The first comprehensive response of its kind to Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment was released in hard copy and online on Tuesday 4 August 2015.

Comprising authors from various backgrounds and sectors, The Francis Effect II: Praised Be You – On Care for our Common Home has been developed by three Catholic agencies in response to Pope Francis’ groundbreaking Laudato Si’, which was released in June this year.

Already over 500 pre-orders have been received for The Francis Effect II, which was developed collaboratively by Catholic Religious Australia, Catholic Earthcare Australia and Catholic Mission. It aims to inform Catholic leaders on the latest teachings of the Church.

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On Thursday 30 July 2015, representatives from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) visited the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) General Secretariat for a series of meetings and a cultural awareness experience.

Craig Arthur, National Administrator of NATSICC, John Lochowiak, Deputy Chair of NATSICC, and Sally Fitzgerald, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry for the Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn, met with Patricia Mowbray, Executive Secretary of the ACBC Bishops Commission for Relations with Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.

Attending morning tea with the ACBC Secretariat staff, NATSICC representative John Lochowiak paid respect to the Ngunnawal peoples by acknowledging country and providing a short session about cultural awareness and aboriginal spirituality.

John also described the different names associated with distinct aboriginal communities in various parts of our Australian land. ACBC Secretariat staff had the opportunity to ask questions, discuss traditions and aspects of aboriginal spirituality.

One staff member described the occasion as ‘a wonderful educational and spiritual experience’.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendour of true love, to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic churches.

Holy Family of Nazareth, may families never again experience violence, rejection and division: may all who have been hurt or scandalised find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth, may the approaching Synod of Bishops make us once more mindful of the sacredness of the family, and its beauty in God’s plan.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, graciously hear our prayer. Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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Filipino Catholics in Western Sydney turned out in force to welcome the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, on Sunday 26 July 2015. A Mass in St Michael’s Church in Blacktown was followed by a celebratory lunch.

The Archbishop was greeted by Fr Ruben Elago MSP, Coordinator of the Filipino Chaplaincy, and Deacon Leon Decena.

The gathering was an opportunity for members of the largest migrant community in the Diocese to greet Archbishop Yllana, who was born in Naga City in the Philippines.

The 68-year-old has served in the diplomatic role of Papal Nuncio for more than 30 years, spending time in at least 15 countries. Continue reading →

Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency, challenges you to help conquer global poverty by cycling kilometres for compassion across the rural countryside in Cambodia, in solidarity with marginalised communities.

Caritas Events Coordinator, Penelope Frew says challengers on this trip will witness grassroots community development in action and see how programs founded in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching can transform communities and champion the inherent dignity of every member of our human family. Continue reading →

On Wednesday 22 July 2015, Most Rev. Anthony Fisher OP, Archbishop of Sydney, delivered the “Defence of Faith Lecture” hosted by the Order of Malta NSW Branch on the topic: Same-Sex ‘Marriage’: Evolution or Deconstruction of Marriage and the Family?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EffPTUuSTKY

Read the text of the address

My thanks to the Order of Malta for inviting me to address a topic of vital importance for the Australian community today.

The campaign to redefine marriage has recently gained such momentum – with now three and soon four bills before the Commonwealth Parliament – that many think it is inevitable; this can leave those with misgivings feeling that they are already losers in a done deal. Some think it’s the inexorable progress of liberty and equality – which leaves the doubters ‘on the wrong side of history’.

In this context supporters of classical marriage are presumed to have no real arguments to offer. So tonight I want to offer some reasons – not decrees from on high or from the past, not expressions of hatred or prejudice – but reasons I hope anyone can understand. I also hope you find these reasons persuasive and helpful in proclaiming and witnessing to true marriage among your families, friends and colleagues. But even if you disagree with me on this matter, I hope tonight’s talk will help you understand why Australian law has always held, and many people still hold, that marriage is for people of opposite sex.

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The beauty of the just community, the beautiful stranger and tending Eden’s beauty are among the topics discussed in the latest publication from the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council.

Written by Professor Patrick McCormick and edited by David Brennan, the latest paper brings a fresh perspective on the Bible’s account of Creation. We are reminded that God’s vision for Creation, as conveyed to us in the book’s first chapters, is one of justice and peace. We are reminded too, that we are called on to rebuild and nurture this vision every day.

‘The Bible inspires us to build and become just and peaceful communities of peace, justice and sustainability where all of God’s creation is cared for and tended to by uncovering and reminding us of the extraordinary beauty of the whole and every part of that creation,’ Professor McCormick wrote.  Continue reading →

Fr Maurizio Pettena, Director, Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office, meets Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Welcoming the stranger, a characteristic of the early Church, thus remains a permanent feature of the Church of God. It is marked by the vocation to be in exile, in diaspora, dispersed among cultures and ethnic groups without ever identifying itself completely with any of these.

Welcoming the stranger is thus intrinsic to the nature of the Church itself and bears witness to its fidelity to the gospel (Erga Migrantes, 22).

The Catholic Church in Australia has long been at the forefront in the pastoral care of migrants and refugees.

In 1944, the Australian Episcopal Conference created a sub-committee on Immigration. The sub-committee chaired by Bishop McGuire was appointed to look after the interests of Catholics with regard to immigration. Continue reading →