150 Years of the Diocese

We are observing the whole of 2024 as an anniversary year. Bishop Paul invited parishes to acknowledge the 150th anniversary at Masses on the weekend of April 27-28, 2024. He invited schools to mark the anniversary during the week of April 29 to May 3, coinciding with Catholic Education Week which was brought forward for the occasion.

Bishop Paul encouraged each parish and each school to acknowledge their own history in the context of the 150 years of the history of the diocese. Local communities are coming up with creative ways of telling their local story as part of the diocesan story. Parishes were encouraged to host a community gathering on the weekend of April 27-28.

Parishioners of St Joseph’s Hopetoun, Star of the Sea Parish South West Coast and St Aloysius Redan gathered to recognise 150 years of the Ballarat Diocese.

Read more:

Video Displays

Bishop Paul is commemorating the anniversary year with a personal visit to each parish and looks forward to celebrating with as many local communities as possible throughout the year.

Bishop Paul’s visit to the South West Coast Parish:

Resources, prayer and songs are available at: https://www.ballarat.catholic.org.au/our-diocese/150th-anniversary-of-the-diocese-of-ballarat/

We are a community of communities from the Murray to the sea.
Inspired by the Gospel and nourished by the Eucharist, we follow the example of Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, reaching out in joyful and humble service, caring for all of God’s creation, growing in love day by day and looking forward to life with God forever.

Diocesan Vision Statement

In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands in which the Diocese of Ballarat sits. We would like to pay our respects to Aboriginal Elders past, present and future. Their wisdom can help us care for the earth, our common home.

- Acknowledgement of Country -