Deacon Ralph Madigan, 2 July 2026
As we celebrate NAIDOC Week this year, I have been privileged to interview Deacon Ralph Madigan about his life and ministry. Ralph is a Muluridji man, proud of his family and fulfilled in his ordained ministry.
He grew up in happy but tough circumstances, on a reserve on the outskirts of Mareeba, Far North Queensland. Because of harmful government policies, his mother was removed with her mother and sent to an Aboriginal mission on Palm Island and his father started work at seven years old. Yet together they had nine children, and did the best they could, sharing whatever they had. However, for the 20 families living on the reserve, there was no electricity and few running taps.
Ralph saw the destructive effects of alcohol amongst his friends and knew that that path wasn’t for him. So, at 19 years old, he started work in earnest. From plymill work, he went to the main roads, retail and then Aboriginal health, spending a number of years in each field. On top of all this, Ralph always knew that he wanted to be something in the Church.
As long as Ralph had known, Mareeba had been serviced by Augustinian priests, and he was good friends with Fr Robert Greenup. One day, the Bishop of Cairns, James Foley, put out a circular inviting men to become deacons. Fr Robert encouraged Ralph to go beyond his comfort zone. With his support, Ralph went into formation in 2003 and was ordained in 2009. It was a very special event. Ralph was ordained in his own parish of Mareeba, among 14 priests, a deacon, the Bishop and about 500 parishioners. Ralph, one of the traditional people of the area, knew everyone, and he wanted them all to be part of it.
Since then, Ralph has ministered for 15 years as a deacon and is now semi-retired. He worked with Fr Robert in the ministry of Indigenous Connections. Their main focus was working with indigenous Catholics around the whole of the diocese. It all started in Ralph’s hometown of Mareeba. They went down to the river to celebrate bush Masses, followed by tea and damper. Eventually, many non-indigenous came along to support it and develop relationships.
From there, Ralph got invited to preside at two Aboriginal funerals in Coen. He described this as real ministry on the margins. From there, they connected with the families of the deceased. For 10 years, the people did not have a priest and so Fr Robert and Deacon Ralph started servicing the area and became close friends with the people. They performed many baptisms, weddings, funerals and Confirmations. They ensured that the children leaving home for Catholic secondary boarding schools were up-to-date with their sacraments, to fit in with their peers.
Ralph still visits and presides at funerals and weddings, both indigenous and non-indigenous. He describes the diaconate as “quite fulfilling”. This has included many funerals of his own family members, which is both a privilege and a challenge. While experiencing his own grief, he has to set that aside to do the best for them and the family. Many prayers accompany such times.
Ralph continues to show much appreciation for the support and guidance of the Augustinian priests. Being with them meant he even got to meet Pope Leo, when he was still a priest! They sat down and had a meal together on one of his visits to the Augustinian community. Ralph’s message to all aspiring deacons is to have a good priest who can support and encourage you as Fr Robert did for him.
Now Ralph can support others. At Mareeba, they always had a non-indigenous presider at the liturgies, but now he is there for them. He was the first indigenous person to be ordained in the Cairns Diocese. Ralph can stand on the altar as an ordained person, giving homilies, performing their baptisms and celebrating their weddings. It means so much to them, especially coming from an indigenous person like themselves. Thank you so much for your inspiring ministry, Ralph!
Liturgy on the Margins 