36 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2023 Gabrielle Downie, Chair Originally from Corryong, Gabrielle Downie has lived in Benalla for thirty years and has worked in Catholic education in the Diocese for thirty-nine years having held three principalships throughout this time. Gabrielle has taught at St Joseph’s Cobram, St Patrick’s Tongala, St Joseph’s Benalla and St John’s Euroa. Prior to her current position as Principal of St Patrick’s Primary school in Wangaratta, Gabrielle was the principal consultant for the Northeastern Deanery at Catholic Education Sandhurst where she supported principals of the fourteen schools. Gabrielle has been a member of the Benalla Parish Pastoral Council for over ten years and held the position of Chair for four of those years. Fr Vijay Bandanadam ALCP/OSS Fr Vijay is a priest of the Apostolic Life Community of Priests in Stephen McKinley Stephen has a strong interest in creating a more welcoming Church which actively includes youth in parish life. Stephen has a depth of experience in youth ministry, having worked as a Leader at Youth Mission Team Australia for over the Opus Spiritus Sancti and is presently Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Benalla. He was ordained in Kerala, India in 2009 and after ordination worked in seminary formation as well as parish ministry as a priest before coming to Sandhurst in 2018. In Sandhurst Fr Vijay has served as Assistant Priest at St Kilian’s Bendigo and at St Patrick’s Wangaratta before being appointed as Parish Priest of Benalla in January 2019. Fr Vijay is a member of the College of Consultors. four years, and in Sandhurst, as a member of the Youth Advisory Group (with Fr Rob Galea) and a member of the Stronger Planning team for ten years. Stephen holds a Master of Theology and has over twenty years’ experience teaching in Catholic schools (Primary and Secondary). He is currently teaching religious education at Catholic College Wodonga and has been the Religious Education Coordinator at St Joseph’s Primary School in Chiltern and Sacred Heart School in Yarrawonga. Michael McLinden Michael and his wife Angela are parishioners in the Wodonga parish. Michael is currently a member of the Parish Council and Finance Committee dealing with COUNCIL MEMBERS Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral The
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