“I didn’t expect this,” he quipped as parish priest Fr Dermid McDermott bundled him with a fleece of wool.

Not just any wool, mind you. This was a fleece of ‘Bullamalita’ superfine ram’s wool grown under the expert guidance of and kindly donated by Robert and Maree Peden.

The inspiration came to Fr McDermott during the night. It seemed a logical honour for the man who’d served six years as Canberra/Goulburn’s Archbishop and who would be installed in the same role in Brisbane on May 11.

The northern deanery, of which Goulburn is a part, includes some of the best grazing country in Australia. “As a metropolitan Archbishop you will be given a pallium by the Pope as a symbol of sharing his Episcopal power,” Fr McDermott said.

“Whilst it is usual for a pallium to be made from lambs’ wool blessed in Rome on the feast of St Agnes, in your case an exception should be made.”

It’s not clear how many palliums Archbishop Coleridge will weave from the fleece, but as Fr McDermott explains, it’s a good yarn.

“This Australian fleece is so good, it is already blessed by the land from which it comes and from the many years and hands which made it possible,” he said.

“However, if those who oversee the weaving of palliums decline to use it, please return it, as it is very valuable.”

A pallium is a circular band of woollen material, two inches wide and worn over the collar, with hanging strips marked with purple crosses for an Archbishop.

The Pope wears red crosses. Archbishop Coleridge made a special effort to attend the Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Church, north Goulburn, concelebrated by 11 other clergy, including retired Bishop Francis Carroll, now of Wagga Wagga. He thanked the parish and the Sisters of St Joseph for their support.

Archbishop Coleridge presided over the six Sisters’ jubilee celebrations.

Srs Patricia Cunningham, Dawn Carey, Maureen McPhillips and Geraldine Agnew marked 60 years professed, while Srs Marie Jeanne Graham and Sr Carmel Drew celebrated 50 years.

Together their service totals 340 years.

“Wow, what a legacy,” congregational leader Sr Kerrie Cusack exclaimed.