Mark Stuart Edwards | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Wagga Wagga | |
 | |
| Church | Latin Church |
| Archdiocese | Sydney |
| Diocese | Wagga Wagga |
| See | Wagga Wagga |
| Appointed | 26 May 2020 |
| In office | 22 July 2020 |
| Predecessor | Gerard Joseph Hanna |
| Previous post(s) |
|
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 16 August 1986 by Thomas Francis Little |
| Consecration | 17 December 2014 by Denis James Hart |
| Rank | Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mark Stuart Edwards (1959-06-14)14 June 1959 (age 65) |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Alma mater | |
| Motto | Learn who you are in the eyes of God[1] |
Mark Stuart EdwardsOMI (born 14 June 1959) is anAustralianRoman Catholicprelate and professed member of theMissionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate appointed as theBishop of Wagga Wagga.[2] He has served in the past as a teacher and as arector before his episcopal elevation.
Mark Stuart Edwards was born on 14 June 1959 inIndonesia as one of four children.[3] His father was fromSouth Australia and worked forShell International in theNetherlands where he met his wife. The two relocated to Indonesia where Edwards and his brother were born before settling in Melbourne. His mother was a practising Catholic and his father was a devoutAnglican.[3]
His education was at Saint Leonard's school inGlen Waverley before he began his high school education atMazenod College inMulgrave. He obtained aBachelor of Science fromMonash inClayton.[2]
In 1980 he entered thenovitiate of theMissionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Mulgrave and completed his ecclesial studies for thepriesthood atCatholic Theological College in Melbourne. Edwards had made his first application aged seventeen though the Oblates delayed his admission because of his age. The Oblates accepted his reapplication when he had finished his BSc.[4] He made his final profession of vows as an Oblate on 17 February 1984 and wasordained as a priest on 16 August 1986.[2] Edwards returned to Monash later for further studies where he obtained aBachelor of Letters and a PhD in philosophy in 2007.
Edwards taught at Mazenod College from 1986 until 1989 and was then teaching at Iona College inBrisbane from 1990 until 1997. From 1998 to 2004 he served as the Pre-Novice Master at Saint Mary's Seminary in Mulgrave prior to serving asnovice master from 2004 until 2007. From 2005 to 2010 he served as a lecturer at Catholic Theological College while from 2007 to 2010 served as the Director of Scholastics at Saint Mary's Seminary. In 2011 he was appointed as therector of Iona College in Brisbane.[2]
Pope Francis appointed Edwards on 7 November 2014 as anAuxiliary Bishop of Melbourne and as theTitular Bishop of Garba. Edwards was inCanberra when theapostolic nuncio delivered the news and he later said that he was "surprised and humbled" to be selected as a bishop though lamented that he could no longer resume his teaching duties.[3][4] Edwards received hisepiscopal consecration on 17 December 2014 atSaint Patrick's Cathedral from ArchbishopDenis James Hart withMark Benedict Coleridge andPaul Richard Gallagher serving as theco-consecrators. He served as the Episcopal Vicar for Tertiary Education and Youth. Edwards attendedWorld Youth DayinPoland in 2016.
Pope Francis appointed Edwards on 26 May 2020 to serve as the newBishop of Wagga Wagga inNew South Wales. Edwards was installed as Bishop of Wagga Wagga on 22 July 2020 at St Michael's Cathedral, Wagga Wagga.
Bishop Edwards has said that mercy leads us to understand God better and enables for people to be "strengthened" as dispensers of mercy to others.[5] He has said that God's "tenderness is almost tangible" and He invites the faithful to open their hearts to receive the "free gift" of mercy which should be shared with others. Bishop Edwards continued that one's outward life must show mercy to others in order to be shown that same gift in return.[5]
In conversation with774 ABC Melbourne'sJon Faine, Edwards said that he did not oppose stores sellingChristmas merchandise months prior to the event since it showed that the Christian message resonated. He said that the initial preparations enabled people the chance to plan their Christmas celebrations with those around them since "the Christian message is perhaps still meeting people" to coordinate the proper celebration of Christmas.[6] But he expressed his hope that retailers would hold off on the recitation ofcarols until closer to Christmas and expressed his opposition to churches placing decorations months prior since "Church decorations go up at the start ofAdvent" to mark the season of preparation.[6]
Edwards is a strong opponent ofeuthanasia. Following the Lower House affirmative vote on euthanasia he took to Twitter and posted: "This is not good for our vulnerable".
| Bishops of Wagga Wagga | |
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| Province of Sydney |
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| Province of Melbourne |
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| Province of Brisbane |
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| Province of Perth |
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| Province of Adelaide |
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| Immediately subject to theHoly See | |||||
| Eastern Rite Eparchies | |||||
| Apostolic Nunciature to Australia | |||||
