Pope Francis has appointed Carmelite Fr. Gregory Homeming as bishop of Lismore, Australia.
He was born in 1957 in Victoria, Australia, gave his religious vows in 1987 and was ordained a priest in 1991.
He studied economics and law and the University of Sydney, then completed his priestly studies at the Yarra Theological Union, and obtained a Master’s degree in philosophy from Melbourne University. He also holds a diploma in theology from the Catholic Theological College of Melbourne.
He has served in various parishes and has dedicated himself to the ministry of guiding spiritual retreats, and was prior of the Carmelite community in Varroville and St. Ives. He is currently regional vicar of the Discalced Carmelites in Australia.
He succeeds Bishop Jeffrey H. Jarrett, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese was accepted by the Holy Father.
The Diocese of Lismore has a population of close to a half million, with about 115,000 Catholics. They are served by about 50 priests and 100 religious, with two permanent deacons.
Bombay
The Pope also appointed Fathers Allwyn D’Silva and Barthol Barreto as auxiliaries of the archdiocese of Bombay, India.
They join two other auxiliaries in assisting Cardinal Oswald Gracias as archbishop.
D’Silva was born in 1948 in Mumbai, in the archdiocese of Bombay, and was ordained a priest in 1975. He studied philosophy and theology in the St. Pius X College, Bombay, and holds a Bachelor’s degree in political sciences and economics from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in political sciences from Mumbai University.
Barreto was born in 1961 in Mahim, Mumbai, and was ordained a priest in 1989. He carried out his studies in philosophy and theology at the St. Pius X College in Goregaon, Mumbai, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from the Bombay University.
The Archdiocese of Bombay has a population of more than 21 million, with about a half million Catholics. They are served by around 600 priests and 2,000 religious, and 10 permanent deacons.
