Pastoral Region Parish Staff

Bishop Peter Ingham

Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Wollongong

Born at Crows Nest in January 1941, Bishop Peter Ingham is the son of George and Marjorie Ingham (nee Hyndes). His early education was completed at St Leonard's Primary School, Naremburn, and St Pius X College, Chatswood. He studied for the priesthood at St Columba's Seminary, Springwood, and at St Patrick's Seminary, Manly, and was ordained a priest by Cardinal Gilroy in St Mary's Cathedral in 1964.

Bishop-Elect Brian Mascord

Bishop-Elect Brian Mascord

The Holy Father has appointed Fr Brian Mascord, currently the Vicar General of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, the fifth Bishop of Wollongong.

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Denis Hart said Bishop-Elect Mascord brings a wealth of experience in parish ministry, education, chaplaincy and governance.

Fr Ron Peters

Dean of the Cathedral & Administrator of the Pastoral Region

Ron Peters was born in Sydney to Dutch parents in 1958. However, he commenced his schooling in The Netherlands. His parents migrated a second time to Australia and Ron then continued his primary schooling with the Sisters of Mercy at Blacktown and, then, his secondary schooling with the Patrician Brothers at Blacktown and Fairfield.

Fr Bernard Dowdell

Assistant Priest/Hospital Chaplain

Bernard Dowdell was born in Wollongong in 1946. He attended school at St Francis Xavier's and then C.B.C. Wollongong before and after its re-naming as Edmund Rice College. In 1963 he entered St Columba's College Springwood (and also in Rome) to study for the priesthood, and was ordained in Wollongong in September 1969.

Fr Sijo Edakkudiyil

Assistant Priest & Priest for Syro-Malabar Community

Father Sijo is from Kerala, India and residing in the Wollongong Presbytery. Father Sijo is very welcome in our community and I know all parishioners in our Pastoral Region will make him feel very much “at home”.

Mrs Cathy Zamroz

Pastoral Associate

Cathy is a parishioner at St Brigid’s Gwynneville; married and has three children, she also works as teacher for three days at a Catholic Primary School within the Diocese.

Mr Kevin Galea

Technology Solution Architect

Kevin is the Parishes Technology Solution Architect at Lumen Christi Catholic Parishes Wollongong; he is the Head of Digital and ICT in the pastoral region.