Stuart Hall (priest)

Reverend Monsignor

Stuart Hall
Reverend Monsignor; Stuart Hall
Bishop-Elect of Australian Military Ordinariate
See	Military Ordinariate of Australia
Appointed	3 July 2026
Orders
Ordination	19 September 1987; by Thomas Francis Little
Personal details
Born	Stuart Russell Hall; 21 August 1962 (age 63); Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Denomination	Catholic Church
Alma mater	Corpus Christi College;
Coat of arms

Stuart Russell Hall is an Australian Catholic priest and Bishop-elect of the Australian Military Ordinariate.^[1] He previously served in the Royal Australian Navy for 25 years, 22 years as a Navy Chaplain.^[2]

Early life

Hall was born in Melbourne, Victoria on 21 August 1962, one of six children to Donald and Pamela Hall.^[3]^[4] He attended De La Salle College, Malvern, graduating in 1980.^[5] He pursued studies for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College in Clayton and obtained a Bachelor of Theology degree from Catholic Theological College in Melbourne.^[6]

Priesthood

On 19 September 1987, Hall was ordained to the priesthood at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne by Archbishop Thomas Francis Little.^[3] He was ordained alongside Anthony Ireland, who would become Archbishop of Hobart.^[6]

In his early years of priestly ministry, he served as assistant priest at Hastings, Essendon, Frankston and Preston.^[6]

In 1991, Hall commenced service with the Royal Australian Navy as a reservist chaplain, transferring to the permanent force in 1994.^[7] He served all around Australia as a chaplain, including in Western Australia, Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne. He was also deployed overseas, to the Persian Gulf in the early 2000s, and to East Timor twice. In 2005, he became Fleet Command Chaplain, and in 2011 was appointed Director General of Navy Chaplains, a position overseeing Navy Chaplains across Australia from several different faith traditions.^[2] In 2011, he was created a Prelate of Honour by Pope Benedict XVI and given the title of Monsignor.^[7]

In 2016, he was appointed Parish Priest of East Malvern. He served there until 2022, when he was appointed Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne.^[6]

Episcopate

On 3 July 2026, Pope Leo XIV appointed Hall as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of the Australian Military Services, known as the Military Ordinariate.^[6] The Ordinariate had been without a permanent ordinary since the retirement of Bishop Max Leroy Davis in May 2021.^[8]

He will be consecrated as a bishop on 29 August 2026 at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne.^[9]

Personal life

Hall is a supporter of Australian rules football team Richmond Football Club, who compete in the Australian Football League.^[7] He has cited Saint John Vianney as an inspirational figure for his priestly life.^[2]

References

↑ Osborne, Paul (3 July 2026). "Bishop to the Military Ordinariate appointed". ACBC Media Blog. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
1 2 3 Bergmann, Christian (25 April 2022). ""One of the crew": Navy Chaplaincy with Mons. Stuart Hall". Melbourne Catholic. Archdiocese of Melbourne. Retrieved 3 July 2026.
1 2 Cheney, David M (3 July 2026). "Monsignor Stuart Russell Hall". Catholic Hierachy. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
↑ "HALL, Pamela Yvonne". Herald Sun. Melbourne: News Corp Australia. 17 December 2002. Retrieved 5 July 2026 – via My Tributes.
↑ Broga, Rana (May 2023). "Opening and Welcome Mass". Roll Call. No. 54. Melbourne: De La Salle College, Malvern. p. 4. Retrieved 5 July 2026 – via issuu.
1 2 3 4 5 "Rinunce e nomine, 03.07.2026" [Resignations and appointments]. Vatican.va (in Italian). Vatican City: Holy See Press Office. 3 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
1 2 3 O'Keefe, Peter, ed. (December 2016). "Over Two Decades of Service: Monsignor Stuart Hall RAN EV" (PDF). Serving Faithfully. No. 25. Catholic Diocese of the Australian Defence Force. p. 3. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
↑ "Pope Francis accepts resignation of Bishop Max Davis". ACBC Media Blog. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
↑ "Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A" (PDF). St Patrick's Cathedral Newsletter. 12 July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.

[1] Osborne, Paul (3 July 2026). "Bishop to the Military Ordinariate appointed". ACBC Media Blog. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. Retrieved 3 July 2026.

[:0-2] 1 2 3 Bergmann, Christian (25 April 2022). ""One of the crew": Navy Chaplaincy with Mons. Stuart Hall". Melbourne Catholic. Archdiocese of Melbourne. Retrieved 3 July 2026.

[:1-3] 1 2 Cheney, David M (3 July 2026). "Monsignor Stuart Russell Hall". Catholic Hierachy. Retrieved 5 July 2026.

[4] "HALL, Pamela Yvonne". Herald Sun. Melbourne: News Corp Australia. 17 December 2002. Retrieved 5 July 2026 – via My Tributes.

[5] Broga, Rana (May 2023). "Opening and Welcome Mass". Roll Call. No. 54. Melbourne: De La Salle College, Malvern. p. 4. Retrieved 5 July 2026 – via issuu.

[:2-6] 1 2 3 4 5 "Rinunce e nomine, 03.07.2026" [Resignations and appointments]. Vatican.va (in Italian). Vatican City: Holy See Press Office. 3 July 2026. Retrieved 5 July 2026.

[:3-7] 1 2 3 O'Keefe, Peter, ed. (December 2016). "Over Two Decades of Service: Monsignor Stuart Hall RAN EV" (PDF). Serving Faithfully. No. 25. Catholic Diocese of the Australian Defence Force. p. 3. Retrieved 5 July 2026.

[8] "Pope Francis accepts resignation of Bishop Max Davis". ACBC Media Blog. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. 24 May 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2026.

[9] "Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A" (PDF). St Patrick's Cathedral Newsletter. 12 July 2026. Retrieved 15 July 2026.

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