Bishop Stuart Hall consecrated Bishop of the Military Ordinariate
On Saturday 29 August, the Most Reverend Stuart Russell Hall was consecrated as Bishop of Australia’s Military Ordinariate at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne. The occasion offered a unique opportunity for clergy, the lay faithful, civic leaders, dignitaries and members of Australia’s defence force to gather in celebration and thanksgiving.
The venue for Saturday’s episcopal consecration was also fitting. Up until his appointment as Bishop of the Military Ordinariate by Pope Leo XIV, the then-Monsignor Hall had been serving as dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral, a position he’d held since 2023. It is also where he was ordained a priest almost 40 years ago.
Episcopal consecration of Bishop Stuart Hall at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Archbishop Peter A Comensoli was the principal consecrator of Saturday’s Mass and was joined by co-consecrators Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra and Goulburn, and Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP of Sydney. Cardinal Mykola Bychok CSsR of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Sts Peter and Paul in Melbourne was also a concelebrant of the Mass, along with other bishops and priests from Melbourne and around Australia.
Embrace the ministry with faithfully expend your energy, with a glad heart, proclaiming Christ and his gospel of peace to the military personnel and those near and dear to them.
Monsignor Alfred De Souza, First Class Secretary to the Apostolic Nunciature in Australia, read the apostolic letter of appointment, within which Pope Leo XIV exhorted the new bishop to ‘embrace the ministry with faithfully expend your energy, with a glad heart, proclaiming Christ and his gospel of peace to the military personnel and those near and dear to them.’
During the Consecration, Archbishop Comensoli laid his hands on the head of the bishop-elect, invoking the Holy Spirit to guide him in his new ministry. As he did so, the choir sang the words,
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor
(Where charity and love are, God is there
Love of Christ has gathered us into one’)
The Book of the Gospels was then opened and placed over the head of the bishop-elect, with the Archbishop praying:
Pour out now upon this chosen one that power which is from you, the governing Spirit, whom you gave to your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the Spirit whom he bestowed upon the holy Apostles, who established the Church in each place as your sanctuary for the glory and unceasing praise of your name.
The symbols of the Office of the Bishop were then presented: the mitre, signifying the bishop’s teaching authority; the ring, representing his fidelity to the Church; and the crosier, symbolising his role as a shepherd of the faithful.
Archbishop Comensoli calls Bishop Hall to proclaim Christ’s peace
In his homily, Archbishop Comensoli encouraged his brother bishop to preach Christ’s peace ‘with constancy and fidelity’.
‘Pax Christi mihi est Dux. “The peace of Christ is my leader.” Here is the motto by which Mgr Stuart is to be sent, the maxim to guide and direct his life’s work of proclamation of the Gospel,’ said the Archbishop. ‘Peace was the first word of the risen Christ, given to his disciples for them to receive. But it was given with an immediate call for them to be sent out with it.
You are not asked to undertake this ministry from your own strength. You are, rather, being asked to remain close to Christ, to listen for his voice, and to allow his peace to shape the way you teach, shepherd and serve.
‘You are not asked to undertake this ministry from your own strength. You are, rather, being asked to remain close to Christ, to listen for his voice, and to allow his peace to shape the way you teach, shepherd and serve. For the serving personnel and their families of the Australian Defence Force—to whom you are sent—who experience separation, sacrifice, and sometimes grief in their mission, may you embrace the prophetic calling to work for the work of peace.’
Bishop Hall begins ministry with a message of peace
Following the Eucharist, the newly ordained bishop was led by Archbishops Christopher Prowse and Anthony Fisher OP throughout St Patrick’s Cathedral, offering a blessing to all present.
At the end of the celebration, Bishop Hall offered some words of gratitude and at times teared up as he acknowledged all those who have nurtured his faith since childhood. ‘As I give thanks to Almighty God for the grace of this day, my thoughts turn first to those who called me to faith. I remember and give gratitude to my beloved parents, Pam and Donald. They introduced me to the faith, and by their daily example, nurtured that faith throughout my life,’ said an emotional Bishop Hall.
‘To my sisters, my family, my brothers-in-law, my nieces and nephews, and all my extended family, thank you. Your love, your prayers, your constant support have been one of God’s greatest blessings and gifts in my life.’
The new bishop also paid tribute to his predecessor, Bishop Emeritus Max Davis. ‘You loved this ordinariate deeply, and served it with great generosity,’ he said. ‘Today we thank you for your faithful service, honour your perseverance and assure of our prayers.’
‘I also wish to express my profound gratitude to Archbishop Christopher Prowse, who has served as Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinary over these past five years,’ he said. ‘Archbishop Christopher, you accepted this responsibility in a time of uncertainty and guided the Ordinariate with wisdom, stability, and genuine pastoral care. Thank you for your generous leadership and for the strong foundation you now hand on.’
Bishop Stuart Hall outlines his mission for the Military Ordinariate
Bishop Hall also outlined his mission for the military ordinariate.
My mission is simple: to bring the peace of Christ to every corner of the ordinariate, and to make it known to every member of our military community.
‘I also wish to express my profound gratitude to Archbishop Christopher Prowse, who has served as Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinary over these past five years,’ he said. ‘Archbishop Christopher, you accepted this responsibility in a time of uncertainty and guided the Ordinariate with wisdom, stability, and genuine pastoral care. Thank you for your generous leadership and for the strong foundation you now hand on.’
Bishop Hall also outlined his mission for the military ordinariate.
‘My mission is simple,’ he said, ‘[it is] to bring the peace of Christ to every corner of the ordinariate, and to make it known to every member of our military community—from recruits to recent veterans. … The peace Christ gives is not merely the absence of conflict; it is the peace that steadies the heart, gives courage in uncertainty, strengthens us in hardship, teaches us to give, and enables us to remain faithful, whatever lies before us.’
Bishop Hall pays tribute to Australian Defence Force chaplains
Bishop Hall also paid tribute to the chaplains, priests, deacons, and pastoral associates supporting members of Australia’s defence force.
‘These ministers quietly accompany [our servicemen and women] with prayer, the sacraments, and the compassionate presence of Christ,’ he said. ‘Much of their ministry is unseen, but it is deeply valued, and I thank them for their faithful service.
‘As Australians, we are rightly proud of our defence force. We admire the courage of those who stand ready to confront evil, defend what is good and just, and protect our nation and our allies. We also know that such service also comes at a cost. The sacrifice is borne not only by those who wear the uniform, but also by their spouses, their children, their families and all those who wait faithfully at home.
‘The Church sees your sacrifices, values your fidelity and walks with you in hope.’
This article was first published by Melbourne Catholic and has been adapted and republished by EWTN Australia.
