wfn.org | Bishop Saibo Mabo consecrated assistant, Diocese of North Queensland

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2002 15:42:50 -0000

ACNS 2903 - AUSTRALIA - 8 March 2002

Consecration of Bishop Saibo Mabo, Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of North
Queensland

Diocese of North Queensland Consecration of Bishop Saibo Mabo, Assistant
Bishop in the Diocese of North Queensland and National Bishop to the Torres
Strait Islands people from the Rt Rev Clyde Wood, Bishop of North Queensland

[Anglican Media Sydney] A large congregation of 600 people filled the Church
and grounds of All Souls and St Bartholomew's Church, Thursday Island, for
the consecration of Fr Saibo Mabo as a Bishop in the Church of God on Sunday
24th February, the Feast of St Matthias. Bishop Saibo will be an Assistant
Bishop in the Diocese of North Queensland, and will have the special
responsibility of being Bishop to the people of the Torres Strait. The Most
Rev Peter Carnley, Primate of Australia and Archbishop of Perth, and 15
other Bishops from the Anglican Church of Australia were present. Dr Phillip
Aspinall, who is Archbishop of Brisbane and Metropolitan of Queensland lead
the service and Archbishop Ian George had travelled from Adelaide to be
present. The Most Rev Sir Ellison Pogo, Archbishop of Melanesia, Bishop
Jabez Bryce, Primate of Polynesia, and Bishop Ben Te Haara, Maori bishop
from New Zealand represented Anglican Churches in the Pacific region.
Following Murray Island custom, the Bishop-elect was brought from his home,
200 metres from the Church, by Murray Island Elders and escorted to the
steps of the Church.

There he was met by the presenting Bishops to be led into the Church. Half
of the participants were unable to find a place inside the Church and
therefore lined the path down which Fr Saibo was led before taking their
seats under marquees erected along both sides of the Church. Double doors
right along each side were opened so that those seated outside were able to
see much of what was taking place inside. At a significant point in the
service many crowded around the doorways to get a better look. The
Metropolitan, Archbishop Aspinall escorted Mrs Sanya Mabo and the widow of
the late Bishop Mosby, Mrs Marie Mosby into the Church. This was a symbolic
expression especially for Mrs Mosby, that the time of waiting for a new
Bishop had concluded and she could lay aside her responsibilities.

Bishop Richard Appleby, a former Bishop of the Northern Territory and now an
Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Brisbane preached the sermon. He reminded
the congregation that Christian people are called to live as a foretaste of
the Kingdom of God and he exhorted those present, especially the Torres
Strait Island people to strive for that unity which would enable people to
see that the Kingdom of God has come. Bishop Appleby's remarks were a
reminder of the relational difficulties that has taken place in the Torres
Strait, and the imperative for the new Bishop to work through his ministry
and leadership overcome the divisions in the Torres Strait.

Many present at the service were excited by the magnificent singing which is
always a feature of worship in the Torres Strait Some parts of the service
were sung in the Meriam language, and visitors from elsewhere found that
especially moving. After the service and a light luncheon everyone prepared
for the evening festivities. People gathered again from 4.30pm, and by
6.30pm most of the 600 present in the morning gathered for a splendid feast.
Visitors discussed eating dugong and turtle for the first time and once
again the women of the Torres Strait excelled themselves, as only they can,
in a wonderful feast.

After the feast everyone gathered outside and at about 7.45pm the dancing
began. For visitors to the Torres Strait for the first this is always an
overwhelming experience. Many of the Torres Strait communities were
represented in the presentation of traditional dancing and most were
impressed by a rousing display of men from Murray Island. After what had
been a long and wonderful day, people began to drift off to bed from 10.30pm
onwards. A climax of the evening was the presentation to Bishop Mabo of
pectoral crosses from the South Pacific Anglican Council by Archbishop Sir
Ellison Pogo, and by Bishop Jabez Bryce on behalf of the Diocese of
Polynesia. Bishop Ben Te Haara brought to Bishop Mabo the gift of a stole
from the Maori people.

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