Year in Review 2025 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 13 Very Rev. Dr Brian Boyle Diocesan Administrator Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Very Rev. Dr Brian Boyle Diocesan Administrator One of the more significant events to occur in our Diocese in 2025 was the translation of our Bishop, Shane Mackinlay, to Brisbane. He was installed as Metropolitan Archbishop of Brisbane in a wonderful liturgical ceremony in St Stephen’s Cathedral there on 11 September, 2025. I attended the ceremony, as did a number of other priests and laity from the Sandhurst Diocese. Shane was our Bishop 2019-2025 and leaves a great legacy to us, especially in the era of synodality. The waiting time for the appointment of a new Bishop of Sandhurst by Pope Leo is typically some 12-15 months. A careful process of consultation and investigation is undertaken by the Apostolic Nuncio of potential candidates and, eventually, a list of three such candidates is sent to Rome for the Pope’s consideration. In the waiting time, an Administrator is elected and appointed for the Diocese, basically to keep the machines running until the new Bishop arrives. In the law of the Church, this right and responsibility of electing and appointing an Administrator belongs to the group called the College of Consultors. This group met at Shepparton to fulfil this specific task on 15 September. I was elected Administrator of the Diocese, on the first ballot. The Administrator then assumes some of the administrative and governance duties and responsibilities of a diocesan Bishop, in a caretaker role. This period is what we call sede vacante, with the (bishop’s) chair being vacant. This situation is now dramatically represented in our Sacred Heart Cathedral with an empty bishop’s chair. A key principle the Administrator must clearly work on is no innovation! He cannot introduce anything into the life and ministry of the Diocese which is contrary to the policies and governance of the previous Bishop, nor can he abandon or substantially change any of the programs or initiatives of the previous Bishop. And so, as far as Sandhurst Diocese is concerned, such initiatives and programs of Bishop Shane, which will continue during the sede vacante period, include the following: • implementation of the Sandhurst Mission & Pastoral Goals • development of Cathedral Square • formation support plan. The Administrator is not the captain of the ship; his task is to keep the ship on course. In this responsibility, he is aided, advised and assisted by the College of Consultors, which continues in the sede vacante period while other diocesan groups, for example: the Council of Priests, go into abeyance. One of the perks of the Administrator role is occupancy of the Bishop’s Office in the Chancery. This office becomes a room with a view, both literally and metaphorically. Literally in the sense of an unrestricted vista over the lush Chancery lawns and gardens and, metaphorically, in the sense that all important decisions about the life and mission of the Diocese are discussed, considered and acted upon in that room. This simple office affords the occupant a privileged view over the life of the Diocese. A perspective on diocesan life – people, celebrations, policies, events – is given to the occupant of this room as decisions related to financial, strategic and pastoral issues are reflected on and decided. It is a privilege, but also a responsibility. Construction work of the new Chancery on the Cathedral site has now begun and it is anticipated the work will be completed within two years. The current Chancery staff and offices will then move to the new building, in what will be known as Cathedral Square. It is an ambitious project and one which will greatly enhance the site of Bendigo’s iconic Sacred Heart Cathedral. One of the offices in the new Chancery building will be the Bishop’s Office which will, naturally, have a commanding view over the developed cathedral precinct. This office, too, will be a room with a view, a view of the Cathedral Square and a view over the life and mission of the Diocese. Occupied by the new Bishop, this room/office will be one of the key places where he exercises care, oversight, governance and encouragement in the Diocese, aided by those who occupy adjacent offices, working in collaboration with him. A room with a view seems to be an apt way of describing leadership in the Diocese – a privileged view of oversight, but a commanding view which also carries accountability and responsibility. A Room with a View
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