Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe as a consultor of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.
The appointment is in conjunction with Archbishop Costelloe’s concurrent appointments as a Member of the Preparatory Commission, and as one of the nine President Delegates to the Synod. Continue reading
by Bishop Shane Mackinlay
Later this week, I will be one of 15 Australians and hundreds of people from around the world heading to Rome for the first assembly of what has become known as the “Synod on Synodality”.
Next month’s assembly, and another to follow in October 2024, are the continuation of what has been dubbed “the world’s largest ever consultation”. When you consider that almost 120 bishops conferences from every part of the world gathered the thoughts of the People of God in their dioceses, that claim makes sense. Continue reading
Media statement, 27 August 2014
Australia’s Catholic bishops have expressed grave concern at the humanitarian crisis that is continuing to worsen in northern Iraq. The Australian bishops condemn outright the use of terrorism in the name of religion.
Tens of thousands of Christians have been forced to flee Mosul, Qaraqosh and other areas of Northern Iraq, with demands by Islamic State fighters that they convert to Islam or die. The Yazidis, other Muslim, religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq, have also been forced to flee from forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Continue reading
Authors of Rebuilt Fr White & Tom Corcoran
Media release, 23 August 2014
The key message for the Church is to call parishioners to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, keynote speakers Fr Michael White and Tom Corcoran told delegates attending the Proclaim 2014 Conference on the New Evangelisation.
“It is essential for the parish to reorient towards reaching those who are not active in the life of the Church,” Fr White said.
“The key elements to rebuilding the parish are focusing on unchurched people, prioritising the weekend experience and moving Church people to action,” Tom Corcoran explained.
Fr Michael White addresses delegates at Proclaim 2014 Conference
Proclaim 2014, 21 August 2014
On day one of Proclaim 2014, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference National Conference on Evangelisation, Fr Michael White and Thomas Corcoran delivered a keynote address on how to ‘Make Church Matter’.
Over a number of years these two men have worked together to rebuild the parish at the Church of the Nativity in Timonium, North Baltimore, USA.
In 2013, they co-authored a book called ‘Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter’. Continue reading
Media Release, 13 August 2014
The second Australian Catholic Youth Festival will be held in Adelaide from 3-5 December 2015, the Office for Youth announced today.
Hosted by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) to engage and empower young people in the life of the Catholic Church, the festival is expected to draw more than 4000 participants.
Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, the Bishops’ Delegate for Youth said the Australian Bishops were committed to the Festival: “After the success of the inaugural event in Melbourne and its impact across the country, the Australian Bishops have committed to repeating the Festival every three years into the future.”
“It is fantastic that we are able to hold the next Festival in Adelaide in 2015, and I invite all young people and their teachers and youth ministers from around Australia to make the pilgrimage to Adelaide,” Bishop Fisher said.
The theme of the Festival is ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’ (Mt 5:8). This is also the theme chosen for 2015 diocesan celebrations in advance of World Youth Day 2016.
Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson said: “I am proud that we are able to host the Festival in Adelaide in 2015, and I look forward to welcoming thousands of young people from around the country to our wonderful city to share in the Good News.”
“I am particularly excited about the theme for the Festival as it allows us to experience the journey of St Mary MacKillop here in Adelaide. Mary was a woman who in the face of many challenges, kept her heart pure and focused on Christ,” Archbishop Wilson said.
The ACBC Office for Youth will coordinate the Festival, in partnership with the Archdiocese of Adelaide and Catholic Education South Australia.
Over the coming months, a Steering Committee for the event will be established along with campaigns for an official festival song, workshop presenters and youth involvement.
An overview of the successful 2013 festival is available at:www.youthfestival.catholic.org.au. Continue reading
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne
From Archdiocese of Melbourne News
The Prime Minster has declared Thursday 7 August 2014 to be a National Day of Mourning to honour the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
The Government has arranged for a National Memorial Service to take place at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, at 10.30am on Thursday 7 August 2014.
The National Memorial Service is interdenominational and members of the public are invited to attend.
Upon the Government’s announcement, Archbishop Hart said ‘I extend my deepest sympathy and prayer to those families, friends and communities so devastated by the loss of their loved ones on Flight MH17.
‘I hope and pray that all who gather at St Patrick’s Cathedral next Thursday for this National Day of Mourning for the victims will be united in their prayer and efforts to bring healing to those who grieve.
‘May the efforts of so many people of goodwill, witness the power of love which brings peace, justice and hope in these darkest days.’
– Archbishop Denis Hart
Arrangements have also been made for the outside broadcast of the National Memorial Service in anticipation of large crowds wanting to support the families of those lost on Flight MH17.
Those wishing to attend the National Memorial Service should contact a Ceremonial and Protocol Officer on (02) 6271 5991 or (02) 6271 5209 or via email at MemorialService@pmc.gov.au up until 12 noon on Wednesday 6 August 2014.
Cardinal Edward Clancy
1923-2014
Media Release, 3 August 2014
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference mourns the death of former Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal Edward Clancy, who died today at the age of 90 years.
Cardinal Clancy was President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference from 1986-2000. During his tenure, he launched the Bishops’ Research Project on ‘The Participation of Women in the Catholic Church in Australia’ at the Press Club in Canberra on 21 August 1996.
President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart, said: “After a long illness, Cardinal Edward Clancy has returned to his true home. We remember him as a generous, disciplined leader who loved the Church, and was at home with ordinary people.”
“From 1983-2001, Cardinal Clancy led the Archdiocese of Sydney with distinction as a gifted pastor who undertook many projects including the completion of St Mary’s Cathedral.”
“Always a man of honesty and directness, he is remembered by bishops, priests and people for his unstinting generosity in the service of Church and community. I, and others, will remember his great personal kindness. May he rest in peace.”
Bishop of Wollongong, Peter Ingham, worked in the Sydney Archdiocesan Chancery under Cardinal Clancy for seven years between 1983-1990.
“I remember a prayerful, dedicated, humble and hard working archbishop. A man of integrity, who was determined, even-handed, and who discharged his responsibilities conscientiously, in fact with an overwhelming sense of duty. Of course you were never in doubt who was in charge but he always took full responsibility for his actions.”
“The Cardinal had a refined sense of humour, and enjoyed playing tennis in earlier years, some golf and cycling in Centennial Park,” Bishop Ingham said.
“In the years of his tenure as Archbishop, Cardinal Clancy oversaw the formation of the Australian Catholic University on which he served as Chancellor, the closure of St Patrick’s Seminary Manly to be re-established as the Seminary of The Good Shepherd at Homebush, and The Catholic Institute of Sydney, Strathfield,” Bishop Ingham added.
General Secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Fr Brian Lucas worked with Cardinal Clancy as the Sydney archdiocese secretary from 1990 to 2001.
“Cardinal Clancy will be remembered not only by decisions such as the creation of the dioceses of Broken Bay and Parramatta but for his strong leadership in the beatification and eventual canonisation of Mary MacKillop,” Fr Lucas said.
For media queries, please contact Aoife Connors on 0450 348 597 or media@catholic.org.au
Image: Cardinal Clancy
Media Release: PDF (120 KB)
Further Information
Obituary by Kerry Myers
Suzanne Greenwood, New Catholic Health Australia CEO
Media Release, 29 July 2014
The Catholic Health Australia Stewardship Board has reached a unanimous decision to appoint a former medico-legal lawyer and Catholic hospital and aged care executive as the new Catholic Health Australia chief executive officer, following an extensive executive search process.
Suzanne Greenwood, the current national chief executive officer of the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia, will commence as the Catholic Health Australia CEO in October. Currently based in Queensland, Mrs Greenwood will move with her husband and two children to Canberra to take up the CHA role.
CHA Stewardship Board chair Rowena McNally said “I’m delighted to welcome Suzanne Greenwood to CHA. Mrs Greenwood is an experienced CEO who has held senior positions within several Catholic Church organisations, she currently heads a national member association and has a professional background in health ethics, policy and regulation. This terrific mix of skills and experience well positions CHA for the years ahead.”
Prior to her role leading the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia, Mrs Greenwood was general counsel at the St Vincent de Paul Society of Queensland. From 2008 to 2011, she was corporate counsel and company secretary at St Vincent’s Health and Aged Care in Brisbane, also a CHA member. She was earlier a senior lawyer at Queensland Health.
Mrs Greenwood is a current board member of the Good Sams Foundation and is a previous board chair of Epilepsy Queensland. She also formerly chaired the Human Research and Ethics Committee at St Vincent’s Health and Aged Care in Brisbane, and was a member of the Queensland Health Human Research Ethics Committee. She has also served on several advisory committees with the Brisbane Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane and the Brisbane Archdiocesan Development Fund Board.
Mrs Greenwood said “CHA’s role as the voice of the Church on health, aged care and community care matters is centrally important at this time. I am looking forward to working with Catholic hospital and aged care leaders, together with Catholic religious and Catholic Bishops, to continue CHA’s agenda for health equity.”
Ms McNally thanked the representatives of CHA members, of Catholic Religious Australia and of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference who participated in the Stewardship Board-led recruitment process. Ms McNally also thanked Fish & Nankivell Executive Search for its support during the recruitment process.
CONTACT: Rowena McNally on 0419 732885
CHA represents the largest single grouping of non-government health, aged and community care services in Australia.
