Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 1 2023 Year in Review Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst
2 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023
Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 1 The Diocese of Sandhurst recognises the traditional custodians of the lands upon which we live, serve and worship. We acknowledge the people of the Northeastern regions of our Diocese, Djilmathang, Minjajambuta, Duduroa and Waywurru. We acknowledge the people of the Southern regions of our Diocese, the Dja Dja Wurrung and the Taungerung. We acknowledge the people of the Northern regions of our Diocese, the Yorta Yorta and Bangerang. We acknowledge the people of the Western regions of our Diocese, the Baraparapa peoples. We respectfully honour and acknowledge their ongoing custodianship and their connections to the land, waters and animals. We pay our respects to their culture, their Elders, past, present and emerging, for they hold the memories, the traditions, the culture and the hopes of their peoples. We express our gratitude in the sharing of this land, our sorrow for the personal, spiritual and cultural costs of that sharing and commit ourselves to actively working alongside First Nations People for healing, reconciliation and justice. Acknowledgement of Country
2 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst www.sandhurst.catholic.org.au chancery@sandhurst.catholic.org.au 172-174 McCrae Street Bendigo VIC 3550 PO Box 201 Bendigo VIC 3552 T: 03 5445 3600 Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au director@ceosand.catholic.edu.au Bendigo Office 120 Hargreaves Street Bendigo Victoria 3550 PO Box 477 Bendigo VIC 3552 T: 03 5443 2377 Tatura Office 74 Hogan Street Tatura VIC 3616 T: 03 5831 3811 Wangaratta Office 71 Ryley Street Wangaratta Victoria 3677 PO Box 1181 Wangaratta VIC 3677 T: 03 5723 0000 Diocesan Development Fund www.sandhurst.catholic.org.au/ddfsandhurst ddf@sandhurst.catholic.org.au 172-174 McCrae Street Bendigo VIC 3550 PO Box 201 Bendigo VIC 3552 T: 03 5445 3606 CatholicCare Victoria www.catholiccarevic.org.au Bendigo Office 176 McCrae Street Bendigo Victoria 3550 PO Box 255 Bendigo VIC 3552 T: 03 5438 1300 Shepparton Office Family Relationship Centre 68 Wyndham Street Shepparton VIC 3630 T: 03 5820 0444
Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 3 CONTENTS Year in Review OUR ORGANISATION Our Diocese 4 Ministries of the Church 7 REPORTS FROM: Most Rev. Shane Mackinlay, Bishop of Sandhurst 8 Gabrielle Downie, SMP Council Chair 12 Chris Cotter, Director of Mission and Pastoral Life 14 Cameron Fraser, Business Manager 18 Paul Desmond, CES Ltd, Chief Executive Officer 20 Julie Cobbledick, SCECE&C Ltd Chair 22 Very Rev. Brian Boyle, Director, Clergy Life and Ministry 24 Rev. Jake Mudge, Corpus Christi College 26 Rev. Nathan Verallo, Vocations’ Director 28 Sandhurst Youth Ministry 30 Anne McIntosh, Safeguarding Coordinator 32 CatholicCare Victoria 34 COMMUNITY Meet the SMP Council 36 World Youth Day 42 Synod on Synodality 44 2023 Jubilarians 46 In Memoriam 47 Archives Digitisation 48 MISSION Red Wednesday 49 MacKillop Art Awards 50 Financial Performance 54 Catholic Earthcare 56 ON THE COVER The Diocesan Assembly on February 15 took place at the Shepparton Museum of Vehicle Evolution in Kialla and was attended by over 300 people. Report and pictures pages 14 - 17.
The Diocese of Sandhurst was established in 1874. It represents the Catholic Church in a region in Victoria bounded on the north and east by the Murray River, extending from Kerang to Corryong and as far inland as Euroa and Bright, covering 45,196 square kilometres. A diocese is simply a community of Christ's faithful – it represents a portion of the people of God in a particular area, which is entrusted to a bishop. In the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst, Bishop Shane Mackinlay is the pastoral leader of more than 90,000 Catholics. He is assisted by priests who minister in 40 parishes within the Diocese. The parishes are grouped into three Deaneries, the Western, Goulburn Valley and North Eastern. Our Diocese’s vision is ‘that every person’s heart be inflamed by the love of God’. We welcome all who would like to join our communities or be guided by the principles and teachings of Christ. 4 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023
Diocese of Sandhurst 409,994 Total Population 84,607 Catholics in region 48 Clergy 9 Religious Congregations 34 Religious 40 Parishes 56 Schools 19,633 Students 1 Hospital 6 Nursing and Convalescence Homes Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 5
6 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023
Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 7 Our Organisation • Bishop’s Office • Safeguarding • Communications • Caritas Australia • Catholic Charismatic Renewal • Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd • Catholic Mission • CatholicCare Victoria • Clergy Life and Ministry • Council of Priests • Diocesan Archives • Diocesan Consultors • Diocesan Development Fund • Diocesan Finance Council • Diocesan Social Justice Committee • Diocesan Vocations Ministry • Mission and Pastoral Life • Priests’ Retirement Foundation • RCIA Forum • Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation for the Diocese of Sandhurst • Sandhurst Clergy Health and Wellbeing • Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council • Sandhurst Publications • Sandhurst Youth Ministry Ministries of the Church
8 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 This year has happily seen our lives less disrupted by Covid. While it continues to affect some deeply and casts a shadow over the lives of those who lost loved ones to it, we have been able to gather regularly again for worship, schooling and employment. Tragically, though, our world continues to suffer the blight of horrendous violence. The peoples of Ukraine, Russia, the Holy Land, Sudan, Myanmar and Syria are among those suffering from senseless violence. I join Pope Francis in his regular calls for peace, and encourage all in the Diocese to pray for the intervention of the Prince of Peace to bring calm and healing to those ravaged by war and disunity. “Trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we continue our mission” BISHOP SHANE MACKINLAY From Some parts of our Diocese are still coping with the effects of the flooding in 2022. Houses have not been returned to or repaired; livelihoods remain crippled. These communities are showing great courage and determination in continuing the effort to rebuild their lives. February saw a momentous event in the life of our Diocese — the first Diocesan Assembly for many years, taking place in Kialla. This was a wonderful, faith-filled meeting of the people of God, passionate about our Church, aware of its shortcomings, but committed to healing, listening and evangelising. Building on the Assembly, I was delighted to finalise the establishment of the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council. This group of fifteen lay people and priests, from all three Deaneries, has now met with me four times, and members are becoming a cohesive group with a shared commitment to renewing our Church. At the Diocesan Assembly, participants were asked to identify the needs and future directions of our Church in Sandhurst. Prayerful
Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 9 Sandhurst Diocese Reports discernment of the responses has identified four Strategic Directions for the Mission and Pastoral Council: missionary and pastoral outreach, the promotion of connections between groups, initial and ongoing formation, and the promotion of the equal dignity of women and men. The Council is now developing practical strategies and actions to address these key priorities. Late in the year we were saddened by the death of Fr Steve Bohan, beloved pastor of the Yarrawonga Parish, who had faithfully served the people of Sandhurst for almost fifty years. We joyfully celebrated the 60th anniversaries of the ordination of Monsignor Peter Jeffrey and Fr John Ryan. The parish of Rutherglen was blessed by the ministry of Fr Boniface Kamulegeya from Rwanda for two months. Fr Boniface brought a warm, outgoing, and generous personality to the Diocese, sharing his experiences of a life so different from our own. In November we welcomed Fr Rene Ramirez and Fr Ruel Desamparado to the Diocese, expanding the ministry of the Rogationist congregation in Australia beyond their muchappreciated presence in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. The end of the year also saw a number of priests taking up different appointments, and Fr Jake Mudge concluding his service at the seminary and returning to parish ministry in the Diocese. Our community experienced much soul-searching and division in the lead-up to the October referendum on the Voice to Parliament. The outcome, while disappointing for many, reminds us that we need
10 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 to recommit to action that builds reconciliation and closes the gap. That can only be done by listening to, learning from and loving our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters. I pray that we may recognise and take up the challenge to pursue outcomes that will see inequalities in our country narrowed, a path to reconciliation pursued and a more prosperous nation emerge. A major focus for me this year has been preparing to participate in the first session of the Synod for a Synodal Church, which was held in Rome in October. I have given presentations at many seminars and meetings in Australia, and also travelled overseas several times. In February, the bishops of Oceania met with others from our region in Suva, Fiji, to finalise our continental submission to the Synod. In March, I was invited to be an observer at the final assembly of Germany’s ‘Synodal Way’ in Frankfurt, gaining an understanding of their priorities and challenges, and sharing with them our experience at the Australian Plenary Council. At the Synod itself, I was elected as the Oceania member of the committee overseeing the synthesis report on this first session. This report will be an important starting point for our own discernment in the Diocese over the coming year, as well as for the preparation that will be undertaken more widely for next year’s concluding session. It was inspiring to see the very widespread commitment to ensuring that all our Church activities and structures become more synodal and participatory, so
Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 11 Most Rev. Shane Mackinlay DD Bishop of Sandhurst that we can truly walk together as missionary disciples. At the conclusion of the Synod, I participated in the annual meeting of the Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission, for which I am the Catholic CoChair. This meeting was originally scheduled for Jerusalem but was transferred to Rome because of the tragic outbreak of violence in the Holy Land. My other major travel this year was in August, when I was able to visit India to meet with the provincial superior and families of our priests from that country: Fathers Vijay Bandanadam, Jophin Joy, Uday Marneni and John Paul Pasala. I passed on the appreciation of all our communities for the generous service of their sons and brothers, and assured them of the gratitude we feel for their ministry in our Diocese. I am enormously grateful for the contribution made by so many in the varied areas of service in our Diocese: those working in education, social justice, community care and pastoral activity among others. May we be blessed in 2024 as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Diocese, and recommit ourselves to trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we continue our mission of proclaiming the Gospel and building up God’s kingdom.
12 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 The Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC) is the peak consultative and advisory body to Bishop Shane Mackinlay, and it is my privilege to serve as its inaugural Chair. I was appointed by Bishop Shane on 15 July following a process of prayerful discernment by the members of the Council. Along with Bishop Shane and Fr Joe Taylor (Vicar General), the fourteen Council members are faithful women and men drawn from each of our Diocese’s three Deaneries. They bring a wide range of pastoral and professional experience and skills to the important deliberative and synodal work of the Council. After being commissioned by Bishop Shane at the Annual Mass of Oils (Chrism Mass) in Holy Week, the Council has held four meetings in 2023. The first two meetings were devoted to our initial formation as Council and we were blessed to have the expert assistance of Mr Dean Mason, a professional facilitator from Melbourne. Dean led the members in this formation, helping us get to know each other, set expectations, develop meeting protocols, and practise the skills of listening and dialogue. The August and November meetings have largely focused on developing a Strategic and Pastoral Plan for the Diocese. This plan is emerging directly out of the four Strategic Directions from the preparation and consultation conducted across the Diocese in 2022. This also includes the two hundred and fifty-two concrete proposals for action from the Diocesan Assembly held in Kialla on 15 February. It is through this important work that the Council is becoming a body that listens, discerns and acts on behalf of the whole Diocese in service of the Church’s mission. It is our intent to publish and promulgate this Strategic and Pastoral Plan in 2024. The Council is deeply committed to prayer and ongoing spiritual formation. Council members lead prayer, reflect on scripture and celebrate the Eucharist together. All members have considered their own personal calling to the ministry of leadership and service on the Council, developing an understanding of the significance of Pope Francis’ call to become a more synodal Church. At the November meeting, Bishop Shane presented to the Council an ‘up close and personal’ insight into the first General Assembly of the “Synod for a Synodal Church”, held in Rome in October. As Bishop Shane shared his experience and broke open the Synthesis Report “A Synodal Church in Mission”, each member was encouraged and challenged by the vision and task of being and becoming a Church on the journey together; the people of God proclaiming and living GABRIELLE DOWNIE From Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council “Being and becoming a Church on the journey together; the people of God proclaiming and living communion, participation and mission.”
Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 13 Sandhurst Diocese Reports Gabrielle Downie Chair Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council communion, participation and mission. I ask for your continued prayerful support as we strive to be true to this vision. Finally, I take this opportunity to thank the members of the Council for their valued and dedicated service in 2023. I acknowledge and thank Mr Paul Desmond for his contribution in our inaugural year. Paul retires as Executive Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd in January 2024 and will step down from his position on the Council. His successor, Ms Kate Fogarty, will become the Bishop’s appointee from CES Ltd. Thanks also goes to our dedicated officers for their tireless administrative and organisational support in 2023. SMPC Members: Bishop Shane Mackinlay, Rev. Vijay Bandanadam ALCP/OSS (Northeast Deanery), Rev. Stephen Bolling (Western Deanery), Mrs Alana Brennan (Goulburn Valley Deanery), Mr Mick Chalkley (Western Deanery), Mrs Jobelle Collier (Goulburn Valley Deanery), Mr Paul Desmond (Bishop’s Appointment – Catholic Education), Mrs Gabrielle Downie (Northeast Deanery), Mrs Angela Finn (Goulburn Valley Deanery), Mr Stephen McKinley (Northeast Deanery), Mr Michael McLinden (Northeast Deanery), Mr Jean-Marie Mupenda (Bishop’s Appointment), Mr Miggy Podosky (Western Deanery), Rev. Jackson Saunders (Goulburn Valley Deanery), Mrs Christine Sebire (Western Deanery), Rev. Joe Taylor VG. Officers: Dr Chris Cotter, Executive Officer, Mr Tim Nolan, Minute Secretary, Mrs Leslie Cooper, Admin. For further information about the SMPC Members, please refer to page 34-41 of this Year In Review. Picture-Members of the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council commissioned by Bishop Shane Mackinlay.
14 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 Our diocesan synodal journey has reached some significant milestones in 2023. In January the Final Report on the Preparation and Consultation for the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council was published, with strong and consistent themes emerging from the fifty-two meetings conducted across the Diocese in the second half of 2022. The themes were: “authentic listening and dialogue”, “inclusion and openness”, “communication”, “a bias for action” and “hope in the face of cynicism and hurt”. The themes were presented at the Diocesan Assembly and have helped inform the establishment, operations and workplan of the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council. As expected, a strong alignment emerged between these themes and the diocesan Synthesis for the Synod on Synodality and the decrees of 5th Plenary Council of Australia. On 15 February three hundred and twenty-seven members of our diocesan community assembled in Kialla: priests, parish pastoral and finance council members, pastoral associates, parish volunteers, parishioners, school principals, students, Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd (CESL) staff and Chancery staff. A makeshift venue was transformed by a hardworking team from the Chancery and CESL, coordinated by Project Support Officer, Leslie Cooper. The artistic gifts of Ruth Lawlor (Sandhurst Youth Ministry Coordinator) contributed to the look, feel and sound of the venue and the program. The team created a working ‘synodal’ space for participants in the assembly to pray, sing, reflect, learn, listen, speak, and make concrete proposals for action to Bishop Shane for the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council. At the conclusion of the Assembly, Bishop Shane called for expressions of interest from priests and the lay faithful from the Diocese to join the Council. After a process of discernment, the members of the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council were appointed in late March. At the annual Mass of Oils on 4 April, three priests and eleven lay people from each of the Deaneries were commissioned by Bishop Shane to join him and Fr Joe Taylor VG on the Council. The Council has met four times during 2023 and following prayerful reflection on the themes from the Final Report and the two hundred and fifty-two proposals from the Assembly, four strategic directions “What the Lord is asking of us is already in some sense present in the very word ‘synod’. Journeying together — laity, pastors, Bishops — is an easy concept to put into words, but not so easy to put into practice.” Pope Francis, 17 October 2015 DR CHRIS COTTER From Director of Mission and Pastoral Life
Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 15 Sandhurst Diocese Reports have emerged: missionary and pastoral outreach, the promotion of connections between groups, initial and ongoing formation, and the promotion of the equal dignity of women and men. The Council is developing priorities, goals and actions to address the strategic directions. The Council has also made recommendations to Bishop Shane for people from the Diocese to attend regular meetings of diocesan bodies. Mr Mick Chalkley (Council member from the Western Deanery) was appointed to the Diocesan Finance Council, and Mrs Christine Sebire (Council member from the Western Deanery) and Mr Brendan Lindsay (St Brendan’s Parish, Shepparton) now attend meetings of the College of Consultors. Along with dozens of parishioners and some priests from across the Diocese, members of the Council also participated in the ‘Sandhurst Scripture Talks’ which were held in May on Zoom. The topic for this year was: The Acts of the Apostles: ‘making decisions with the Holy Spirit’. Our presenters were scripture scholars Fr Brian Boyle EV (Administrator of the Cathedral Cluster of Parishes in Bendigo) and Dr Rosemary Canavan (Catholic Theological College, Melbourne). Fr Brian introduced us to the book of the Acts of the Apostles and Rosemary helped us understand how the early Christians sought the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit when making important decisions in the life of the Church. The learnings were invaluable as we discovered together what it is to be a synodal church today. It has been my privilege to lead the Mission and Pastoral Life Team in 2023: Ms Ruth Lawlor (Youth Ministry Coordinator), Ms Katrina Strong (Communications Coordinator) and Mrs Leslie Cooper (Project Support Officer). In September we farewelled Ruth as Youth Ministry Coordinator. Ruth completed just over five years in the role and in July led a Sandhurst pilgrimage group of young adults to the 2023 World Youth Day celebrations in Lisbon, Portugal. Ruth demonstrated dedication and commitment to young people and a desire to grow and adapt the Church’s ministry among them. I thank Ruth for her enthusiastic contribution to the mission and pastoral life of our Diocese. Building on this work, a Youth Ministry Reference Group has been established. This group will provide advice to Bishop Shane and the Mission and Pastoral Council on the future direction and approach to Youth Ministry in Sandhurst. In August and October, the Office for Mission and Pastoral Life hosted four Zoom sessions entitled “Carrying Forward the Plenary Council”. Parishioners from across the Diocese learnt a little more about Decree 1 (Reconciliation – Healing Wounds, Receiving Gifts) and Decree 3 (Called by Christ – Sent Forth as Missionary Disciples) and participated in a simple listening and dialogue exercise which any parish or group could undertake. The exercise invited parishioners to reflect on what their faith community was already doing or could do in relation to the Decree. So, whilst the Plenary Council as an event has concluded and we await the final approval of the Decrees by the Holy See, the “Carrying Forward the Plenary Council” document reminds us that many of the Decrees contain the kinds of things that dioceses, parishes and other Catholic entities can do or are doing already. The Sandhurst Theology Scholarships were expanded this year to include courses in Spiritual Leadership and Clinical Pastoral Education. Several parishioners have used the financial support provided by the scholarships to enrol in courses aimed at developing their theological knowledge and pastoral leadership capabilities. The Sandhurst Pastoral Associates and Lay Coordinators Network farewelled Sr Nellie Versluys RSJ in February and since then a group of Pastoral Associates has been meeting in person and online to consider ways to support Pastoral Associates and other lay people involved in ministry in parishes across the Diocese. In August, Glen Avard (Cornella) stepped down from the role as Lay Coordinator for the Rushworth Parish. Maree Stewart (also from Cornella) was appointed and commissioned by Bishop Shane on 6 August. Maree joins the three other Lay Coordinators for Rushworth who are continuing in their roles: Rebecca Catania (Murchison), Mary Jo Fortuna (Rushworth) and Greg Fitzpatrick (Stanhope). A month before Pope Francis promulgated his Apostolic Exhortation on the Climate Crisis Laudato Deum, Bishop Shane celebrated the first ever ‘Care for Creation’ Mass for our diocesan
Dr Chris Cotter Director of Mission and Pastoral Life Sandhurst community. The Mass was held at the Notley Camping area in the beautiful Greater Bendigo National Park. The event was organised by the diocesan Care for Creation committee, ably led by Kerry Stone, Sandhurst Caritas-Justice Coordinator. Thank you to all who have contributed to the mission and pastoral life of our Diocese this year. We have learnt a lot about the challenges of putting the synodal way into practice and what it means to exercise co-responsibility for the mission. We have much to look forward to in 2024 as we continue our journey as the pilgrim people of God in Sandhurst. 16 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023
Sandhurst Diocese Assembly Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 17
18 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 As I reflect on 2023, I am pleased that we haven’t experienced major political instability, natural disasters, or another global health crisis, and for this we can be thankful. When I turn my mind to world events, in particular the unfolding war in Israel and Gaza and the misery and fear in which people are existing, it provides me with a renewed appreciation of what it means to say, “there is no place like home” and how fortunate we are to live in Sandhurst with the rich bounty that comes just from being born an Australian. This is not to say we haven’t faced challenges personally and professionally in our own lives, and the opportunity to reflect on the events, experiences and accomplishments provided by this annual report is a great privilege. This past year has seen many events involving gatherings of people from across Sandhurst and the National Church; a personal highlight was the Parish Administrators’ Conference in October which provided the forum to share and learn from each other. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and will shape the event for the next year. The committed team of people at the Chancery has grown in 2023. To strengthen the services we can provide to our parishes and agencies we have welcomed people with skills in banking, finance and law. An example of the application of these skills is the seamless implementation of a new payroll system. This software system streamlines payroll reporting and allows for the electronic capture of timesheet information and forms. It was implemented in response to increasing demand on the Chancery payroll bureau. It is planned to roll out the new system to all participating parishes in early 2024. The commencement of a new Risk Management Framework is another initiative that has been progressing with the establishment of a Working Group made up of representatives from the Diocesan Finance Council and the Diocesan Development Fund, facilitated by the Diocesan Internal Auditors. Effective risk management is fundamental to achieving the Diocese’s strategic and operational objectives. An outcome from the adoption of the risk management framework will be a policy statement and risk management principles. It is planned that these outcomes will strengthen Diocesan governance as well as assist parishes to determine their own risk framework, risk appetite and tolerance. A major event this past year occurred on 29 May when Catholic Church Insurance entered runoff and ceased to write new policies. A company with a history that dates back 112 years and is no longer creates a great deal of uncertainty. The cost of insurance continues to climb and, after employees’ wages, is typically our largest expense. It is therefore very important that we understand our risks and can take out the appropriate level of cover. The Diocese has put together a project team that has worked in collaboration with the Diocese of Ballarat to issue a tender to the market for insurance products. At the time of writing, I am pleased CAMERON FRASER From Diocesan Business Manager
Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 19 Sandhurst Diocese Reports Cameron Fraser Diocesan Business Manager Sandhurst that the tenders are being evaluated and it is expected a new insurance provider will be chosen well ahead of the renewal date of April 2025. We have undertaken many projects during 2023. These have ranged in terms of value and complexity. Perhaps of particular interest has been the upgrade to the lighting at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, a project which took months to plan and execute. Prior to the 2023 upgrade, the Cathedral’s lighting system with aged gas-filled globes had become increasingly costly to service and operate. Part of the Cathedral’s 20-year capital works plan was to replace the old internal and external lights with new energy efficient LEDs. The new “luminaires” are now in place and can provide a range of lighting effects, all being controlled wirelessly. The lighting is much more cost-effective and has a lower carbon footprint with almost no ongoing maintenance requirements. Those of us planning to attend events at the Cathedral in 2024 will, I’m sure, be impressed by the results. Let there be light! The Diocesan Development Fund has continued its work in the support of our parishes, schools and Catholic agencies. The Fund is a truly great example of service to Church. Throughout the year there has been strong collaboration across the fund network as we work together to support the increasing demand for capital works projects and to offer depositors competitive rates for funds held on deposit – none of which would be possible without the ongoing loyalty and support of parishes and schools. In seeking feedback on the Fund’s products during the year we have increased the number of term deposit tenors available, and it is good to see in this increasing interest rate environment, strong growth in these new product offerings. The colleagues I work alongside I know are committed to your service. I remain proud of our achievements this past year as well as acknowledging that we continue to learn from and adapt to the challenges that have also come our way. I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to everyone for their efforts, professionalism and tremendous work ethic, support of each other and the wider Sandhurst diocesan community. “A personal highlight was the Parish Administrators’ Conference in October which provided the forum to share and learn from each other.”
20 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 I reflect with gratitude and pride on the journey we have undertaken together at Catholic Education Sandhurst during 2023. This year has been one marked by both challenges and triumphs, demonstrating the resilience of our community and the unwavering spirit that binds us all in the Mission of the Catholic Church. One of the significant challenges we faced was the impact of the floods in the Rochester area. The devastating effects tested the mettle of our schools and the broader community. However, in the face of adversity, the spirit of solidarity and support shone brightly. The way our community rallied to aid those affected exemplified the true essence of compassion and unity. It was nothing short of remarkable. This year I announced my retirement as the Executive Director after nine years at the helm. It has been an honour to serve in this role, guiding our schools through a period of growth and transformation. I extend my deepest gratitude to the Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd Board and the Sandhurst Catholic Early Childhood Education and Care Ltd Board for their tireless dedication and invaluable contributions. Their work behind the scenes ensures the smooth functioning and continuous improvement of our educational system. The commitment of both Boards to upholding the mission and values of Catholic Education is truly commendable. Throughout my time in Sandhurst, the clear dedication of so many to Catholic education has been unwavering. We believe in the value education brings to each community, fostering an environment where faith, knowledge, and compassion intertwine. The support that our schools receive from their broader communities has been instrumental in upholding the principles that define us. We in education have been the beneficiaries of great support given to us by Bishop Shane Mackinlay and Episcopal Vicar for Education, Fr Brian Boyle, and the priests of the Sandhurst Diocese. I take immense pride in our educators, both in our schools and in the Catholic Education Office, who give selflessly of themselves to nurture, inspire, and support our students. Their dedication is the cornerstone of our success, and it is heartening to witness the positive impact they have on the lives of the young minds entrusted to their care. Teaching is often regarded as one of the noblest professions, and for good reason. It is a vocation that goes beyond the simple transfer of knowledge; it involves shaping minds, nurturing potential, and influencing the future. In today’s diverse and “Together, we have built a community that embodies the values of faith, education, and compassion” PAUL DESMOND From Chief Executive Officer CES Ltd
Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 21 Sandhurst Diocese Reports interconnected world, teachers play a crucial role in fostering understanding and respect among students from different backgrounds. They create inclusive learning environments that celebrate diversity and promote a sense of unity among students. In essence, teaching is not just a job; it is a calling. The impact that teachers have on the lives of their students and, by extension, on the fabric of society, underscores the noble nature of this profession. Australia, like many other countries, is experiencing demographic shifts that impact the teaching profession. An ageing workforce, coupled with a decrease in the number of individuals entering teacher education programs, contributes to the shortage of qualified educators. Addressing the teacher shortage requires a multifaceted approach involving government initiatives, educational institutions, and the broader community. Attracting and retaining teachers, especially in critical subject areas and remote communities, remains a significant challenge. Governments have a responsibility to help promote the teaching profession, providing incentives for students to study teaching and, in doing so, the Government must not prescribe where graduates begin their careers. Providing lucrative scholarships that tie graduates to a four-year teaching commitment at a government school, will have a detrimental impact on the educational system in Australia. The theme for 2023, “May the words you speak be full of grace,” has guided our choices and interactions throughout the year. This theme has inspired us to build each other up, to choose kindness, and to draw out the best in every person we encounter. It is a powerful reminder of the transformative impact our words can have on those around us. As another academic year comes to an end, I am confident in the knowledge that we are part of a strong and healthy educational system that continues to grow. Our schools have not merely imparted knowledge; they have been havens where students are empowered to reach their full potential. I am confident that the seeds we planted together will continue to flourish under the leadership of Kate Fogarty. She brings to this leadership role a love of the Faith, a deep experience in education and enormous creativity. In closing, I express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has been a part of this incredible journey. I will miss so many things about Sandhurst, especially the people. Together, we have built a community that embodies the values of faith, education, and compassion. I have every confidence that the future holds great promise for Catholic education, and I am excited to see the continued success and growth of our schools. As I bid you farewell, may God bless you all. Paul Desmond Chief Executive Officer Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd Paul Desmond with Kate Fogarty, the newly appointed Executive Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd Financial information for Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd can be found on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission website: Catholic Education Sandhurst Limited | ACNC
22 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 SCECE&C Ltd Vision is to create high–quality environments, where each child and family is accompanied on their journey of development, supported by the pastoral ministry of our Church as embodied in our Sandhurst communities. The authentically Catholic nature of Diocesan early childhood education and care, where young children will experience being part of God’s family, combined with the awe-inspiring mystery and wonder of creation, will nurture and influence significantly an holistic approach for the development of each child. 2023–2027 Strategic Plan The inaugural SCECE&C Ltd Strategic Plan was launched by Bishop Shane Mackinlay in March 2023 at the Diocesan Leadership Gathering. The Strategic plan provides direction and sets priorities for the next five-year period with the children at the heart of our efforts to be an authentic Catholic community, with quality teaching practice, focusing on a culture of care by nurturing a healthy and safe learning environment. The Board has developed a 2023– 2024 Strategic Priority Plan with strategic goals for the 2023–2024 period. The Plan provides actions and goals for the Board under each of the five strategic community areas. Growth Strategy & Business Plan SCECE&C Ltd currently has two services within the organisation, Assisi Kindergarten Strathfieldsaye, and St Mel’s Kindergarten Shepparton. Both services facilitate educational programs for 3- and 4-year-old children with enrolments of 154 and 88 children respectively in 2023. The MacKillop Early Learning Centre in Nagambie will open in January 2024. The Board has continued to monitor and update the Growth Strategy, highlighting opportunities to explore potential new services for the organisation. Applications to the Victorian School Building Authority are continually being lodged, monitored and updated as new information and data become available. The SCECE&C Ltd Business Plan has been reviewed and updated to include the ongoing finances for the existing services and the projected finances for new Projects at Nagambie and Echuca. A consolidated financial forecasting for SCECE&C Ltd has been monitored and updated periodically during the past 12-month period. Capital Grants and Projects Projects supported with grants allocated by the Victorian School Building Authority this year include Echuca Early Childhood Centre ($4,909,000.00), St Mel’s Kindergarten Expansion ($372,133.00) and MacKillop Early Learning Centre, Nagambie ($1,800,000.00). SCECE&C Ltd has an approved loan with the Diocesan Development Fund for $2,000,000 for the Echuca Early JULIE COBBLEDICK From Sandhurst Catholic Early Childhood Education & Care Ltd
Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 23 Sandhurst Diocese Reports Childhood Centre. Regulatory Information The National Quality Framework (NQF) provides a national approach to regulation, assessment and quality improvement for early childhood education and care across Australia including SCECE&C Ltd and the services under our governance. Services are assessed and rated by their regulatory authority against the National Quality Standards (NQS) and given a rating for each of the seven quality areas and an overall rating based on these results. St Mel’s Kindergarten and Assisi Kindergarten are both currently rated as services that exceed the National Quality Standards. Conclusion This year has been an important period for SCECE&C Ltd as the Board has continued to lay strong foundations for strengthening and growing the provision of early childhood education and care within the Diocese of Sandhurst. The ongoing rigour to policy development and approval is ensuring that our current services are compliant with the National Quality Framework and our new services are supported at a high standard to implement policy and procedures at time of opening. The work of the Board has been supported by our Chief Executive Officer, Mr Paul Desmond. Paul’s leadership and oversight have been critical during the initial 3-year period of SCECE&C Ltd. His capacity to have strong leadership of the management and operations of the organisation has been invaluable and will be part of the legacy that Paul leaves upon his pending retirement. Paul has been most generous with his time, expertise and support as the Company has built the solid Julie Cobbledick Chair of SCECE&C Ltd Board foundations to ensure the ongoing and future provision of early childhood education within the Diocese of Sandhurst. The ongoing work of Ms Carla Jeffrey Chief Early Childhood officer is to be commended. Of note is her capacity to build sound working relationships with agencies and government bodies who are pivotal to the future growth and development of SCECE&C Ltd. Carla’s professional approach to communication with the Board has ensured that effective decisions are made in the best interests of the organisation. Her oversight of staff within the Unit and our current services continues to provide a high level of early childhood education and care for our children and their families. The five strategic community areas for which the board has actions and goals planned during the 2023–2024 period. Financial information for SCECEC Ltd can be found on the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission website: Sandhurst Catholic Early Childhood Education & Care Limited | ACNC
24 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 In October of this year Pope Francis presided over XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome. This was the first of two sessions, the second session to be held in October 2024. The focus of the meeting was on the Synodal Church. Our own Bishop attended as an elected delegate of the Australian Bishops. As well as clergy participants, for the first time the Synod Assembly, had lay delegates who enjoyed voting and speaking rights. The fruits of this Synod in distant Rome will have an important impact on our local Sandhurst Church. The Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council is already established and running, with lay members as well as younger clergy from our Diocese. The Synod members in Rome wrote a letter to the People of God outlining the process of the meeting. A synthesis report of the Synod with the title A Synodal Church in Mission reports in substance on the outcomes and the hopes of the participants. It is in the context of the momentous significance of this Synod meeting in Rome that I now present this report on Clergy Life and Ministry. As I indicated in my 2021 and 2022 reports, the Diocese has been engaged over the last several years in developing a suite of policies on the welfare and care of the priests. This care on the part of the Diocese needs to be intentional, focused and comprehensive. The policies and their implementation are some of the principal ways of ensuring this care takes place. The documentation includes policy on the care and formation of priests; program for the welcome, support and acculturation of overseas priests working in the Diocese; policy for the support of recently ordained priests; ministry appraisal and review forms; and, policy on clergy remuneration and support. These documents all received careful scrutiny by the Sandhurst priests at the 2021 in-service at Wangaratta. This documentation is now finalised, has been collated in an attractive folder, and given to each Sandhurst priest. An annual feature of a priest’s spiritual life is the retreat, an opportunity to step back from busy pastoral engagements and devote quality time to an essential aspect of his priesthood, namely his relationship with Christ. Our practice in Sandhurst is to have an organised priests’ retreat every alternate year and priests making their own arrangements the other year. In 2023 our retreat was held at Corpus Christi College in Carlton with Fr Michael Smith SJ as the retreat director. Michael proposed a most intriguing and imaginative theme and symbol for the retreat. The theme of the retreat was “The Priest as Mystagogue and Artist. Kintsugi. God Can Make Us New”. Kintsugi is a Japanese art form to repair broken ceramics. Broken fragments of a bowl or glass container are moulded and shaped into something new with a gold adhesive paste so that what had initially appeared to be broken fragments are recreated into an aesthetic whole. The emphasis is on re-creation and not on repair. At the beginning of the retreat each participant was invited to choose a small glass vessel from the number of vessels Michael made available, as a compelling image of the retreat itself. The retreat was well received by the priest participants. The priest’s relationship with Christ REV. BRIAN BOYLE From Director, Diocesan Clergy Life and Ministry
Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 25 Sandhurst Diocese Reports Very Rev Dr Brian Boyle ADM EV Director, Clergy Life and Ministry is primary in his identity and mission. The annual retreat is an established feature for sustaining that relationship. Another regular feature of priestly professional development is the annual in-service. In 2023 we gathered at Cadell On The Murray at Moama, NSW, from 4-7 September. Sandhurst priests are now quite familiar with this resort as the facilities and location suit our purposes very well. A number of clergy gatherings have now been held in Moama. For 2023 the theme of the priests’ in-service was The Priest: earthenware vessel which holds the treasure (2 Cor 4:7). Providentially, the symbolic object of this retreat (an earthenware vessel) synthesised well with the symbol of the Kintsugi object in the priests’ retreat earlier in the year. Several key presentations were made during the in-service. Dr Chris Hayes, Chief Catholic Mission and Learning Officer of Catholic Education Sandhurst, made two presentations on the theme of Finding God’s Traces in All Things. Fr Jake Mudge presented on the human dimension of priestly ministry. Bishop Shane, drawing on his experience as a Synod member, presented on the theme of Synod for a Synodal Church. It was not all talking and listening; there were opportunities for leisure time together to build camaraderie. An innovation this year was time given to sacramental confessional practice, drawing on a number of hypothetical situations of sexual abuse presented in the confession, and discussion of best pastoral practice. I have made reference in this report already to documentation formatted and prepared on the life and ministry of Sandhurst priests. The Diocese takes its responsibility for the care and formation of its priests seriously. On alternate years a seminar is run at Moama for overseas priests (incardinated or on loan) ministering in the Diocese. On other years a similar seminar is run for those priests recently ordained (five years and under). In March 2023 a seminar was run at Moama for recently ordained priests. A welcome innovation was the inclusion of recently ordained priests from the Dioceses of Sale and Ballarat. The three rural Dioceses of Victoria were thus represented. Because almost all of the priest participants were seminarians together at Corpus Christi College, the priests knew each other well. The Diocese of Sandhurst was the host. There were ten participants from Sale, four from Ballarat and eight from Sandhurst. All three Bishops attended the whole program. The theme of this gathering was Reflections on Lived Experience of our Priestly Ministry. The emphasis was not so much on talks and presentations, but rather on input which then invited reflection together. Thus, there would be a presentation, for example, on safeguarding those in our care, or human formation and priestly identity, or synodality in parish ministry, followed by facilitated discussion in which clergy were invited to draw upon and share their own experience. Sandhurst Diocese relies on, and is enriched by, the presence of many priests born overseas now ministering in our parishes. In 2023 we welcomed Fr Boniface Kamulegeya who ministered with great pastoral effect in the parish of Rutherglen. The Rogationist Fathers assumed the pastoral care and leadership of the South Shepparton and Nagambie parishes late this year. Fr Rene Remirez RCJ leads a community of Filipino priests in South Shepparton. Fr Henry Onyirioha who ministered in Yarrawonga parish for several months in 2022 has expressed an interest in returning to our Diocese. There have also been other enquiries from priests in India. The presence and pastoral ministry of priests born overseas and now working in our Diocese is much appreciated. There were many other celebratory occasions in 2023 when the Sandhurst priests came together. We gathered at the Cathedral in Holy Week to celebrate the Chrism Mass with our Bishop. On 25 July we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the ordinations of Fr John Ryan and Monsignor Peter Jeffrey. Together these two priests represent 120 years of priestly ministry. At the celebratory luncheon both gave a speech, drawing on anecdotal stories of parish life as well as sharing more profound reflections on the priesthood itself. Sadly, in 2023 we noted the passing of Fr Steve Bohan, beloved parish priest of Yarrawonga, and of retired priest, Fr Peter Quinn. In 2024 Fr Jake Mudge will become the new Director of Clergy Life and Ministry. I have exercised this ministry for the last five years. It has been a privilege to work with brother priests, young and ministry old in their ministerial formation, particularly in the contexts of retreats and in-services. With these celebrations and gatherings, the Sandhurst clergy mark another year of ends and beginnings.
26 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 REV. JAKE MUDGE Coordinator of Seminarians Corpus Christi College “It was like a conversation with a caring grandfather.” This was how one of the seminarians who, along with teachers and young adult leaders from Victoria, described their audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican, en route to Portugal for the 2023 World Youth Day. Some 50 pilgrims were treated to a surprise hour-long closed audience with the Pope where, in a style he prefers and has made popular, he offered pilgrims the chance to ask questions about faith, life and Church. The seminarians present were very much taken by this experience of a “conversation with the Pope” (which happened without forewarning, in case it was not possible) and for the opportunity to share this experience with their fellow pilgrims. At one point, one of the teachers in the group asked the Pope what his message to young people would be, to which he responded: “The main message I want to get across is that the Lord is always by your side – always. Even in the most difficult moments, he is always with us. He never tires of walking with us!” The whole Seminary community (apart from the First Year Group and me who had a different program and remained in Carlton to “keep the home fires burning”) were fortunate to travel to Lisbon for the event, with many of the groups away for over two weeks to accommodate side-visits to Italy, Spain and the Holy Land. Such a significant trip meant that much of the normal college calendar had to be adjusted, including the cancellation of our annual Raffle Night fundraiser and entertainment night (which will return in 2024) and some rearranging of study and pastoral work timetables. Perhaps because of World Youth “The Lord is always by your side – always. Even in the most difficult moments, he is always with us. He never tires of walking with us!” Pope Francis World Youth Day 2023 From
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