Geoff brings significant experience and expertise to the role having served as Diocesan Director of Mission Support Services in Townsville since 2018, and prior to that in several executive leadership roles in Catholic agencies, congregations and dioceses in Queensland. Geoff holds a Master of Education and a Graduate Diploma in Religious Education from Australian Catholic University, as well as qualifications in governance, assessment and training and is an accredited facilitator.
I'm very pleased to be working with you in the Diocese of Sandhurst and to have the opportunity to join your story. I will be supporting the responsibilities of Dr Chris Cotter in the Mission and Pastoral Life Office based at the Diocesan Chancery.
The people of the Sandhurst Diocese have engaged in much reflection, discussion and discernment in recent years. It is a pattern that I am familiar with through working in diocesan and parish mission and pastoral renewal in the Townsville Diocese and, previously, the Brisbane Archdiocese.
I have been asked to have a strong focus on assisting parishes and other faith-based communities to address the recently discerned Sandhurst strategic mission and pastoral goals. The ten goals are organised under three Directions:
- Gospel Mission and Pastoral Outreach
- Belonging and a Sense of Community
- Lifegiving and Empowering Formation
My particular emphasis will be on the Formation goals under Direction 3. The Formation referred to is about helping the members of the Church to deepen their connection to Jesus and strengthen their capacity to pursue the goals under Directions 1 and 2.
I have been very involved with youth ministry over the years and will have an active engagement with Sandhurst Youth Ministry, working with the new Youth Ministry Team Leader, Claire Spinelli, and the Sandhurst Youth Ministry Reference Group. Similarly, I will have close involvement with the work of our Communications Coordinator, Katrina Strong.
I commenced service to the Catholic community as a teacher in Catholic schools and, after 18 years, moved into broader diocesan pastoral and leadership roles. In these settings, a significant part of my work has been about helping parishes clarify and understand the mission Jesus has called us to, and accompanying parishes as they grow in knowledge, confidence and resilience for living that mission.
I am married to Jill and we have four young adult children.
