A faithful ‘yes’ to serve the Church as Chancellor

By Heather Excell

The mission of the Church is carried forward in parish life. Supporting that mission is careful governance to ensure its sacraments are celebrated and recorded in accordance with Church law. This responsibility belongs to the Chancellor, a role that Archbishop Tony Ireland has recently entrusted to Fr Ben Brooks.

Fr Ben said he felt surprised when Archbishop Tony informed him of the decision, and described it as an invitation to “step up”.

“It’s a privilege to be asked to do something like this,” he said. “Sometimes the step-up invitation is a bit challenging, and you think ‘am I equipped for this?’ But at the end of the day, this is where the Lord’s suggested to be open to something.”

For him, the moment was also a reminder of the promise of obedience that priests make to serve their bishop.

“This is what you’re called to do as a priest, to respond to the bishop and be open to what he says.”

With the arrival of a new Archbishop last year, he had been conscious that changes within the diocese were possible, but he had not anticipated this particular role.

“I tried in my prayer to have my mind open to respond positively to whatever the bishop might ask me to do,” he said. “I wasn’t expecting anything in particular, but it was an occasion to think, ‘What is Christ calling me to?’”

Fr Ben explained that the Chancellor serves the Archbishop through the careful administration of Church records.

“At a very basic level, the Chancellor is a kind of administration person for the bishop,” Fr Ben explained. “Canon law says the Chancellor is responsible for the keeping of records, the archives and the official documents.”

Before entering the seminary, Fr Ben had a background in administration and compliance work, giving him a number of transferable skills that he hopes will assist him in this new role. Having grown up and ministered in Tasmania, he also brings a strong familiarity with the life of the Archdiocese and the communities it serves.

“I’ve had experience in professional life before becoming a priest, and I’m hoping that will assist in this kind of role, together with my experience in the Church in Tasmania,” he said.

Though administrative in nature, Fr Ben is quick to emphasise that the role ultimately serves people.

“It’s very easy to think of it as offices and filing,” he said. “But it needs to be balanced with the life of the Church because at the end of the day, that’s really what we’re trying to support.”

In accepting the role, he said he hopes to serve quietly but faithfully, assisting the Archbishop and supporting the wider Archdiocese across Tasmania.

Fr Ben was also recently appointed Parish Priest of Bellerive-Lindisfarne, following the appointment of Fr Mark Freeman as the next Bishop of Ballarat.