Bishop delivers homily for Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Bishop of Sydney delivered a homily at St Mary’s Cathedral on September 11, 2026, to mark the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and the 135th anniversary of Holy Cross College Ryde.

During the homily, the Bishop addressed the paradox of the cross as a symbol of both torture and salvation. He noted that while most Catholic schools are named after patron saints, Holy Cross College Ryde is named after an object. He explained that the cross represents strength found in weakness and greatness through self-sacrifice.

The Bishop connected the feast to the biblical story of the Israelites in the desert, where a bronze serpent became a source of healing for those bitten by fiery serpents. He described this as a foreshadowing of Christ being lifted up on the cross for salvation.