Year in Review 2025 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 19 2025 Reports in the broader diocesan missionary endeavours and activities. The SMPC and Council of Priests were involved in a process that led to the development of a Diocesan Formation Support Plan. The plan was launched by Archbishop Shane in June and outlines ten projects across 2025 and 2026 that will assist parishes and faith communities to take steps towards the Sandhurst Strategic Mission and Pastoral Goals (2024-2028). Project four of the plan, a Diocesan Formation Gathering was held at Notre Dame College in Shepparton on 11 October. The theme of the Gathering, “Building Communities of Belonging”, was drawn from Strategic Direction 2 of the Goals and drew more than one hundred and twenty participants from all over the Diocese. The program included a keynote, delivered by Dr Paul Sharkey, workshops, a significant time of prayer and opportunities for those present to participate in structured conversations with priests, professed religious and the lay faithful from their own parish and neighbouring parishes. The feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive, with the majority of respondents to the formal participant survey stating that the most valuable part of the day was the opportunity to have focused conversations with the faithful from other parishes. The Mission and Pastoral Life Team, Chancery Staff and many volunteers made the day possible, and I am particularly grateful to Mr Geoff Gowdie (Assistant Director of Mission and Pastoral Life) and Mrs Leslie Cooper (Executive Assistant to the Director, Mission and Pastoral Life) for respectively taking the operational and logistical leads for this important event in the life of the Diocese. With support from the Mission and Pastoral Life Team, Benalla Parish, and the Parishes of Tatura and Kyabram participated in the Bishop’s Parish Visitation Program in 2025. The Cathedral Cluster of Parishes in Bendigo also used the discernment and reflection tools provided in the Visitation Guide to present a comprehensive Report which will assist the parishes in their planning for the next five years. Members of the Mission and Pastoral Life Team have also provided follow-up support to the newly formed parish of Christ the King, which was established as a recommendation from the Bishop’s Visitation in 2024 to Moyhu, Wangaratta and Wangaratta South. As Executive Officer to the Council of Priests, I have had the opportunity of working closely with the Chair, Father Adi Indra. I have also collaborated with Father Jake Mudge, Director of Clergy Life and Ministry in the establishment of an Implementation Framework for the policies that support the ongoing formation of priests in the Diocese. It has been my privilege to lead the Mission and Pastoral Life Team in 2025. Mr Geoff Gowdie commenced in late January as Assistant Director, Mission and Pastoral Life. Geoff has worked swiftly and astutely to learn our context and facilitated the development of the Diocesan Formation Support Plan and is the operational lead for its implementation. Mrs Claire Spinelli, Sandhurst Youth Ministry Team Leader, also commenced in late January. With the support of the Youth Ministry Reference Group, Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd Office staff and members of the Mission and Pastoral Life Team, Claire coordinated a successful pilgrimage for young people in our Diocese to the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne in early December. The pilgrimage event is part of a broader strategy to activate local leadership of ministry with young people in our Diocese, in partnership with our parishes and schools. Ms Jessan Tano was recruited mid-year as a Youth Ministry Officer and has provided valuable support to Claire as Team Leader. Ms Katrina Strong (Communications Coordinator) ensured that subscriptions to the Sandpiper e-News continued to grow, presented a well-received report on the status of communications in the Diocese to the SMPC in May and streamlined the submission and distribution of Chancery bulletin notices for parishes. Mrs Leslie Cooper (Executive Assistant to the Director), as well as being an indispensable organisational support to me, facilitated the digital transformation of the Parish Report for the Bishop’s Visitation and coordinated the logistics for the Diocesan Formation Gathering on 11 October in Shepparton. In September, we welcomed a temporary Administration Officer Kristy Margetts who has assisted Claire with preparations for the Youth Festival in Melbourne. Kerry Stone, Sandhurst Caritas-Justice Coordinator, helped the Care for Creation team finalise the Laudato Si’ Action Plan for the Diocese. The Plan was endorsed by Archbishop Shane in May. Kerry also coordinated the annual Season of Creation Mass with our diocesan community at the Huntly Streamside Reserve near Bendigo. The Mass was celebrated on 5 September by the Vicar General, Father Joe Taylor. Mary Pianta, Disability Contact Coordinator, has continued to offer information to parish communities about practical ways to foster understanding and inclusion. Assistance has also been provided by Miss Josie Cortese for diocesan events held in Shepparton. Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd hosted a Dialogue Day for all priests and school principals in May. This day was a great success and provided the space and time for shared prayer, input by Mr Geoff Gowdie on the missionary aspirations of the Universal Church, conversation at tables and the review and updating of the Shared Mission Agreements between parishes and schools. The Sandhurst Theology Scholarships have continued in 2025, providing to parishioners and those engaged in ministry access to financial support to study courses in postgraduate level academic theology, spiritual leadership and clinical pastoral education. An internal evaluation of the Scholarship system is currently underway, with a view to a revised suite of offerings aligned with the Strategic Mission and Pastoral Goals being launched in 2026. 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 2026 as we continue our journey as the pilgrim people of God in Sandhurst. Dr Chris Cotter Director Mission and Pastoral Life
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