Bishop Emeritus of Parramatta, the Most Reverend Kevin M Manning DD, has died aged 90.

Bishop Manning was the second Bishop of Parramatta, leading it during a period of rapid growth from 1997 to 2010.

“He has served the Lord and his Church with courage, creativity and fidelity for many years. We pray that he will now enter fully into the Lord’s joy and peace,” Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said.

“We express our appreciation for his generous and faithful commitment to the work of the Bishops Conference over many years.”

Bishop Manning would be remembered for the way in which he brought to a successful conclusion the building of the new Cathedral after a fire nearly destroyed the previous Cathedral, Archbishop Costelloe said.

He was instrumental in building bridges with other Christian communities and people of other faiths, especially Western Sydney’s Muslim community.

Bishop Manning was a staunch campaigner for social justice, seeking to improve the rights of workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, migrants and refugees and women.

He was born in Coolah, NSW, in 1933, attending Sacred Heart Primary School in Coolah before going on to St Columba’s College, Springwood.

After completing his studies at Propaganda Fide College in Rome he was ordained priest in December 1961.

He served as priest in the Diocese of Bathurst until 1978.

From 1978 to 1983 he was assistant secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, taking on the role of secretary from 1983 to 1991, when he became Bishop of Armidale.

Bishop Manning retired in January 2010, but later that year took on the role of apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes.

He was made Bishop Emeritus of Parramatta in 2012.

Links:

Vale Bishop Emeritus Kevin Manning | Catholic Diocese of Bathurst

The Diocese of Parramatta mourns the death of Bishop Emeritus Kevin Manning. – Catholic Outlook