The Knights of the Southern Cross Priests Support And Education Fund

10/05/2026

Today we celebrate all the women who gave us the gift of life and who tirelessly care for us. Happy Mother’s Day! 💖

09/05/2026

The Knights of the Southern Cross Victoria are proud to announce the The Knights of the Southern Cross Victoria Archbishop’s Dinner 2026 is to be held at Grand Star Receptions and Convention Centre Altona North on Friday October 16, 2026 at 7:00PM.

This Prestigious event offers guests an opportunity to socialise with like-minded people while supporting the education of our clergy.

GUEST SPEAKER- PETA CREDLIN AO
Peta Credlin AO is an Australian political commentator, former senior political advisor and lawyer. She is best known for her influential role in politics and the media.

Her most notable role was serving as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Tony Abbott from 2013 to 2015. She played a key role in shaping government policy and stategy during Abbott’s leadership.
After leaving politics Peta transitioned into the media. She became a Sky News Australia host. In this role she is known for her strong viewpoints and commentary on national and international political issues.

COMPERE- CHRIS DICKINSON
Chris worked in the Catholic Education System throughout his teaching career. He has been a physical education teacher, music teacher, classroom teacher, deputy principal and principal. He has many treasured memories of his time working in Catholic schools. Chris is now retired and his leisure time includes golf, breeding and syndicating Thoroughbreds, following the St Kilda Football Club and spending time with family and friends.

Enquiries
Nadia Bolzonello: 0407 055 237, email [email protected]
Carmine Miranda: 0412 817 995, email [email protected]
Andrew Vaccaro: 0404 390 824, email [email protected]
Angela Bonato: 0413 669 585 email: [email protected]
RSVP – Friday 11th September, 2025

Booking form for the Archbishop's Dinner can be downloaded ffrom here:
https://1drv.ms/b/c/786281d250cd8a6e/IQDbgPEk5dtbT4AZ5AZmSGsOAVS-VXrIjcJrQhzlEMVBxW4?e=9jqVrR

09/05/2026

Friends, I warmly invite you to join me for the annual Corpus Christi Procession on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, as we give visible witness of our faith to the people and city of Melbourne.

09/05/2026

On Wednesday April 29 the The Knights of the Southern Cross Priests Support And Education Fund officially launched its flagship event, The Knights of the Southern Cross Victoria Archbishop’s Dinner 2026 at Corpus Christi College Seminary in Carlton, in the presence of about 80 guests, including seminarians, seminary staff, distinguished guests, and members of the Knights of the Southern Cross Victoria.

An annual event which commenced in 1999, the KSCV Archbishop’s Dinner is held to help raise funds for the education of Victoria’s seminarians (along with those seminarians preparing as chaplains for the Australian Defence Force), and those priests undergoing further education. The official Seminary Launch is equally as important as an event, bringing those hosting this important fundraising event with its beneficiaries. It also gives potential new sponsors a taste of seminary life, giving them a chance to get to know Victoria’s future priests.

Beginning with evening Vespers at the Seminary Chapel, guests then proceeded to the Clunies Dining Room where the Dinner was officially launched. Seminary Rector Fr Cameron Forbes welcomed everyone in attendance, while Priests Support and Education Fund Chairman Carmine Miranda had the task of officially launching the Dinner, which will be held on Friday October 16 at Grand Star Receptions and Convention Centre Altona North, with Sky News Australia presenter Peta Credlin AO as guest speaker. Fr Forbes explained to those in attendance that due to the current political instability in the Holy Land, the usual scholarships awarded to two exceptionally performing seminarians to visit those sacred sites would instead be presented to selected seminarians to travel to other holy pilgrimage sites such as Lourdes and Fatima. The two seminarians who travelled to such Holy Places last year spoke on their experiences.

At the end of the evening, guests made their way to the Seminary lounge where seminarians hosted guests for tea, coffee and desserts.

Videos of the Vespers and Official Launch can be viewed here:
KSCV Priests Support And Education Fund Seminary Launch- April 29, 2026- Solemn Vespers
https://youtu.be/Pu7nmLE5u3M

KSCV Priests Support And Education Fund Seminary Launch- April 29, 2026- Official Launch
https://youtu.be/KtCrvZrlJuQ

Booking form for the Archbishop's Dinner can be downloaded from here:
https://1drv.ms/b/c/786281d250cd8a6e/IQDbgPEk5dtbT4AZ5AZmSGsOAVS-VXrIjcJrQhzlEMVBxW4?e=pkaBjW

07/05/2026

On the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), everyone is invited to join Archbishop Peter A Comensoli at the annual Melbourne Corpus Christi Procession. Like the disciples who recognised Jesus on the journey to Emmaus, let us bear witness to the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, our light and hope! 🙏

The procession begins at St Patrick’s Cathedral followed by a walk through the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, concluding at Fed Square.

Mark your calendar and we’ll see you there!

📆 Sunday 7 June 2026
⌚️ 2pm onwards
📍 St Patrick’s Cathedral ➡️ CBD ➡️ Fed Square.

25/04/2026

This weekend we mark Good Shepherd Sunday, or World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Pope Leo XIV says that a vocation is a gift that unfolds like a path, ‘much like life itself'. It’s a gift that he says 'must not only be protected but also nourished by a daily relationship with God in order to grow and bear fruit … To grow in one’s vocation means being with Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to act in our hearts and in the circumstances of life, and reinterpreting everything in light of this gift.'

Across our parishes this weekend you may meet some of the young men who are studying for the priesthood in our Archdiocese. Please pray for them as they discern their vocation, and pray for all young people—that they may encounter the love of Jesus the Good Shepherd in their lives and respond wholeheartedly with a 'yes!' 🙏

Learn more: https://vocations.melbournecatholic.org

Corpus Christi College Seminary

15/04/2026

Vale Fergus Ryan AO KMG
The Knights of the Southern Cross Priests Support And Education Fund mourns the passing of one of its long time Patrons and Sponsors, Fergus Ryan. His Funeral Mass was celebrated at St Patrick’s Cathedral Melbourne yesterday.

Requiescat in Pace.

Vale Fergus Ryan AO KMG

It is with deep sadness, but in the hope of the Resurrection, that we share the passing of our Confrère Fergus Ryan, who died peacefully on 7 April at VMCH Oneil House, aged 82. Fergus was surrounded by family, friends, and two chaplains of the Order, Bishop Terry Curtin and Archbishop Peter Comensoli, in his final days.

The Order of Malta was a central part of Fergus’ life. He was a dedicated member, active in both liturgical and charitable works. In recent years, Fergus volunteered at the Agg St Community Hub and generously supported numerous projects, including our Medical Clinic in Timor-Leste.

Fergus also had a distinguished corporate career as Senior Partner at Arthur Andersen, board member of the Commonwealth Bank, Strategic Investment Adviser to Prime Minister John Howard, and Chair and Patron of the Global Foundation. Yet it was his deep faith and support of the Church that defined him. His warmth, humility, and belief in the next generation touched everyone who knew him, and the Order was truly blessed to count him as a member and friend.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of our brother and faithful servant Fergus, asking God to grant him mercy, forgiveness, and eternal rest, and to help him attain the joy of heaven. Please also keep in your prayers his wife, Consoeur Judy Ryan, their family, and loved ones, who are experiencing great loss at this time. May they be comforted by the promise of reward for those who do the Father’s work.

05/04/2026

Happy Easter to everyone.

Today we celebrate the risen Lord.

The video featured is of the Good Friday performance of the Annual Melbourne Passion Play, a long time sponsor of the Priests Support and Education Fund. The full video will premiere on YouTube at 8:30PM Easter Sunday at the following link:
https://youtu.be/Wu8u2ZYsbes

02/04/2026

We wish everybody a blessed Good Friday, commemorating Our Lord's Passion. A reminder that the second of two performances of the Annual Melbourne Passion Play (one of our long time sponsors) will take place this morning at 10:00AM at Catholic Regional College Sydenham. Entrance is free.

For those who missed it, Sunday's performance will premiere on YouTube tonight at 8:30PM.

The full video of the first of two live performances of the Annual Melbourne Passion Play, held at Catholic Regional College Sydenham on Sunday March 29, 202...

07/01/2026

Congratulations go to Fr Mark William Freeman of the Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart, who has been appointed to take over as Bishop of Ballarat from returning Bishop Paul Bird. The Bishops of Victoria are Patrons of our Fund- we thank Bishop Bird for his years of service, and welcome Bishop-elect Freeman.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bellerive-Lindisfarne Parish Priest, Fr Mark William Freeman (66), as the Bishop of Ballarat, in Western Victoria. He will succeed Bishop Paul Bird CSsR who has shepherded the diocese since 2012.

Fr Mark received news of his appointment via a FaceTime call from the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Balvo. It was agreed the announcement would be made on the anniversary of his parents’ wedding, in gratitude for the life and faith they nurtured in him.

“It is where it all began, really,” Fr Mark said.

He was ordained to the priesthood on 24 August 1984 at St Finn Barr’s Church Invermay, by Archbishop Sir Guilford Young, following his seminary formation at Corpus Christi College in Clayton, Victoria.

Congratulating Bishop-elect Freeman, Archbishop Tony Ireland of Hobart, said that the Archdiocese of Hobart is offering a significant gift to the Diocese of Ballarat:

“Fr Mark is one of Tasmania’s finest. He has served in every part of the Archdiocese and in its most senior leadership roles, providing wise counsel to three Archbishops, and carrying a living memory of the diocese. He will be a wonderful bishop for Ballarat. I wish him every blessing and success in his new ministry.”

Fr Mark said his greatest joy in priesthood has been listening to and sharing in the stories of faith and life of the People of God:

“I am very much looking forward to journeying together with the communities of faith that make up the Diocese of Ballarat,” he said.

Widely regarded as ‘a priest’s priest’, Fr Mark has served extensively in Clergy Life and Ministry and has led clergy retreats nationally.

“I am ready and willing to continue learning as I begin this new work in communion with the priests and people of Ballarat,” he said.

Fr Mark Freeman will be ordained to the episcopacy and installed as the ninth Bishop of Ballarat in mid-March 2026. Further details will be announced shortly.