Father Peter Murphy, Vicar General of the Diocese of Wagga Wagga, has been appointed Bishop of Armidale by Pope Francis.
The announcement was made last night, ending a two-year vacancy in the Diocese, which has been without a Bishop since Bishop Michael Kennedy was appointed to the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle in February 2023.
Fr Murphy was only recently appointed the Administrator of St Michael’s Cathedral, Wagga Wagga.
“It is with great joy we welcome the appointment of Fr Peter as Bishop of Armidale,” Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB said.
“His involvement in the vocations ministry, his experience in fostering the faith of young people and his compassionate leadership in the areas of family and marriage will be of great value to the diocese and wider Church.
“We look forward to welcoming him into the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.”
He was ordained to the priesthood on 11 June 1992 at St Michael’s Cathedral, Wagga Wagga by Bishop William Brennan.
He completed his seminary formation in Rome, studying at the University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) and the Pontifical Urban University. He also holds a Doctorate in Sacred Theology, which he completed at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome in 2002. During his time in the Holy See, he worked in the Secretariat of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
Following his ordination, his first appointment was as a curate at South Wagga while also serving as a lecturer at Vianney College, Wagga Wagga and as the Director of Vocations. He then served in the parish of Kooringal as a curate before being appointed Parish Priest of Lockhart in 1998. He also served as Vice Rector of Vianney College for a period.
After studying overseas for two years he returned to the Diocese in 2002 and was appointed Parish Priest of Tumbarumba. He would go on to serve as Parish Priest at Lockhart and Lavington too.
In 2025, he was appointed Administrator of St Michael’s Cathedral, Wagga Wagga, before his appointment as Bishop of Armidale was announced on Wednesday.
The Diocese of Armidale was established in 1869 and covers the New England and Barwon River regions of New South Wales. It includes the towns of Armidale, Gunnedah, Inverell, Moree, Tamworth and Tenterfield. By population, it is the second smallest diocese in New South Wales.
Monsignor Edward Wilkes has been administrator of the Diocese since 2023.
A date for Father Murphy’s ordination and installation has not been set.