Darwin Diocese celebrated the ordination of Dean Chisholm as a permanent deacon of the Church in a Mass at St Mary’s Star of the Sea Cathedral last night.
After a long journey of prayer, discernment, and preparation, Deacon Chisolm – a proud Aboriginal man, husband and father – was ordained to serve God and God’s people.
His ministry reflects the deep faith and wisdom that flow from family life, cultural heritage, and community service.
Having previously served as the Catholic dean at Nungalinya College in the Darwin suburb of Casuarina, Deacon Chisholm has long ministered at the St Martin de Porres Catholic Aboriginal Community at Casuarina, where he will continue his service.
Darwin Bishop Charles Gauci described the ordination as “a moment of great pride and joy for the whole Church in the Northern Territory”, noting that Deacon Chisholm joins a rich tradition of Aboriginal men who have answered the call to serve as permanent deacons.
The celebration at St Mary’s Cathedral was filled with faith and culture. The liturgy incorporated Aboriginal cultural expressions, including Tiwi dancers who opened the Mass in joyful prayer and welcome, and a Smoking Ceremony symbolising cleansing and preparation in honour of God, the land, and its First Peoples.
A moving moment in the ceremony saw Deacon Chisholm’s wife, Melissa, presented with the deacon’s stole – designed and painted by Arrernte artist Paula Turner.
The artwork, themed kwatye (water), reflects the deacon’s Eastern Arrernte heritage, symbolising the life-giving presence of the Holy Trinity through vibrant desert colours and sacred imagery.
As the seventh Aboriginal man ordained to the permanent diaconate in the Northern Territory, Deacon Chisholm’s ordination continues a proud legacy of Aboriginal leadership and faith in the Catholic Church.
FULL STORY
Ordination of Deacon Dean Chisholm – A Historic and Joyful Celebration (Darwin Diocese)
