Ex-bishop of Broome Christopher Alan Saunders, 76, was found guilty of 13 sex offences following a jury trial in the West Australian District Court.
The offending between 2010 and 2019 included one count of sexual penetration without consent and a dozen unlawful and indecent assault charges.
Saunders was sentenced on Wednesday to six years and six months' imprisonment.
He will be eligible for parole after serving four years and six months.
"In deciding to prioritise your desire for sex gratification, you disregard the dignity of each of those victims," Judge Martin Flynn said.
Unless acquitted on appeal, the long-serving bishop would be the highest-ranking Catholic in Australia convicted of sexual abuse over his time as a member of the clergy.
The late Cardinal George Pell was found guilty in 2018 but later acquitted by the High Court of raping one choirboy and molesting another in 1996.
There are fewer than three dozen Catholic bishops and archbishops in Australia.
Saunders was acquitted by the jury of six other charges, including two counts of indecently dealing with a child over 16 under his authority and four counts of unlawful and indecent assault.
He was acquitted of a further seven similar charges during the trial due to a lack of evidence.
The sentence was backdated to August 12 when Saunders was convicted and taken into custody.
Saunders, who was known as "Brother B" by his victims, put on boozy barbecues at Catholic Church-owned properties to get access to Aboriginal boys and men so he could sexually assault them.
"A distinctive feature was you required those young Aboriginal men to take off their clothing except their underwear," Judge Flynn said.
The offending included unwanted touching of genitals and kissing, often after Saunders had supplied the men with large amounts of alcohol, and they were intoxicated.
Judge Flynn said Saunders' offending had contributed to the significant trauma both victims had suffered during their lives.
One victim told the court he had trusted Saunders and thought he wanted him to be a better person but realised he was "a toy he could use."
"I got too much running through my head, what he has done to me has caused so much pain.
"I was ashamed of myself I want to move on but can't because it never leaves my head."
Saunders, who studied law before becoming the first diocesan priest ordained in WA's Kimberley region in 1976, exploited the trust the younger men had in him as a member of the clergy, Judge Flynn said.
He was ordained as the second Broome bishop in 1996 and presided over 13 schools and nine parishes before stepping aside in 2020 when the sex abuse claims became public.
Pope Francis accepted his resignation a year later.
A church probe into the retired clergyman's activities was suspended when the West Australian police started investigating him.
It was set to restart after the trial finished.
Outside of court, Vatican investigator Tim Murray said Saunders' conviction and sentence were a good result for the community.
"It's very hard to bring a powerful man like that down," he said.
"I just hope the young Indigenous people in the Kimberley can start to heal."
Detective Sergeant Andrew Broadley said the victims had been courageous in coming forward to police and prosecutors.
"The complainants were pleased with the verdicts ... I'm hopeful (the sentence) brings them some peace and they can move on," he said.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe in August said Saunders' crimes violated the dignity and betrayed the trust of victims and survivors.
"The victims, survivors and other witnesses who came forward showed great courage and resilience throughout a long and difficult process," he said.
