Bishop Tim Norton SVD was ordained as Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Brisbane in St Stephen’s Cathedral on 22 February, 2022.

He was born in Sydney in 1958 to Joseph and Dawn Norton (nee Spillane). He also has an older brother Chris and a younger sister, Julie Holmes.

Bishop Norton SVD graduated from Marist Brothers Eastwood before commencing tertiary studies for a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy at Cumberland College of Health Sciences, Sydney.

Considered a late vocation, he professed as a seminarian for his religious order – commonly known as the Divine Word Missionaries or SVDs – in Mexico in 1986. He was ordained in 1991.

Although much of his seminary formation was conducted in Mexico he spent time as a part time physiotherapist in Pentridge Prison, Melbourne during 1989/90.

His first parish postings were to Mexico, where he ministered from 1991 – 1996.

Postgraduate study in Spiritual Direction followed in Melbourne in 1997.

That prefaced terms serving as the Order’s prefect for theology students and novice and postulant director, alternately based in Melbourne or Sydney, between 1998 and 2004.

He then served as leader of the SVD Australian province (which also includes New Zealand & Thailand) from 2005 – 2013.

From 2014 until 2021 he was offering ministry in Italy, in particular working full-time with consecrated women and men in the promotion of interculturality, something for which the SVD order are renowned worldwide, including in Australia.

Bishop Norton SVD was pleased to note ministry to multicultural communities is an important way his order is already involved in the Brisbane Archdiocese.

Whilst serving as head of the Australian province, he worked with Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge to establish a Divine Word Missionary presence in two parishes – Inala and Kingston-Marsden.

Both of these are very multicultural communities, and therefore places where the SVD confreres do their best work.

Bishop Norton SVD is hopeful he will bring to his ministry in Brisbane “an intense interest in culture, and the mission of God in the world, whatever shape or form that may take”.

This video interview introduces you to Bishop Tim’s studies, travels and formative time in Mexico.