Fr David Ranson was elected the diocesan administrator of the Broken Bay Diocese on Friday by the College of Consultors. Source: Broken Bay News.
This follows the appointment of Archbishop Anthony Randazzo as Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts and Archbishop by Pope Leo XIV.
Archbishop Randazzo flew out of Australia last week to take up his new ministry with the Roman Curia at the Vatican.
Fr Ranson will assume the role of diocesan administrator immediately while also maintaining his role as parish priest at Chatswood.
The diocesan administrator maintains continuity by keeping the diocese functioning smoothly, ensuring continuity of pastoral care, administration, and existing ministries.
However, the diocesan administrator cannot make decisions that bind the incoming bishop.
At this stage there is no indication when the Pope will appoint the fifth Bishop of Broken Bay.
Appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Broken Bay in 2015, Fr Ranson also served as Diocesan Administrator from August 2018 to November 2019 after Archbishop Peter A Comensoli was appointed to the Melbourne Archdiocese and when then-Bishop Randazzo was installed as the fourth Bishop of Broken Bay.
In recent years, Fr Ranson has also been Moderator of the Curia in the Diocese.
Following his election on Friday, Fr Ranson thanked the College of Consultors, a group of priests who serve as a primary advisory body and assist in diocesan governance, for the trust placed in him.
“This is a trust I never presume or take for granted,” Fr Ranson said.
“My singular hope is that I can serve the clergy and the diocese to the best of my capacity in the coming months.
“This can be a privileged time of shared responsibility, prayer, discernment, and reflection on the activity initiated by Archbishop Anthony and to give thanks for the ways in which his ministry enriched our life together.”
During the time of diocesan administration, the role of vicar general and moderator of the Curia ceases, as does the conduct of the Council of Priests.
The canonical roles of diocesan financial officer, chancellor, and vice-chancellor continue as does the service of the Diocese Finance Council.
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Very Rev Dr David Ranson Elected Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Broken Bay (Broken Bay News)
