Bishop Anthony Randazzo has welcomed a friend and faithful priest to his new role of Auxiliary Bishop-Elect to the Archdiocese of Sydney.
The appointment of Fr Danny Meagher was announced by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, in Rome yesterday, 18 November.
His ceremony of consecration will be on 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.
“I have known Fr Danny for almost 20 years.,” Bishop Randazzo said.
“On many occasions our times as Rectors in Sydney and Brisbane overlapped and I also worked closely with him and the Seminary of the Good Shepherd in my ministry as Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney. “Fr Danny is a good and faithful priest who will be a great asset for Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP and the people of Sydney.”
Speaking following the announcement, Fr Danny said he met many fine young men from Broken Bay while he was Rector at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd and would often speak with Bishop Randazzo about the formation of priests.
“I called on Bishop Randazzo’s guidance and wisdom on a number of occasions. I know the Diocese is in good hands and the recently ordained priests in Broken Bay will serve the Diocese extremely well,” he said.
Born in West Wyalong, NSW, in 1961, Fr Danny moved to the city with his family when he was 12, helping his family build a 25-year tradition at the Matraville Hotel.
While helping manage the pub, Fr Danny completed an economics degree and a law degree, becoming a solicitor for a large commercial law firm in Sydney.
However the priesthood was always calling and Danny Meagher entered Manly’s St Patrick’s Seminary at 26 and was ordained in July 1995 at St Mary’s Cathedral.
Fr Danny’s first Parish was a large parish in western Sydney. Fairly daunting for a newly ordained priest with around 2500 people coming to Mass on the weekend. However more challenges were to quickly follow.
In 2001, Fr Danny was asked to start a new parish in south-west Sydney at Carnes Hill. There were no books, no chalices and no people! Today it is a thriving parish with a busy primary school and high school in the precinct.
Many people will remember Fr Danny from his time preparing for, and contributing to, the organisation of World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008. A time he has referred to as “the hardest couple of years of his life” – but most fulfilling with around half a million pilgrims taking part.
Fr Danny has also served a number of Catholic agencies and institutions including CatholicCare, and even returned to the bush as Administrator of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish at Broken Hill in the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes before becoming Rector at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd at Homebush between 2014 and 2020.
More recently Fr Danny has been Administrator of Parish of All Hallows, Sydney.
While Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, Bishop Randazzo was also one of the co-consecrating bishops at the ordination of Fr Danny’s nephew, Fr Matthew Meagher at St Mary’s Cathedral in 2018.
“I believe the people of Sydney are blessed with Fr Danny’s appointment,” Bishop Randazzo said.
“And I very much look forward to working with him in our priestly endeavours and mission in serving the people of God.”
Bishop Randazzo at the Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr Danny’s nephew, Fr Matthew Meagher, with Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP and Fr Danny Meagher far right.
Fr Danny Meagher, Auxiliary Bishop-Elect, Archdiocese of Sydney