Stuart Hall

Stuart Russell Hall (born 21 August 1962) is an Australian Catholic Bishop and the incumbent Bishop of the Australian Military Ordinariate, since his term's commencement on 29 August 2026. He previously served in the Royal Australian Navy for 25 years, 22 years as a Navy Chaplain.

Early life Hall was born in Melbourne, Victoria on 21 August 1962, one of six children to Donald and Pamela Hall. He attended De La Salle College, Malvern, graduating in 1980. He pursued studies for the priesthood at Corpus Christi College in Clayton and obtained a Bachelor of Theology degree from Catholic Theological College in Melbourne.

Priesthood On 19 September 1987, Hall was ordained to the priesthood at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne by Archbishop Thomas Francis Little. He was ordained alongside Anthony Ireland, who would become Archbishop of Hobart. He served all around Australia as a chaplain, including in Western Australia, Cairns, Sydney and Melbourne. He was also deployed overseas, to the Persian Gulf in the early 2000s, and to East Timor twice. In 2005, he became Fleet Command Chaplain, and in 2011 was appointed Director General of Navy Chaplains, a position overseeing Navy Chaplains across Australia from several different faith traditions.

He was consecrated a bishop on 29 August 2026 at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne by Archbishop Peter Comensoli of Melbourne as principal consecrator, with Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, and Archbishop Christopher Prowse of Canberra and Goulburn and apostolic administrator of the Australian Military Ordinariate serving as principal co-consecrators.

Personal life Hall is a supporter of Australian rules football team Richmond Football Club, who compete in the Australian Football League. He has cited Saint John Vianney as an inspirational figure for his priestly life.