Auxiliary Bishop to Western Region: Bishop Mark Edwards

Mark Stuart Edwards was born in Balikpapan (Indonesia) on 14 June 1959.

After his education at St Leonard's Primary School, Glen Waverley, and at Mazenod College, Mulgrave, Mark Edwards obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree from Monash University in Melbourne.

In 1980, he entered the Noviciate of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Mulgrave, and completed his ecclesiastical studies at the Catholic Theological College, Melbourne and at the Melbourne College of Divinity.

On 17 February 1984, Mark Edwards made his final religious profession.

He was ordained a priest on 16 August 1986 in Melbourne.

Later, Fr Edwards continued his higher studies at Monash University in Melbourne, obtaining a Bachelor of Letters and a Doctorate in Philosophy.

Fr Edwards worked as a teacher at Mazenod College in Mulgrave from 1986 to 1989 and at Iona College in Brisbane from 1990 to 1997.

From 1998 to 2004 he was Aspirants’ Master at St Mary’s Seminary in Mulgrave and from 2004 to 2007 he served as Novice Master.

Fr Edwards worked as a lecturer at the Catholic Theological College in Melbourne from 2005 to 2010.

From 2007 to 2010 he was Director of Scholastics at St Mary’s Seminary in Mulgrave and in 2010 he became Rector of Iona College in Brisbane.

He has served as a counsellor of the Australian Province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate from 2001-2012.

On 17 December 2014 Fr Edwards was ordained an auxiliary bishop of Melbourne by Archbishop Denis Hart at St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne.

Bishop Edwards is Episcopal Vicar for Tertiary Education and Youth.