Brisbane (Fides Service) - "I am very surprised at this appointment but I accept with gratitude and trepidation. My motto is Pax et Bonum, and I will try to offer peace and good to everyone I meet on my path, in the spirit of St Francis of Assisi". Auxiliary Bishop elect of Brisbane, Fr Joseph Oudeman, of the Order of Friars Minor, said this to Fides Service. Formerly assistant parish priest at Wynnum, chaplain to the local Dutch Catholic community and in charge of rural communities in the archdiocese, the Bishop elect explained: "At the moment I am preparing with prayer for my ordination, which will take part in a couple of months. I am not sure yet of my particular duties, but of course I will support Archbishop John Bathersby in his mission".
At present the archdiocese of Brisbane is preparing for a diocesan Synod in May 2003. "This will be an important event in the life of our diocese which needs to give new impulse to its Christian witness and mission to meet the challenges of the New Millennium" the Bishop elect tells Fides Service. "I have been a Franciscan for forty years and in my missionary service I carry the spirit of St. Francis: working for peace and building bridges between cultures". Brisbane archdiocese with its half a million Catholics, is the third largest Catholic community in Australia. (Fides Service 16/12/2002)