Leo Clarke (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Bishop
Leo Clarke (29 August 1923 – 3 June 2006) was Bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese
of Maitland
-Newcastle
, Australia
from 1976-1995. Bishop Clarke was ordained the sixth bishop of the Newcastle diocese in June 1976, after 27 years of service in the Archdiocese of Melbourne
, where he served as priest
and Master of Ceremonies at St Patrick's Cathedral under Archbishop
Daniel Mannix
.
As Bishop, he was instrumental in implementing a programme of renewal the diocesan community. He initiated the Synod
of 1992-93, a sustained consultation process involving clergy and laity coming to grips with the issues raised by the Second Vatican Council
. Bishop Leo's major rationalisation of Newcastle's Catholic secondary schools was very controversial at the time and caused him enormous pain.
After his retirement due to ill health in 1995, he became Bishop Emeritus
of Maitland-Newcastle.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Leo Clarke (29 August 1923 – 3 June 2006) was Bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Maitland
Maitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
-Newcastle
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from 1976-1995. Bishop Clarke was ordained the sixth bishop of the Newcastle diocese in June 1976, after 27 years of service in the Archdiocese of Melbourne
Archdiocese of Melbourne
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne is a Latin rite metropolitan archdiocese, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.Erected initially in 1847 as the Diocese of Melbourne, a suffragan diocese of Archdiocese of Sydney, the diocese was elevated in 1874 as an archdiocese of the...
, where he served as priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and Master of Ceremonies at St Patrick's Cathedral under Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Daniel Mannix
Daniel Mannix
Daniel Mannix was an Irish-born Australian Catholic bishop. Mannix was the Archbishop of Melbourne for 46 years and one of the most influential public figures in 20th century Australia....
.
As Bishop, he was instrumental in implementing a programme of renewal the diocesan community. He initiated the Synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
of 1992-93, a sustained consultation process involving clergy and laity coming to grips with the issues raised by the Second Vatican Council
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed...
. Bishop Leo's major rationalisation of Newcastle's Catholic secondary schools was very controversial at the time and caused him enormous pain.
After his retirement due to ill health in 1995, he became Bishop Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
of Maitland-Newcastle.