New Deanery Structure for Broken Bay
The Diocese of Broken Bay was established in 1986. It covers an area of 2,763 square kilometres and incorporates 26 parishes. The map above shows the new Deanery boundaries outlined in bold red, and the parish boundaries outlined in fine red lines.
March 2022
Since his appointment in 2019, Bishop Anthony has been considering the significance and configuration of the Deaneries of our Diocese, having sought advice throughout 2021 from the Council of Priests. He was then able to share with all the clergy at their Conference on 4 November 2021 that he would bring to an end the former configuration of Deaneries and implement a new structure, replacing the five current regions with three:
- Central Coast– Dean, Fr Brian Moloney
- North Shore – Dean, Fr Colin Blayney
- Northern Beaches – Dean, Fr David Taylor
Though two of the new Deaneries will be of larger size than currently, Bishop Anthony envisages within the Deaneries ‘hubs of shared ministry’ will emerge which provide more personal opportunities for collaboration. These ‘hubs’ will, for example, bring together clergy who relate to a health care facility (e.g. Gosford Hospital) or to a regional College. The Deaneries, themselves, will suggest which ‘hubs’ may be appropriate.
What is a deanery?
Deaneries are an important means of developing a shared mission across parishes within a particular region and to provide fraternal support to the clergy of the region. They provide the means for sharing the experience of ministry and local initiatives, developing possibilities of shared resources, and supporting the exercise of our priestly ministry. The Dean has a particular role to support the pastoral work of the region, and to provide fraternal and spiritual care of the clergy within the Deanery. The Dean will also have a formal role in Bishop Anthony’s Episcopal Visitation of Parishes and be a member of the Council of Deans which will advise Bishop Anthony on clergy personnel matters.
The ministry of the Deans will be assisted by the Mr Chris Lee, Executive Officer, Secretariat for Clergy.
The Diocese of Broken Bay was established in 1986. It covers an area of 2,763 square kilometres and incorporates 26 parishes. The map opposite shows the new Deanery boundaries outlined in bold red, and the parish boundaries outlined in fine red lines.