader. His gifts will be a great enrichment to the Church in Australia.’
Born in Sydney on 30 May 1958, to an Australian Chinese family, Fr Homeming completed his primary education in Shepparton, Victoria and secondary school at St Aloysius College, Milsons Point. He took degrees in Economics and Law at Sydney University and then worked as a lawyer in a Sydney law firm from 1981 to 1985.
At the end of 1985, Fr Homeming joined the Discalced Carmelite Order making his first profession on 1 February 1987. He then studied a Bachelor of Theology at Melbourne College of Divinity and a Masters in Philosophy at the University of Melbourne.
Fr Homeming was ordained a priest on 20 July 1991. As a Discalced Carmelite, he has held the positions of Major Superior, Novice Master, Prior and Retreat Director.
In addition to his love of spiritual direction and retreat formation, Fr Homeming enjoys reading, classical music, art and cooking Chinese meals for the friars. 
​Arrangements regarding the episcopal ordination are yet to be determined.