Tributes flow for Bishop Pat Power, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Media Blog

Bishop Patrick Percival Power, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, has died in Canberra aged 83.

Born in Cooma, NSW, Bishop Power was ordained priest in July 1965 and appointed bishop in March 1986.

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, paid tribute to the late bishop.

“The news of the death of Bishop Pat Power, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, although not unexpected, will bring a sense of sadness and loss to many, especially the Catholic community of his archdiocese, which he served so generously for many years,” Archbishop Costelloe said.

“At the same time, it will become a source of renewed gratitude for all that God was able to do and be for so many people through Bishop Pat’s compassion and unceasing advocacy for those who in so many ways found themselves among God’s poor and abandoned children.

“We pray, with great confidence, that he will be welcomed into the fullness of life and joy with the Lord whom he served so generously.”

In 2009, Bishop Power was named Canberra Citizen of the Year, recognising his support for Indigenous Australians, refugees and disadvantaged people.

Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn Christopher Prowse described Bishop Power as a “quintessential Canberran”.

“He was loved and revered as an outspoken supporter of the poor and marginalised,” Archbishop Prowse said.

Bishop Power served in parishes in Braidwood and Goulburn before completing a Doctorate in Canon Law at the Propaganda Fide College in Rome.

On returning to Australia, he served for a decade as secretary to three Archbishops of Canberra and Goulburn and director of the Marriage Tribunal.

In February 1985, he was appointed parish priest of his home parish of Queanbeyan and just over a year later he became the fifth Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn.

He served on several Australian Catholic Bishops Conference bodies in the areas of health, social justice and canon law and was the first Catholic co-chairman of AUSTARC, the Australian Anglican-Roman Catholic Conversation.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

This entry was posted in Bishops, Press Releases, Social Justice on 15 September 2025 by Paul Osborne.

https://mediablog.catholic.org.au/tributes-flow-for-bishop-pat-power/#more-10341, accessed 16 September 2025.

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Death notice, Canberra Times, 17 September 2025:

Power, Most Reverend Patrick Percival DD DCL
11 February 1942 - 15 September 2025
Died peacefully at Southern Cross Care, Campbell.
Ordination to the Priesthood 17 July 1965, Queanbeyan.
Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn (1986 - 2012)
Son of the late Ken and Olga Power.
Dear brother and brother-in-law of Maria (Dec'd) & Gordon Pullin, Margaret & Colin Summerhays, Loretta & Mick (Dec'd) O'Connor, and Pauline and Chris de Jongh.
Loved uncle and great uncle of his many nieces and nephews.
Solemn Pontifical Mass for Bishop Pat will be held at St Christopher's Cathedral, Franklin Street, Manuka, Wednesday 24 September 2025 at 11am.
Vigil Mass & Gathering: St Raphael's Church, 47 Lowe St, Queanbeyan, Tuesday 23 September at 7pm.
Burial Will take place at Woden Cemetery following the Funeral Mass.
The Mass will be livestreamed: https://www.youtube.com/live/FpXEdxIYLYA
Bishop Power (known to many as Fr Pat) retired as Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn in June 2012. He continued for many years to provide regular support to parishes throughout the Archdiocese. In August 2024 Bishop Pat moved into full-time residential care at the Southern Cross facility, Campbell.
Archbishop Christopher Prowse and the clergy of the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn extend their deepest sympathy to Bishop Pat's family and relatives.
Requiescat in pace

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‘Dignity, respect and love’: Bishop Pat Power farewelled, CathNews, 25 September 2025,https://cathnews.com/2025/09/25/dignity-respect-and-love-bishop-pat-power-farewelled/, accessed 19 October 2025:

Canberra-Goulburn Bishop Patrick Power, who died last week, was farewelled yesterday with a Solemn Pontifical Mass at St Christopher’s Cathedral, Canberra. Source: Catholic Voice.

Standing before a congregation that filled every corner of St Christopher’s Cathedral, Matthew de Jongh described his uncle as “the most wonderful, loving, inspirational and caring person” he had ever known.

For his family, Bishop Power was more than a priest and bishop. He was the big brother who carried his younger sisters home from school, the uncle who gave every niece and nephew a nickname and the organiser of Christmas day family races.

“He treated everyone with dignity, respect and love,” Mr de Jongh said.

“More than anything though, Pat was always there for us, whether it was walking together, cheering at the footy, casting a line while fishing, or turning up at family and school events. He never failed to check in, share his encouragement and greet us with that infectious positivity that made you feel like he’d been waiting all day just to see you.”

Clergy and friends travelled across the country for the funeral Mass, joining parishioners, community leaders, and, above all, family, at the service. Many others gathered at Haydon Hall and in groups around the archdiocese to watch the service via livestream together.

Encased within Bishop Power’s coffin were a South Sydney Rabbitohs jersey and a St Edmund’s College jersey, tributes to two of his greatest passions.

In his homily, Monsignor John Woods said Bishop Power’s ministry was marked by courage as well as compassion.

“After the example of the Good Shepherd, he was renowned for his willingness to comfort the afflicted and to disturb the comfortable,” he said.

“Pat’s ministry began in and led back to prayer. He went where truth and love beckoned, often in an ecumenical manner and with all others of goodwill.”