The Southern Cross | March 2025

South Australia’s newest Member of Parliament, Alex Dighton, spoke passionately about the influence of his Catholic faith and the “grace” that guided him through the loss of his second child when he delivered his maiden speech last month.

The Cabra Dominican College old scholar and former teacher and leader at Sacred Heart College won the Black by-election for the Australian Labor Party in November following the resignation of Liberal Party Opposition leader David Speirs.

As he expressed his gratitude to family, colleagues and friends in his speech in the House of Assembly on February 18, Mr Dighton acknowledged the “local churches and parishes that support our community”.

“As a child who grew up as part of a church parish, I know firsthand how important our churches are to support spiritual and social wellbeing and development in our communities,” he said.

“My family was involved in parish life and we regularly attended the Sunday Eucharistic Mass at
St Joseph’s Kingswood.

“My dad started a men’s group and I played basketball for over 20 years for a team that was started by parish families.”

He made special mention of former parish priest Fr Bob Wilkinson and the influence he had on his life.

“Bob baptised me, he married Claire and I, he baptised both my children, Albie and Clancy, and he celebrated several family funerals and other significant occasions,” he said.

“Bob’s intellect and compassion and understanding of theology has been a blessing in our lives.”

Mr Dighton’s parents are involved in the Teams of Our Lady, a Catholic movement founded to support couples in their married life and spirituality.

“Mum and Dad formed a team with five other couples and have been in that team for over 50 years, and those five other families have become the village that helped to raise us,” he said.

“It is through my childhood interactions with my family, with the parish and with the Teams of Our Lady, that I developed an early sense of identity and gained a confidence to engage with the ideas and values that make up our society.”

Mr Dighton spoke of the role of his Dominican education in providing a foundation for his political activism and identity and of his involvement today in the Cabra Chapel community where he regularly celebrates Mass and the Eucharist. He also thanked the Dominican Sisters, several of whom were in the House for his first speech.

“The Dominican ethos of Veritas and the search for truth and justice that I experienced at Cabra Dominican College was foundational in developing my sense of compassion, social justice and responsibility for action,” he said.

“Attending Cabra also gave me opportunities, and an immersion trip to the Philippines was one of the most singularly life-changing experiences for me.”

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