{"id":24335,"date":"2026-06-04T01:59:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T01:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/24335\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T01:59:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T01:59:13","slug":"the-man-balancing-money-and-mission-for-the-church-in-sydney","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/24335\/","title":{"rendered":"The man balancing money\u202fand\u202fmission\u202ffor the church in Sydney\u202f"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"popeMichael Digges meeting Pope Leo XIV. Photo: Supplied.<\/p>\n

Michael Digges, the\u202fexecutive\u202fdirector\u202fof\u202fadministration\u202fand\u202ffinance for the Archdiocese of Sydney, has announced\u00a0his retirement\u00a0at the end of the year.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

He has worked with Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP since 2011, first in the Parramatta diocese and since 2014 in the Sydney Archdiocese.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

He spoke with\u202fThe Catholic Weekly\u202frecently about his\u00a0long experience\u00a0in church administration.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Perhaps \u201cchurch stewardship\u201d is a better word.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

As\u202f\u2018Light the Way\u2019,\u00a0the\u202farchdiocese\u2019s\u202frecently published strategic plan points out, \u201cSustainability of resources and prudent stewardship of our temporal goods are essential to the continuation of the many works of the archdiocese.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Digges began his career in corporate management. When he was headhunted for the Parramatta role, he was working as a group general manager in a large building products company.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

There he\u202fdeveloped\u00a0high-level management skills,\u00a0including the ability\u00a0to recruit and nurture highly professional managers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of his achievements in the archdiocese, he believes, is recruiting \u201ca competent team of professionals to\u00a0assist him in\u00a0running\u00a0the material and administrative affairs of the church\u201d.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Michael Digges, executive director of administration and finance of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, was awarded a\u202fpapal honour for his service to the church in July 2025. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography \u00a9 2025<\/p>\n

Without\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0team\u00a0and\u00a0adequate funding, the archbishop\u2019s ambitious plans for evangelisation would\u00a0be\u00a0impossible, he says.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cArchbishop Fisher is very bold\u00a0and ambitious. Many other bishops and business managers are much more cautious because \u2018we can\u2019t afford it, can\u2019t do it.\u2019\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been very aligned with him,\u00a0and\u00a0without good stewardship\u00a0we wouldn\u2019t even be talking about the possibility of doing the\u202fEucharistic Congress<\/a>, or all those different initiatives that we have,\u201d he said.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

One example\u00a0is\u202fSistine Chapel immersive\u202fexhibition\u202fexperience<\/a>\u202fnow on display\u202fin\u202fSt Mary\u2019s Cathedral forecourt.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The\u00a0major evangelisation and cultural outreach initiative\u00a0is\u00a0costly to build and stage,\u00a0so\u00a0it\u00a0requires tickets sales to offset the cost.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Digges\u00a0is particularly proud of the archdiocese\u2019s first-ever strategic plan.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people would say, what do you need that for? We know the strategic plan \u2013\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0the Gospel, or the code of canon law \u2013\u00a0that\u2019ll\u00a0tell you what you need to do.\u2019\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

But Digges insists that the professional\u202faims\u202fof growing revenue, optimising\u00a0investments\u00a0and assets, supporting parishes, investing in people, liaising with enablers, and ensuring compliance is not only\u202fgood\u202fstewardship but\u202fnecessary for\u202fevangelisation.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

These are needed to ensure the\u202flong-term viability of ministries, parishes, schools, and charitable works across the archdiocese.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"ExecutiveExecutive Director, Finance and Administration, Archdiocese of Sydney, Michael Digges, left, joins Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP and Alison Rahill, Jenny Stanger and John McCarthy QC from the Anti-Slavery Taskforce. PHOTO: Archdiocese of Sydney<\/p>\n

What were the highlights of his 12 years with the Sydney Archdiocese?\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of them has been working closely with Archbishop Fisher, he says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Digges joined the\u202farchdiocese in November 2014.\u00a0At the end of 2015, the archbishop fell ill with\u00a0Guillain-Barr\u00e9 disease, a serious autoimmune disorder which left him\u00a0almost completely\u00a0paralysed. It took him months to recover.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, they continued to work closely together,\u00a0even from his sick bed and rehab\u00a0hospital.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had a very harmonious, warm, relationship with him,\u201d says Digges.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been the best of my working life by\u00a0far\u00a0to work with him as a boss, because he\u2019s always been respectful of me and always listened carefully to\u00a0the advice I have provided.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

But the job has also had huge challenges.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

One was the collapse of Catholic Church Insurances after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

The volume of potential claims was so great\u202fthe company was forced to stop taking on new business.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Digges managed the process, avoided insolvency, and transitioned church institutions to external insurers.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"New\u00a0DirectorDirector of Finance Peter Foley, left, with Executive Director Michael Digges. Photo: Alphonsus Fok<\/p>\n

Another was\u00a0assisting\u00a0the\u202fWilcannia-Forbes diocese<\/a>\u202fin western NSW.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

By area, this is one of the largest dioceses in Australia, but\u202fwas\u202ffacing significant demographic and economic challenges, with\u202fresilient faith communities but\u202ffew priests.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Part of the solution was appointing Digges as the financial administrator of the diocese. \u201cIt\u2019s worked marvellously,\u201d he said.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Sydney Archdiocese injected\u00a0some\u00a0funds; Digges oversaw prudent investment in property and appointment of key personnel.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The diocese was set on the road towards sustainability.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNow some people in the archdiocese and other\u202fcommentators\u202fwould say,\u202fit\u2019s\u202funsustainable, close it down,\u202fyadda\u202fyadda. [But] if we did that years ago, the word of God\u202fwouldn\u2019t\u202fbe preached in the bush.\u202fIt\u2019s\u202fas simple as that.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Then there was\u202fDomus Australia<\/a>, Cardinal George Pell\u2019s signature project in Rome \u2013 a guest house\u202fand chapel\u202ffor Australian pilgrims.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

It opened in 2011, but by 2015 significant problems had already\u202femerged.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Digges\u2019\u00a0first day on the job was on a Tuesday in November 2014, and by Friday that week, he was on a plane to Rome to begin to\u00a0sort\u00a0things out.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a mess,\u00a0financially\u00a0and organisationally,\u201d\u00a0he recalled.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"SydneySydney Catholic Schools Executive Director Tony Farley, Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney Executive Director Michael Digges were among those who celebrated the Benedict XVI Centre\u2019s10th anniversary at Grose Vale. Photo: Alphonsus Fok<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the chapel was incredibly beautiful. And the place was lovely, and it was a great asset, but financially a huge drain. So that, for me, took an enormous amount of work.\u202fBut\u00a0now we have key, talented people directly managing Domus.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBalancing the mission element and keeping it afloat financially is a constant challenge, because we want it to be\u202fmission-oriented.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to have Australians go there to see the holy places, but we need people to pay a reasonable price\u202ffor\u00a0a\u202fquality pilgrim\u00a0experience.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Property development is one of a financial administrator\u2019s weightiest responsibilities.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of the biggest projects in the Digges era has been moving the archdiocese\u2019s central offices from\u00a0the Polding Centre\u00a0on Liverpool Street in the Sydney CBD to 75 Elizabeth Street, a three-minute walk from the cathedral.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In the\u00a0meantime\u00a0there has been a three-year \u2018holiday\u2019 at the beautifully renovated\u00a0St Martha\u2019s in Leichhardt.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He and his team managed to extract the best value from the old site and buy the new site for a bargain, without the need for a loan.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Such financial stability, he says, is important for ensuring the archdiocese can continue supporting its ministries and future initiatives.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u202fhave put the finances of the archdiocese in extremely good shape,\u201d he said.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Michael Digges, executive director of administration and finance of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, was awarded a\u202fpapal honour for his service to the church in July 2025. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography \u00a9 2025<\/p>\n

What comes after retiring from his six-and-a-half-day a week job, apart from reducing his golf handicap from 26 to somewhere in the teens?\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

He plans to work a couple of days and spend time with his family and fixing stuff.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

He describes himself as \u201ca pretty good handyman\u201d.\u202f\u201cI\u2019ve had to, with a big family,\u201d he said. He and his wife Kathy have seven children and\u00a013\u00a0grandchildren.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Digges says his family has kept him grounded despite his exhausting job.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s\u202fhelped me with not being carried away with my work. If I talk about my work at home too much, Kathy will say,\u00a0\u2018The archbishop is great. Now\u202flet\u2019s\u202ftalk about\u202fwhat\u2019s\u202fgoing on in the family.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

His prayer and sacramental life, too, has supported him.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Digges is a member of Opus Dei, which helps people find holiness in everyday life.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMy prayer life is a cornerstone of my life, and\u202fit\u2019s\u202fhelped in my job, even before the archdiocese.\u202fIt\u2019s\u202fbeen a fundamental part of my life,\u201d he explains.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His advice for his successor?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cKeep your feet on the ground, try to pray and go to Mass,\u202fmaintain\u202fa good sense of humour, and be supportive of your people.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEnsure\u202fyou\u2019re\u202fa good boss, because if\u202fyou\u2019re\u202fnot, things will crumble underneath you.\u201d\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Michael Digges meeting Pope Leo XIV. Photo: Supplied. Michael Digges, the\u202fexecutive\u202fdirector\u202fof\u202fadministration\u202fand\u202ffinance for the Archdiocese of Sydney, has announced\u00a0his…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":24336,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[4540,7791,247,22617],"class_list":["post-24335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sydney","tag-finance","tag-hero","tag-sydney","tag-sydney-archdiocese"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24335"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24335\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}