St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta welcomes every pilgrim and passerby, every sinner and everyone longing for sanctity. We strive to provide a home within the community that is welcoming to all and helps those around us remain faithful to the ways of the Gospel.
We invite you to participate in the spiritual life of this parish and to immerse yourself in the Catholic tradition which is ever ancient and ever new.
Join our Parish family!
Clergy and Staff
Very Rev Robert Riedling
Dean and Administrator
Up until the last few years which were spent in the UK, I have lived just about my entire life in the Diocese of Parramatta. I was born in Penrith in 1968 and my family moved to Lalor Park the following year which is where I spent my formative years. My parents and brother emigrated from England in 1964, joining tens of thousands of other “ten pound” migrants that made their way to this country by sea from Europe. I attended local public schools, finishing secondary school in 1985 (Blacktown Boys’ High) and then completed a teaching degree at Sydney University. I worked for the NSW public service for a few years and taught at a primary school for another few years before being accepted into the seminary in 1999, pursuing most of my formation at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush since, at that time, Holy Spirit Seminary was but a dream. I was ordained both deacon and priest in this very Cathedral, my priestly ordination being celebrated in June 2005. I have served in the parishes of Greystanes, Blacktown South and Glenmore Park, as well as a parish in Durham, England, over the past few years as I pursued further studies in theology.
I enjoy travelling when time permits and have been fortunate to have travelled quite widely over the past twenty years or so. I am not one for vigorous exercise or sporting pastimes, preferring instead to listen to music for relaxation, and I enjoy watching films and dramas. I have been told I’m not a bad trivia partner, too! My other favourite pursuit, made somewhat obvious by my physique, is good food, but focusing on some level of restraint in Lent…
Enough about me – I am looking forward to getting to know and serve you, the people of God in Parramatta, as together we build God’s kingdom in our midst.
Fr Tom Green
Assistant Priest
My journey began in the beautiful town of Glenbrook where I attended Glenbrook and Blaxland East Public Schools, followed by Blaxland High School. My early spiritual life was deeply rooted in St John Vianney’s in Doonside, a parish close to my mother’s heart and where I first served as an altar boy at the age of 9 or 10.
After high school, I embarked on a nursing degree at Notre Dame, which I pursued for two years. However, I soon felt a deeper calling and decided to step back from my studies to work in hospitality. This period was a significant time for discerning my vocation, leading me to a more deliberate spiritual journey in 2015.
In 2016, my path to priesthood became clear, and I joined the seminary. The highlight of this journey was my ordination on the Feast of St. Matthew, 21 September 2023, a day I hold close to my heart. Shortly after, at the beginning of October 2023, I was blessed to join the community at St. Patrick’s, following a rewarding eighteen months at Mary Queen of the Family in Blacktown.
Outside of my pastoral duties, I’m an avid sports fan and an enthusiastic reader. But above all, I cherish quality time spent with my family and friends. It’s these moments of personal connection that truly enrich my life and ministry.
Deacon David Dowling
Deacon
Deacon David Dowling serves as the Deacon at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, assisting the Bishop in liturgical services and supporting the spiritual and practical needs of the parish community, providing a vital link between the clergy and the congregation.
Donna Missio
Receptionist
Contact for:
– Baptism
– Hiring Cathedral facilities
Patricia Peca
Parish Secretary
Contact for:
– Weddings and Funerals
– General enquiries
Bernard Kirkpatrick
Director of Music
Contact for:
– Music selection at Weddings & Funerals