Archbishop Denis Hart, President Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

8 May 2014, media release

The Catholic Bishops of Australia have re-elected Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, as President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for a two-year term.

The election took place during the plenary meeting of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, which is taking place this week, 4th – 10th May, at Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney.

Archbishop of Adelaide, Philip Wilson, has been re-elected Vice-President of the Conference for a further two-year term.

The Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe SDB and the Bishop of Port Pirie Gregory J. O’Kelly SJ were both elected to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Permanent Committee.

Continuing on the permanent committee are Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge, Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn Christopher Prowse, Bishop of Darwin Eugene Hurley and Bishop of Wollongong Peter Ingham.

Speaking during the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Plenary meeting, President Hart said: “I thank my fellow bishops and diocesan administrators for their dedication and commitment in governing the Australian Catholic Church at a time when we are facing many challenges.”

Over the course of the meeting, the bishops are discussing various issues including the treatment of Asylum Seekers, the Royal Commission and evangelisation.

“With prayer and planning we trust that our discussions and decision-making may be guided by the Holy Spirit,” Archbishop Hart said.

Following their plenary meeting in North Sydney, the Australian Catholic Bishops will travel to New Zealand to attend a week-long meeting of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania.

For media queries please contact Aoife Connors on 0450 348 597

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