The Council of Religious, Diocese of Ballarat was inaugurated by Bishop Ronald Mulkearns in 1972. At that time it was called the Ballarat Diocesan Sisters’ Council. With the inclusion of the Christian Brothers in 1985 followed by other male congregations, the Council was appropriately renamed.
The objectives of the Council of Religious include the following:
- To be a contact for and a support to the Bishop;
- To provide the religious of the diocese with a voice in the matters pertaining to the life and mission of the church of the diocese of Ballarat;
- To make a contribution to the life and faith of the Ballarat diocese; and
- To promote the understanding of Religious Life within the church.
2019 Members of the Council for Religious
President: Bishop Paul Bird CSsR
Treasurer: Sr Irene Monigatti rsm
Secretary: Sr Maree Holt csb
Members: Sr Elisapeta Tevaga csn, Sr Denise Demarchelier ibvm, Sr Carmel Giles rsm.
Religious Congregations in our Diocese at this time.
Sisters of St Brigid 4 Sisters
Sisters of the Good Samaratans 4 Sisters
Sisters of St John of God left the diocese in 2014
Loreto Sisters 4 Sisters
Sisters of Mercy 43 Sisters
Sisters of Nazareth 4 Sisters
Sisters of Sion 1 Sister
Sisters of St John the Baptist 2 Sisters
Christian Brothers 4 Brothers
Dominican Fathers left the diocese in 2017
Missionaries of the Sacred Heart 1 Priest
Redemptorists 1 Bishop, 5 Priests