Year in Review 2025 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 11 Good afternoon. My name is Fr Brian Boyle. I am the Administrator of Sacred Heart Cathedral. It is my duty – indeed my honour – to offer some words of farewell to Bishop Shane as he leaves this Diocese to be installed later this week as Metropolitan Archbishop of Brisbane. I speak on behalf of the Cathedral parish. I also speak on behalf of the Diocese of Sandhurst, the mighty Diocese of Sandhurst! I remember standing at this same lectern some seven years ago to farewell another Bishop of Sandhurst, Bishop Les Tomlinson (present with us today). I hope that farewelling bishops of Sandhurst does not become a habit for me! Shane Mackinlay and I have known each other for some twenty years now. I first met Shane at Catholic Theological College in East Melbourne in 2005. He was a lecturer in Philosophy; I was a lecturer in Sacred Scripture. Shane subsequently became Master of the College; I became the Academic Dean. Over the years, we worked closely together professionally. We also became friends. We discovered a mutual interest in music and culture. Gradually, we built up quite a list of subscriptions to theatre, symphony concerts and quartets. Without much exaggeration, we must have attended literally hundreds of concerts over the years. Shane is an erudite and cultured man. Sadly, however, that does not extend to opera; conversely, he could say my culture is limited because it does not encompass ballet! Much of Shane’s legacy will be identified in the area of synodality, the way of being Church in the world so fruitfully explored, and presented to us, by Pope Francis during the years of his pontificate. Synodality is not just a “buzz word” or a novelty but a return to the scriptures and the traditions of the Church to prayerfully discern, through deep listening and dialogue, the presence of the Holy Spirit leading us all forward, as missionary disciples of Christ, on a pilgrimage of hope, for our Church and for our world. Bishop Shane understood synodality in his own Diocese. He attended both sessions – in October 2023 and again in October 2024 – of the now famous Synod for a Synodal Church in Rome, as an elected member of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC), and was further elected as a member of the oversight committee drafting the final document, which was then approved by Pope Francis. Shane understood and lived what being a synodal Church means. This legacy is identified, not only on the world stage – the two sessions held in Rome 2023-2024, but also on the national and local stages. Bishop Shane played a key role in the 5th Plenary Council of Australia, held in Sydney in July 2022. It was also on the local diocesan level that this expertise for, and commitment to, synodality was apparent. In February 2023 a Diocesan Assembly was held in Kialla, to explore what synodality might mean for our Sandhurst diocesan mission and life. It was an historic gathering which Shane joyfully led. In terms of his legacy, mention can also be made of his leadership in the celebration of 150 years of our Sandhurst Diocese (1874-2024), of his visionary plan for the new Chancery building on the Cathedral Site (the beginnings of which will be undertaken in the next few months), and his care for the significant number of overseas priests now generously and effectively ministering in our parishes (he visited the homes of their families in India and the Philippines). Shane Mackinlay brought significant gifts of intellect, faith, administrative skill and vision to our Diocese of Sandhurst as our Bishop. He was also personable and engaging in his interactions with parishioners. We thank him sincerely and wish him well in his new role as Archbishop of Brisbane. I now invite you to stand and acknowledge with me: Shane Anthony Mackinlay, eighth Bishop of Sandhurst! Farewell Speech by Fr Brian Bishop Shane’s Farewell Mass Fr Brian Boyle, Administrator of Sacred Heart Cathedral and friend of Archbishop Shane Mackinlay spoke at Archbishop Shane Mackinlay’s Farewell Mass on 7 September 2025
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