Bishop Tim Norton SVD has promised the people of the Kimberley that he wants to listen, heal, work, pray, and enjoy life together, as he was installed this month as the third Bishop of Broome in a liturgy rich with faith and culture.

Beginning with a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony by Yarawu elders outside the church and a Welcome to Country by Erica Bernard, the local people, languages and cultures of the Kimberley played a central role in the Installation Mass, which concluded with women elders leading a sung blessing over their new bishop. Local languages enriched the hymns and prayers.

In comments at the end of the Mass held on the grounds of St Mary’s College in Broome, Bishop Tim, who is a former Provincial of the SVD Australia Province and Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane, expressed his happiness at what he said was a “fine appointment”.

“I really am happy, happy with the appointment and happy to be here with you,” he said.

“I am here for ministry with you, I’m here for healing if it’s needed and it may well be. I’m here for listening, I’m here for working, I’m here for praying and I’m here for having some fun with you as well.”

Earlier during his homily, he recalled an experience as a priest joining with parishioners in a parish ministry to street gangs when he was a missionary in Mexico, saying it had taught him to “take notice of the little ones, where this voice of God can be so prominent; the powerless ones, the ones who have no voice”.

“So, if we listen, particularly if we do it together, we can be changed and grow more fully into daughters and sons that God actually wants all of us to be,” he said.

“I dare to say so that you can keep me accountable for listening, for learning, for working together so that the different gifts and different service is one and the same, it’s that same service to God.”

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President and Archbishop of Perth, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, installed Bishop Tim as the diocese’s new leader.

Archbishop Costelloe was joined by Bishop of Geraldton Michael Morrissey, Australia’s Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Balvo, and more than a dozen other bishops for the Mass.

Bishop Morrissey, who had been Broome diocese’s apostolic administrator, also addressed the congregation, telling them that during his three years in the role he had seen a “beautiful, resilient faith” in the community and assured them that their new bishop’s previous experience meant he was “well prepared” to serve them.

Archbishop Costelloe said in a statement that Bishop Tim would bring enthusiasm and vision to the diocese.

“As a member of the Society of the Divine Word, Bishop Norton has a deep appreciation of the importance of cultural traditions in the living of the Christian faith,” he said.

“Having lived and worked in many different settings, both here in Australia and overseas, Bishop Norton brings with him a love for the Indigenous people of our nation, a heart for the poor and marginalised, and a ‘down-to-earth’ approach to the needs and realities of our time.

“He will be a blessing not only to the Catholic community in the vast Diocese of Broome, but to all who live in the north-west.”

The evening transitioned from the liturgy to a joyful gathering on the nearby lawns, in which food and fellowship brought together those who had travelled from across the Kimberley and beyond in a time of celebration and hospitality.

PHOTOS by Keryn Moase and Tony McMahon.