Catherine Hilder

Catherine currently works as a K-12 Network Religious Education Officer, Sydney Catholic Schools. She has served on the commission since her appointment as Director of the Catechumenate Office, Archdiocese of Sydney 2012-2017. During this time, she completed her Certificate in RCIA Catechesis at the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham, England and built productive professional relationships with international leaders in the RCIA from the UK and USA. Catherine is dedicated to promoting the RCIA as a part of the liturgical life of the Church.

Catherine is an experienced educator having taught in a range of schools across Sydney, England, Germany and the Middle East. Her travels have led to a wide exposure to the universality of the liturgical life of the Church. A highlight of her travels was supporting the Carmelite priests from Kerala as a catechist to Confirmation candidates in the Parish of Our Lady of Arabia, Kuwait.

Catherine has her Master of Arts Theological Studies University Notre Dame Sydney and Master of Educational Leadership ACU Sydney with a highlight of both degrees being the study of Liturgy. She gained further experience in teaching Liturgy as a sessional lecturer at the University of Notre Dame Sydney. Catherine continues to promote liturgy in her current role mentoring Religious Education Co-ordinators.

Catherine also holds her Associate Diploma in Speech and Drama AMEB and was involved in redesigning and presenting the Reader’s Course for parishes in the Archdiocese.

Liturgy Office

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Administrative Assistant
Maria Amaral
Maria joined the Liturgy Office in January 2023. She was a Catechist for six years for public primary and high schools. She also worked in the School of Philosophy and Theology and the School of Law at the University of Notre Dame as Administrative Officer.
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Director
Dr Mariusz Biliniewicz
Mariusz Biliniewicz (MA/MPhil, PhD, GCLTHE) has been serving as Director of the Liturgy Office in the Archdiocese of Sydney since 2022. Previously he has worked at the University of Notre Dame Australia as Senior Lecturer in Theology and Associate Dean of Research and Academic Development.
Photos by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2023
Administrative Assistant
Bethany Buhagiar
Bethany joined the Liturgy Office in September 2023. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Philosophy majoring in Theology at the University of Notre Dame. She is also working towards the completion of her Piano Certificate of Performance. Her interests include aesthetics, anthropology, sacraments, and the role of art and music in the life of the Church.

Liturgy Commission

Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2023
Mr Daniel Justin
Daniel Justin has been Director of Music at St Mary’s Cathedral Sydney since October 2023. Prior to coming to Australia, Daniel spent eight years as Director of Music for the Diocese of East Anglia in the UK, and Master of Music at the Cathedral in Norwich. Daniel was a member of the Liturgy Commission in East Anglia, and responsible for the establishment of a Sacred Music foundation at the Cathedral, incorporating young singers for the first time since the 1960s. He has a passion for Sacred Liturgy and innovating music within the context of Divine Worship.
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Fr Benjamin Johnson, OFM Cap
Friar Benjamin Johnson is a Capuchin Franciscan of the Province of Australia. He is the guardian of their local community and serves on their Provincial Council. He completed his doctorate at the Lateran University in Rome on the relationship between the Eucharist and Marriage in the thought of Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio. Fr Ben lectures in sacramental theology at the University of Notre Dame, Australia.
Bijoy Joseph
Fr Bijoy Joseph
Fr. Bijoy Joseph B.Eng, B.Sc, STL was ordained in Sydney in 2022. He currently teaches Liturgy at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and is assistant priest at St Joachim’s Lidcombe. His interests include the theology of blessings, the history of the liturgy, and pastoral liturgy.
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Fr Danai Penollar
Fr Danai Penollar, BSc, STB, STL, was ordained for the Archdiocese of Sydney in 2007. He is currently Parish Administrator of Mary Immaculate Bossley Park and used to serve as Assistant Director of the Liturgy Office.
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Rev Christopher Roehrig
Deacon Christopher Roehrig married to Kristen Therese, with 3 children and 3 grandchildren. USMC Veteran, BSc. (Architecture) University of New South Wales, Master Heritage Conservation, University of Sydney, B.Divinity, The University of Notre Dame. Ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of Sydney on the 9th of November 2018.
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Catherine Hilder
Catherine currently works as a K-12 Network Religious Education Officer, Sydney Catholic Schools. She has served on the commission since her appointment as Director of the Catechumenate Office, Archdiocese of Sydney 2012-2017.
Fr Don Richardson-min
Fr Don Richardson
Fr Don Richardson B.Th, STB, MA (Liturgy) was ordained in Sydney in 1992. He was appointed Assistant Priest in the parishes of Mt Pritchard, Menai and St Mary’s Cathedral successively.
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Fr Lewi Barakat
Fr. Lewi Barakat has been appointed as the Archbishop of Sydney’s Master of Ceremonies since 2019. He is currently based at St Mary’s Cathedral, where he ministers as an Assistant Priest.