DOBCEL Board Membership Announcement

Hello Everyone,

I write with news regarding membership of our Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education Board.

Fr Andrew Hayes has advised me of his decision to resign as a DOBCEL Director. I thank Fr Andrew for the contributions he has made to Catholic education in our diocese, especially in the discernment and implementation of DOBCEL and in his earlier years of service as a member of the Ballarat Diocesan Schools Advisory Council. Throughout these years, he has been particularly involved in the Enhancing Catholic Schools Identity project. While recognising the service Fr Andrew has given in these ways, I also thank him for his ongoing commitment to supporting the work of our diocesan education community in the years ahead.

Following Fr Andrew’s resignation from the DOBCEL Board, I have asked Fr Kevin Maloney to become a DOBCEL Director and he has accepted this appointment. He will bring to this role his skill as a governor of schools, both primary and secondary, as well as the experience of his time as Director of Religious Education for our diocese.

May the Holy Spirit guide us day by day in our service of Catholic education throughout our diocesan community.

God bless you all.

Bishop Paul

Paul Bird CSsR
Bishop of the Diocese of Ballarat

Welcome Fr Kevin Maloney VG

Fr Kevin Maloney was ordained a priest on August 19, 1978 at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, following studies at Corpus Christi Seminary.

During his studies Fr Kevin obtained a Bachelor of Theology.  In 1993 Kevin studied at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium for a Master’s Degree.

Fr Kevin has served in the following parishes in the Diocese of Ballarat: Assistant Priest at Ballarat East and Swan Hill; Parish Priest at Mortlake, Bungaree, Daylesford, Creswick, Gordon, Redan and Sebastopol; and Administrator of Ballarat East, Beaufort and Linton parishes.

Fr Kevin was appointed as the Director of the Diocesan Religious Education Centre in January 1993.  In January 2002, Fr Kevin was then appointed as the Director of Pastoral Ministry for the Diocese.  During this time he served on various diocesan committees including the Pastoral Development Commission and the Personnel Advisory Board

Fr Kevin was appointed at Diocesan Vicar General on 2 March 2018 by the Bishop to assist in the governance of the diocese.

On January 14, 2021, in addition to being Vicar General, he accepted the role of Diocesan Pastoral Development Co-ordinator to help develop and facilitate diocesan initiatives, programs and activities to strengthen and support diocesan and parish life.  This position is part of the Office of the Bishop of Ballarat and liaises with diocesan colleagues, in particular the Pastoral Ministry Office.

Fr Kevin is currently a member of the Diocesan Council of Priests, College of Consultors, Bishops Advisory Council, Pastoral Planning Panel, Plenary Council Working Party, Finance Council, CDF Committee of Management, Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation, Professional Standards Panel and is Co-Governor of St Francis Xavier Primary School, Ballarat East and Damascus College, Mt Clear.

In his role as Vicar General, Kevin is also a diocesan representative for the upcoming Plenary Council.

Fr Kevin was appointed a member of the DOBCEL Board on 6 September 2021.