People excavating to open spaces in Kathmandu Photo credit: Caritas Australia

More than 4,000 people are reported to have died in the devastating earthquake that hit Nepal on Saturday, with the Caritas network, one of the largest humanitarian networks in the world, working around the clock to deliver aid to those affected.

Caritas Nepal, with the assistance of Caritas Australia staff members and the Caritas network, have been distributing food and tarpaulins to offer temporary shelter and protection from the rain and cold temperatures. Many are sleeping on the street or in open spaces in the rain and cold, following the worst earthquake in 80 years. Continue reading →

A book on social media, entitled Tweet others as you would wish to be tweeted: a Scripture-based guide to social media for the Church will be launched by Archbishop Celli, President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, at the Australian Catholic Communications Congress on 5 May 2015.

The book, written by Catholic journalist Beth Doherty, was commissioned by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, and was written as a guide for those beginning to use social media.

The book will be launched following Archbishop Celli’s keynote address at the Congress on Tuesday 5 May at 4.30pm in the Rydges Hotel, North Sydney.

Continue reading →

Fr Christopher Willcock sj, composer of the Mass For the Fallen, during the media launch at the Australian War Memorial on Friday 10 April 2015.

This weekend, parishes across Australia will sing a mass specially commissioned for the ANZAC Centenary called Mass For the Fallen.

The National ANZAC Day Mass at St Christopher’s Cathedral in Canberra on Saturday 25th April 2015 at 8am will be the national premiere. Other masses are occurring in local parishes this evening and over the weekend.

Commissioned by Allan and Maria Myers for use in celebrations of the Eucharist on Anzac Day, particularly the Centenary in 2015, Mass for the Fallen was composed by Fr Christopher Willcock SJ. Continue reading →

Robyn Moore, After dinner speaker at Communications Congress

Delegates will be inspired and entertained by voiceover artist Robyn Moore, who will deliver an address at the Australian Catholic Communications Congress on Tuesday 5 May 2015.

Speaking at the Congress dinner in the Ron Dyer Centre in North Sydney, Robyn will captivate the audience with a range of stories, experiences and anecdotes from her career in the education, advertising and entertainment industries.

Robyn’s thought provoking presentations are often described as ‘life changing’. Continue reading →

“Real care, love and compassion – the alternative to euthanasia”  pamphlet cover

Catholics across Australia are being urged to learn more about the nature of euthanasia and the dangers it poses to society, with the launch of a new pamphlet exploring the truth and the myths of this life and death debate.

A pamphlet, called Real care, love and compassion – the alternative to euthanasia, has been released today by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

The Bishops are responding to a fact sheet released by the National Church Life Survey late last year, which found 22 per cent of church-going Catholics are neutral or unsure what they think about euthanasia. Continue reading →

Registrations are now open for the 2015 eConference ‘Religion: Catalyst for Violence or Peace? Probing the Abrahamic traditions for answers’ on Tuesday 23 June.

The 2015 eConference is a joint initiative between the Broken Bay Institute and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

The event will tap into interfaith issues surrounding the three Abrahamic traditions: Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Continue reading →

Archbishop Christopher Prowse

During December 2014, a delegation of Australian bishops visited persecuted Christians in the Lebanon and Iraq offering their support and prayers.

Recounting his experiences while travelling with the delegation to the Middle East, Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn Christopher Prowse, spoke to journalist Suzanne Hill on ABC Radio Local. The interview took place on Good Friday, 3 April 2015. Continue reading →

John Anderton, Butterfly

In 2006, John Anderton founded Butterfly, a creative digital agency in a Melbourne apartment. Butterfly prides itself on good old fashioned values and service, and long term relationships with clients.

The company develops web solutions for medium to large companies, including a large number of not-for-profit organisations, and assists them in creating beautiful digital assets to improve their communications. Continue reading →

Archbishop Celli

The president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli is an excellent communicator.

In perhaps the most intensive time for social media ever, Archbishop Celli has overseen the PCCS, and been instrumental in Pope Benedict XVI and now Pope Francis entering Twittersphere and YouTube.

Archbishop Celli will be a keynote speaker at the Australian Catholic Communications Congress, an event held once every three years in Sydney, Australia.

Under the auspices of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the Communications Congress will bring together people working across the Catholic Church in Australia at the Rydges Hotel in North Sydney from 4-6 May. Continue reading →

Archbishop Celli

President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (PCCS) Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli will be the keynote speaker at the Australian Catholic Communications Congress, to be held from 4-6 May at the Rydges Hotel in Sydney.

Early-bird registration for the communications congress ends at midnight tonight, so those seeking the cheaper rate of $335 are encouraged to register this afternoon.

Continue reading →