Good Samaritan Sister Mary O’Shannassy and Redemptorist Father Bruce Duncan have been inducted as life members of Catholic Social Services Victoria, in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the mission of the organisation and the broader social services landscape of Victoria.
Mary and Bruce and were conferred with the honour when more than 150 organisational members, associate members, life members and friends of Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV) joined together on the evening of 8 August for the 2025 CSSV Annual Dinner at the State Library of Victoria.
Mary was awarded life membership for her ministry of service as one of Victoria’s longest-serving prison chaplains, providing thousands of prisoners with emotional, spiritual, sacramental and pastoral support. For more than a decade, she managed Victoria’s Catholic Prison Ministry, overseeing staff and volunteers, and helping to establish sacred chapel spaces in Victorian prisons.
Mary has contributed to collaborative advocacy and awareness for the issues people in prisons are facing, and was a valuable contribution to the CSSV Research Steering Committee formed to support the 2020 research report, Prisoner-caregiving Programs: Supporting Older Prisoners.
As a teacher and researcher at Yarra Theological Union and inaugural Director of the Yarra Institute for Religion and Social Policy, Bruce has contributed to a deeper understanding of the work of justice and service as core to the Gospel.
He co-founded Social Policy Connections, a testament to his dedication to promoting social justice informed by Christian social principles in the public arena. Since 2016, Bruce has also served as chaplain for Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Victoria, promoting and walking with First Nations Peoples in the Church.
Further reading
A time to connect at CSSV Annual Dinner, Catholic Social Services Victoria, 29 August 2025.
Life memberships for lifetime of service to justice, social services, and dignity, Pathways, September 2025, Catholic Religious Australia.
Published on 4 October 2025.
