Province: Australia
Country: Australia
Date of Birth: October 5, 1951
First Vows: January 8, 1977
Ordination: August 22, 1981
Speaks: English
Understands: English
Biography:
The word ‘accidentally’ occurs often in Peter’s conversation. He has a warmly disarming manner and it’s easy to see why prison ministry suits him, although he says it happened without design – like his priestly vocation as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart.
Peter worked in a bank for some years post-school. Hearing a visiting MSC priest speak about vocations sparked something. “I went to a weekend and that was it.” He was ordained in 1981 after initial formation at Corydon and B. Theol. studies at Yarra Theological Union, Melbourne.
Peter describes himself as “practical rather than a student – my life has been quite pastoral”. Having worked in parishes, on school retreat teams and in ministry to Aboriginal communities, he says, “I didn’t choose prison ministry ‒ it kind of chose me… I had worked voluntarily in prisons after an Aboriginal mother asked me to visit her daughter in prison. That was an introduction to the ministry, so when Bishop David Cremin asked me to take it on officially, I agreed.” He now is Chaplain to the Corrective Services and Chair of the Australian Catholic Prisoners Pastoral Care Council which advises the Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life.