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Greg Homeming

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Most Reverend

Gregory Homeming

OCD
Bishop of Lismore
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
DioceseLismore
SeeLismore
Appointed20 December 2016
Installed22 February 2017
PredecessorGeoffrey Hylton Jarrett
Orders
Ordination20 July 1991
Consecration22 February 2017
by Anthony Fisher
Personal details
BornGregory Paul Homeming
(1958-05-30) 30 May 1958 (age 68)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Education
MottoGod alone suffices
Coat of armsGregory Homeming's coat of arms

Gregory Homeming OCD (born 30 May 1958)[1] is the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lismore.[2]

Early life

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Homeming was born in Sydney on 30 May 1958 into a Chinese Australian family. He was one of two sons born to Gus and Irene Homeming.[3] His paternal grandfather, Willie, came to Australia from China in 1899 and adapted his Cantonese name Jung Yam Ming, to Homeming.[4] His father was born in Tamworth and had served in World War II, enlisting in 1942 and discharging in 1948.[5] He later became a businessman and in the 1970s, promoted a plan to turn Dixon Street, Haymarket into a Chinatown. While his proposal didn't go ahead, it played a key role in helping to shape the eventual plan for Chinatown.[6][7][8]

Homeming was educated in Shepparton, Victoria, before completing his secondary education at St Aloysius' College in Milsons Point. While he attended Catholic schools and went to Church on Sunday, he said he was never overly religious.[9] After graduating high school, he studied for a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1981 and worked as a lawyer in Sydney for Messrs Allen, Allen & Hemsley until 1985.

In 1983, Homeming visited a friend who had joined the Order of Discalced Carmelites. He said from the moment he walked into the monastery and chapel, he felt a strong calling to join the order.[10] His friend eventually left the order to marry, but at the end of 1985, Homeming joined the Order of Discalced Carmelites and made his first profession on 1 February 1987. He completed his studies for the priesthood at the Yarra Theological Union, Melbourne taking the degrees of Bachelor of Theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity and Master of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Melbourne.[11]

Priesthood

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On 20 July 1991, Homeming was ordained a priest for the Order of Discalced Carmelites.[12] His first appointment was serving at the St John of the Cross Priory in Box Hill.[13] By 1995, he was Prior of Mount Carmet Retreat Centre community in Varroville.[14] In 1999, he became the regional vicar for the order in Australia.[15]

When the Discalced Carmelites were given pastoral care of the Parish of St Ives in the Diocese of Broken Bay, Homeming moved to be resident in the parish, while remaining Regional Vicar.[16][17] During his years as a priest, he also dedicated himself to the ministry of guiding spiritual retreats, and he held the positions of Major Superior, Novice Master, and Retreat Director.[1][18]

Episcopate

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On 20 December 2016, Homeming was appointed Bishop of Lismore by Pope Francis, following the retirement of Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett.[19]

His appointment came as an "unpleasant surprise" given he had never expected to be made a bishop, but said he felt a duty to respond in obedience to the Holy Father's appointment.[20]

He was consecrated a bishop on 22 February 2017 at St Carthage's Cathedral, Lismore by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP.[21]

In February 2022, Lismore experienced its highest flood on record, as floodwaters reached 14.4 metres. Just a few weeks leater, it was hit with its 6th highest flood on record, devastating the local community. Lismore is one of the most flood-prone urban centres in Australia and, because of its location, has a long history of severe flooding.[22] The flood waters hit St Carthage's Cathedral, trapping Homeming and forcing him to be rescued. The Cathedral is on a hill about two blocks from Wilsons River,and sits well above the highest flood level recorded in the city’s history of about 12.1 metres in 1954 and 1974.[23][24]

The flood devastated the region, killing five people, leaving 4,000 home uninhabitable and left a lasting impact on the Diocese. Many of its schools were forced to move to alternative locations and some were told they would be uninsurable going forward unless they were rebuilt or relocated. Many residents were displaced and living in temporary accommodation too, even more than a year later. Homeming helped to spearhead an initiative called the Two Room Project, which aimed to get people back into their own homes as quickly as possible. The project was supported by money received from a bishop's appeal.[25]

Notes

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  1. 1 2 "Sixth bishop of Lismore" Archived 18 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine, St Carthage's Parish, Lismore, 21 December 2016
  2. ↑ "Congratulations – Fr Greg Homeming – Sixth Bishop of Lismore", Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Varroville
  3. ↑ "HOMEMING, Gus". The Daily Telegraph. 2 March 2010. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Charleston, Libby-Jane (2 February 2017). "Chinese-Australian Descendants Living With Unusual Anglicised Surnames". HuffPost. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "HOMEMING, Gus". vwma.org.au. Virtual War Memorial Australia. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "Silk Road to Gold Tracks". therocks.com. NSW Government. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Wu, Zeng (3 August 2026). "Chinatown as city making device: Sydney's Dixon street renewal, 1970–1980". Planning Perspectives. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Simper, Errol (17 July 1975). "Turning Haymarket into Chinatown". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  9. ↑ Flynn, Liina (20 December 2020). "SUNDAY PROFILE: From lawyer to monk Bishop Greg Homeming". The Lismore App. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Flynn, Liina (20 December 2020). "SUNDAY PROFILE: From lawyer to monk Bishop Greg Homeming". The Lismore App. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Bishop Gregory Homeming OCD". lismorediocese.org. Diocese of Lismore. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Bishop Gregory Paul Homeming, O.C.D." catholic-hierachy.org. Catholic Hierachy. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  13. ↑ OFFICIAL DIRECTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA 1992-1993. Newtown: E J Dwyer. 1992.
  14. ↑ OFFICIAL DIRECTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA 1995. Newtown: E J Dwyer. 1995.
  15. ↑ OFFICIAL DIRECTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA 1999. Newtown: E J Dwyer. 1999.
  16. ↑ "New priests appointed to St Ives Parish as Carmelites end 18 year tenure". BBNews. 24 March 2026. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  17. ↑ OFFICIAL DIRECTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA 2009-10. Newtown: E J Dwyer. 2009.
  18. ↑ "Other Pontifical Acts, 20.12.2016". Vatican.va. Holy See Press Office. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Bishop Gregory Paul Homeming, O.C.D." catholic-hierachy.org. Catholic Hierachy. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  20. ↑ Rodrigues, Marilyn (2 March 2017). "You lucky, lucky people of Lismore: Marilyn Rodrigues on Bishop Greg Homeming". Catholic Weekly. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  21. ↑ "Archbishop Fisher Welcomes Appointment of New Bishop of Lismore". Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney (published 21 December 2016). 2016.
  22. ↑ "Flood history". lismore.nsw.gov.au. Lismore City Council. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  23. ↑ Gilmore, Heath (30 June 2022). "Anatomy of the Lismore disaster". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Bowling, Mark (17 October 2022). "Archbishop of Canterbury visits Lismore, praises residents for their resilience during flood recovery". The Catholic Leader. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
  25. ↑ Bowling, Mark (28 February 2023). "Lismore flood one year after: residents looking for hope". The Catholic Leader. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
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