Diocese of

Sandhurst

Australia

Continent: Oceania

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Sandhurst / Sandhursten(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Melbourne

Neighbouring Dioceses: Ballarat (↙), Wilcannia–Forbes (↖), Wagga Wagga (↗), Sale (↘), Melbourne (↓)

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Website:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1874.03.30: Established as Diocese of Sandhurst / Sandhursten(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Melbourne and became suffragan of Melbourne)

Contact Info

Address: 66 Short Street, PO Box 201, Bendigo, VIC 3552, Australia

Phone: +61 3 5441 2544

Present Prelates

Bishop (2026.04.11 – ...):

Bishop Rene Ramirez, R.C.J. (57)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Sandhurst (Roman Rite)

Bishop Rene Ramirez, R.C.J. (57)
(2026.04.11 – ...)

Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia)

Zelus et misericordia

Born:	1969.03.29 (Gapan, Philippines)
Ordained Priest:	1998.06.27
Consecrated Bishop:	2025.02.01

Priest of Sandhurst (Australia) (1998.06.27 – 2024.11.08)

Titular Bishop of Mauriana (2024.11.08 – 2026.04.11)

Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne (Australia) (2024.11.08 – 2026.04.11)

Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia) (2026.04.11 – ...)

Bishop Shane Anthony Mackinlay (60) (later Archbishop)
(2019.07.23 – 2025.06.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brisbane (Australia)

That they may have life

Born:	1965.06.05 (Brunswick, Victoria, Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1991.09.06
Consecrated Bishop:	2019.10.16

Priest of Ballarat (Australia) (1991.09.06 – 2019.07.23)

Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia) (2019.07.23 – 2025.06.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Brisbane (Australia) (2025.06.18 – ...)

Bishop Leslie Rogers Tomlinson (82)
(2012.02.03 – 2019.07.23)

Bishop emeritus of Sandhurst (Australia)

In Christ’s name

Born:	1943.08.27 (Mildura, Victoria, Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1972.08.18
Consecrated Bishop:	2009.06.17

Priest of Melbourne (Australia) (1972.08.18 – 2009.05.05)

Prelate of Honour of His Holiness (2003.05.20 – 2009.05.05)

Titular Bishop of Sinitis (2009.05.05 – 2012.02.03)

Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne (Australia) (2009.05.05 – 2012.02.03)

Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia) (2012.02.03 – 2019.07.23)

Bishop Joseph Angelo Grech
(2001.03.08 – 2010.12.28)

Come Lord Jesus

Born:	1948.12.10 (Balzan, Malta)
Ordained Priest:	1974.11.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1999.02.10
Died:	2010.12.28 (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia † 62)

Priest of Melbourne (Australia) (1974.11.30 – 1998.11.27)

Titular Bishop of Belesasa (1998.11.27 – 2001.03.08)

Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne (Australia) (1998.11.27 – 2001.03.08)

Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia) (2001.03.08 – 2010.12.28)

Bishop Noel Desmond Daly
(1979.04.21 – 2000.07.01)

Pasce oves meas

Born:	1929.02.10 (Sale, Victoria, Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1952.07.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1979.07.11
Died:	2004.01.14 (Bendigo, Victoria, Australia † 74)

Priest of Sale (Australia) (1952.07.27 – 1979.04.21)

Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia) (1979.04.21 – 2000.07.01)

Bishop Bernard Denis Stewart
(1950.08.18 – 1979.04.21)

Monstra te esse matrem

Born:	1900.08.02 (Essendon, Victoria, Australia)
Ordained Priest:	1929.12.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.02.11
Died:	1988.10.15 (Bendigo, Victoria, Australia † 88)

Priest of Melbourne (Australia) (1929.12.08 – 1946.12.12)

Titular Bishop of Ucres (1946.12.12 – 1950.08.18)

Coadjutor Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia) (1946.12.12 – 1950.08.18)

Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia) (1950.08.18 – 1979.04.21)

Bishop John McCarthy
(1917.02.14 – 1950.08.18)

Forti et fideli nihil difficile

Born:	1858.11.01 (Fermoyle House, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1883.04.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1917.06.07
Died:	1950.08.18 (Bendigo, Victoria, Australia † 91)

Priest of Galway and Kilmacduagh (Ireland) (1883.04.15 – 1917.02.14)

Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia) (1917.02.14 – 1950.08.18)

Bishop Stephen Reville, O.E.S.A.
(1901.10.21 – 1916.09.18)

Habito in consilio

Born:	1844.05.09 (Tagunnan, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1867.09.08
Consecrated Bishop:	1885.03.29
Died:	1916.09.18 (Bendigo, Victoria, Australia † 72)

Titular Bishop of Ceramus (1885.01.27 – 1901.10.21)

Coadjutor Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia) (1885.01.27 – 1901.10.21)

Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia) (1901.10.21 – 1916.09.18)

Bishop Martin Crane, O.E.S.A.
(1874 – 1901.10.21)

Born:	1818.10.11 (Barrystown, Ireland)
Ordained Priest:	1841.04.12
Consecrated Bishop:	1874.09.21
Died:	1901.10.21 (Bendigo, Victoria, Australia † 83)

Bishop of Sandhurst (Australia) (1874 – 1901.10.21)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Bernard Denis Stewart (1946.12.12 – 1950.08.18)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Stephen Reville, O.E.S.A. (1885.01.27 – 1901.10.21)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo, Victoria
Jubilee Churches in the Holy Year 2025

Churches by City (89)

Ballarat (↙), Wilcannia–Forbes (↖), Wagga Wagga (↗), Sale (↘), Melbourne (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 45,196 km²

Population: 104,000 Catholics (25.4% of 409,994 total)

Pastoral Centres: 40 parishes

Personnel: 53 priests (diocesan), 34 religious (7 brothers, 27 sisters), 2 seminarians

Pastoral Centres

Last updated on 2026.05.11

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