Pope Leo appoints New Archbishop of Brisbane
Pope Leo has this evening appointed Most Reverend Shane Mackinlay, as the new Archbishop of Brisbane. Bishop Shane will replace Archbishop Mark Coleridge, who is retiring after 13 years as the Archbishop of Brisbane and 51 years as a priest.
Bishop Shane said he was deeply honoured by Pope Leo’s decision to appoint him as Archbishop of Brisbane and was excited by the opportunity to serve the broader Church in a new way, even though moving on from the Diocese of Sandhurst comes with sadness:
“Since I became the Bishop of Sandhurst nearly six years ago, I have been greatly encouraged and inspired by the lively faith and commitment of the people, priests and communities of the Diocese, and by the generous friendship and welcome they have offered to me personally. I am grateful to have shared in the pilgrim journey of the People of God here, where we have together begun new initiatives in living out our mission as Jesus’ disciples.”
Bishop Shane is pleased he will be following Archbishop Mark Coleridge, who has been a friend and mentor of his for many years. Download Bishop Shane's message as pdf >>
“Bishop Shane is an experienced pastor who knows how to listen, attuned both to the big picture and the practical details. That combination makes him a capable administrator, well-suited to lead a diocese as large and complex as Brisbane. I have no doubt he will bring exceptional gifts and fresh energies to the Archdiocese of Brisbane, where he will be creative in pursuing the path of synodality into the future God is preparing. I am grateful to Pope Leo for this wise choice of a new Archbishop.”
Archbishop Mark Coleridge
Read Archbishop Coleridge's full statement >>
“The Archbishop-elect’s pastoral experience in his home diocese of Ballarat, and his leadership of the diocese of Sandhurst, together with his strong academic background, will stand him in good stead as he takes up the new challenge of pastoral leadership in the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
So, too, will be his significant contribution to ecumenical and interfaith dialogue which has been a particular feature of his contribution to the work of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.”
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President
Read the announcement from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference >>
Bishop Mackinlay was born in Melbourne in 1965, grew up in Ballarat and studied for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College, Clayton. He was ordained as a priest for the Ballarat Diocese in 1991.
He then undertook graduate studies in philosophy at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, where he completed a Master’s degree and a Doctorate.
Bishop Mackinlay served in parish ministry as well as teaching at Australian Catholic University, Ballarat, and Catholic Theological College, Melbourne, where he was appointed Master in 2011.
The following year he was appointed Associate Professor by the University of Divinity.
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Mackinlay as the eighth Bishop of Sandhurst in July 2019.
Archbishop Coleridge is retiring after 13 years in the Archdiocese of Brisbane and over 51 years as a priest.
He said Bishop Mackinlay was an “experienced pastor who knows how to listen”.
“I have no doubt he will bring exceptional gifts and fresh energies to the Archdiocese of Brisbane, where he will be creative in pursuing the path of synodality into the future God is preparing,” Archbishop Coleridge said.