11 April -2026
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop René Ramirez RCJ as the ninth Bishop of Sandhurst.
Bishop Ramirez will succeed Shane Mackinlay, who was made Archbishop of Brisbane in September 2025.
Bishop Ramirez, who hails from Gapan, Philippines, has been a priest since June 1998 and was ordained bishop in Melbourne in February 2025.
His first assignment as a priest was as the Vocation Director for the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus in the Philippines.
Having studied in the Philippines and Rome, he became the pastor of Holy Family Parish in October 2015, overseeing the Catholic communities of West Footscray, Maidstone and Braybrook in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Before becoming an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Fr René served as Parish Priest of Shepparton South and Nagambie, and as supervising priest at Rushworth.
There is no doubt that people in the Diocese of Sandhurst are thrilled to have him return.
In a letter to Clergy and constituents in 38 parishes of the Diocese, notifying them of the appointment, Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev. Dr Brian Boyle, said Bishop René is an “excellent shepherd.”
“He is looking forward to returning and I am sure all the people of our Diocese will give him a warm welcome home,” he wrote.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop, Timothy Costelloe SDB welcomed the appointment. “Bishop René Ramirez, in the short time he has been an auxiliary bishop in Melbourne, has served that archdiocese with humility, faith and generosity of spirit. He will certainly be missed,” Archbishop Costelloe said. “His warm and welcoming approach, which enabled him to quickly draw close to the people of Melbourne, will serve him well in his new ministry of service in the Diocese of Sandhurst.
“We pray that he will strengthen the life of the local Church with compassion and fidelity to the Gospel.”
The Diocese of Sandhurst welcomes the return of Bishop René!
Sede Vacante
The Diocese of Sandhurst will remain in a period of Sede Vacante, meaning that the bishop’s seat is temporarily vacant until Bishop René is installed at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo on 30 July 2026.
Very Rev. Dr Brian Boyle, willl continue to serve as Administrator of the Diocese until Bishop René is installed. and will work closely with Bishop René as he prepares to take up his office. All decisions during this period will be made in consultation with Bishop René.
The eighth Bishop of Sandhurst, Shane Mackinlay, is now serving as the Archbishop of Brisbane. He was farewelled in the Diocese of Sandhurst at Sacred Heart Cathedral on 7 September 2025 and was installed as Archbishop of Brisbane at St Stephen’s Cathedral on 11 September 2025.
On 15 September, the College of Consultors elected Very Rev. Dr Brian Boyle, Administrator of the Cathedral Cluster of Parishes, as Diocesan Administrator for the period of Sede Vacante.
