When Pat Power retired as Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn in 2012, there was an outpouring of tributes to him and to his time as Bishop. A moving selection of these can be found on the archdiocesan website. His Archbishop, Francis Carroll, said he was 'a man of conviction and courage who has publicly espoused many a cause, particularly when injustice, disadvantage and discrimination were at stake. From this, not only Catholic people but many in the wider community have found someone to speak for them and have drawn hope and strength from his support.'
Pat Power spoke on many occasions and in many forums on many issues and themes. This book is a collection of such pieces. They come from homilies, occasional addresses, newspaper opinion pieces, letters and personal reflections. They cover a wide range of topics, and always with openness and humble respect.
Pat Power sees himself as part of the pilgrim church, 'a people on the move, with a sense of adventure, supporting and encouraging one another, sometimes getting a bit lost or bloodied, sometimes questioning the path they have taken, but ultimately believing that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
Pat Power was born in Cooma, NSW, in 1942, grew up in Queanbeyan, and was educated at St Christopher's School and St Edmund's College in Canberra and Chevalier College, Bowral. After leaving school, he trained for the priesthood and was ordained in Queanbeyan in 1965. He did a doctorate in canon law in Rome, 1972-75, and returned to Canberra to serve as Archbishop's Secretary (to three archbishops) and director of the marriage tribunal. In 1985, he became parish priest of his home parish of Queanbeyan In 1986, he was ordained bishop by Archbishop Francis Carroll in St Christopher's Cathedral, Canberra. Much of his ministry has been in the field of ecumenical and inter-faith relations, social justice and social welfare. At the 1998 Oceania Synod of Bishops in Rome, he spoke on marginalised people in society and in the church. Much of his efforts have been directed in this area through Catholic Welfare Australia and through local community organisations in Canberra. He has been a strong advocate for the East Timorese and the Palestinian people, for Aboriginal people, for racial respect, for the unemployed, and in opposition to abortion and assisted suicide. In 2000, he chaired a major enquiry into poverty in the Australian Capital Territory. In December 2006 he was inaugurated into the ACT Honour Walk for being a voice for the disadvantaged in the community, and in 2009 was named Canberra Citizen of the Year Bishop Pat Power chose to retire at age 70, effective June 2012.
