Bishop Anthony Randazzo has celebrated four years as Bishop of Broken Bay, with his episcopacy already filled with many highlights, despite almost half of it being dominated by the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Randazzo was announced as the Bishop of Broken Bay on 7 October 2019, ending a more than year-long vacancy in the bishop’s seat.
He was installed as Bishop of Broken Bay on 4 November 2019 in a Mass attended by more than a thousand people.
His early tenure was dominated by the COVID-19 lockdowns which began within months of his installation.
During this time of turmoil, he provided invaluable leadership for the Diocese, with ambitious projects and community-based initiatives.
In 2021, he launched the Pastoral Discernment Central Coast project, to help guide the future of the Church in one of the fastest growing areas of Sydney.
He also helped to guide the Diocese through the early stages of the Synod of Synodality, dialoguing and listening to parishioners across all three deaneries.
In 2022, he began consulting with parishioners from the Hornsby Cathedral Parish and beyond, asking them to imagine an exciting new future for the Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral precinct.
In 2023, along with Catholic Schools Broken Bay, he announced the creation of a new school on the Central Coast, the Eileen O’Connor School, which will cater to children with disabilities, while also equipping other schools across the Diocese with the ability to be more inclusive in their classrooms.
He also journeyed with more than 200 students and young people from across the Diocese to World Youth Day in Lisbon, accompanying them on a unique spiritual journey through Italy and Portugal.
Bishop Randazzo has also ordained five men during his time with the Diocese.
He ordained Fathers Aldrin Valdehueza, Roger Delmonte and Samuel French to both the diaconate and the priesthood in 2020 and 2021 respectively. He also ordained Fr Paul Tran SDS at the beginning of 2020, as lockdowns were beginning in Australia.
Earlier this year, he also ordained Deacon Richard Houwing, the first time he has ever ordained a man to the permanent diaconate.
He has also given hundreds of children across the Diocese the Sacrament of Confirmation, during his four years with the Diocese.
During his tenure, he has been asked by the Holy See to serve in many capacities beyond the normal asks of a Diocesan Bishop.
Earlier this year, Bishop Randazzo was elected President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania, a role he will serve in until 2027.
He was also appointed by Pope Francis to be the Apostolic Administrator of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, following the resignation of Monsignor Carl Reid.
Most recently, he represented the Diocese, Australia and Oceania at the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October.
While over there, he led the Synod in prayer, participated in a media briefing and dialogued at the roundtable discussions.
Bishop Randazzo was installed as the fourth Bishop of our Diocese on 4 November 2019, the Feast of St Charles Borromeo.
St Borromeo was known as the loving reformer who cared greatly about people and wanted them to know that the Church of God listened to His people and cared about them greatly.
While in Rome in October, Bishop Randazzo visited San Carlo al Corso, where St Charles Borromeo’s heart is located.
“While praying there I recalled the day of my installation as Bishop of Broken Bay which was a joyous occasion,” said Bishop Randazzo.
“I especially asked for this saint’s intercession for me to be a good and faithful servant for my priests and our wonderful community in this Diocese.”
Congratulazioni! And thank you for caring for and shepherding our community.