“The Australian Bishops remember Bishop John Jobst with affection and gratitude as a man of integrity and priestly goodness, and a true missionary. His care for the diocese of Broome and its aboriginal people was highly esteemed from 1959 – 1995 when he retired. May the Lord grant him the reward of his labours. May he rest in peace”

Archbishop Denis Hart
President, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

Mercy Sister Berneice Loch OAM elected as new President of Catholic Religious Australia

Sister Berneice Loch rsm OAM

Sister Berneice Loch rsm OAM has been elected as the new President of Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) at the 2014 CRA National Assembly held in Melbourne on 23-27 June 2014.

Sr Berneice is currently Leader of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (ISMAPNG) and received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2013.

Notable among her leadership achievements was her central role in the establishment of Mercy Partners (2004-2011) and more recently the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea.

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Promoting the Christian way of life via the medium of radio

1 July 2014

 “The Journey” weekly Catholic radio show expands its reach around Australia

In August 2013, the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong aired the first of its radio programs, The Journey, as part of a venture with regional Christian Radio broadcaster, PULSE 94.1FM.

The weekly program grew out of an enthusiasm from Bishop Peter Ingham, Chair of the Australian Catholic Media Council, to present the Good News of the Christian faith to a broad audience.

Bishop Ingham has invited his brother Bishops to make links to www.radio.dow.org.au on their diocesan websites. Continue reading →

1 July 2014, Morning tea gathering 

Recently the ACBC General Secretariat staff gathered for a celebratory morning tea to mark ‘Stirring Hearts’, a digital storytelling project celebrating the 48th World Communications Day across the Catholic Church in Australia.

Our neighbours and friends at the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee office and CatholicLIFE within the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn also popped into the Secretariat for the morning brew.

Everyone enjoyed viewing some of the digital stories including the enduring faith story of Sr Hilda Scott and the courageous story about Lulu Mitshabu’s life and trust in God.

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30 June 2014, Media Release 

Australia and New Zealand’s Catholic digital media enthusiasts will get a chance to learn from two of the world’s foremost Catholic media figures in August for the first staging of the Catholic Digital Media Conference (CDMC) in North Sydney.

The follow-up to the successful CNMC Melbourne in September 2013, CDMC Sydney will offer insights into how Catholics can – and should – use the Internet to share the message of the Gospel, with useful tips on how platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram can be tools for evangelisation. Continue reading →

Book launch, 30 June 2014

Left to right: Fr Frank Brennan SJ, Julie Edwards CEO of Jesuit Social Services (both book contributors) and Prof John Warhurst (co-editor)

The Hon. Kevin Andrews, Minister for Social Services gathered with staff from Catholic Social Services Australia to launch a book on Catholic identity at Parliament House, Canberra on Thursday 26 June 2014.

The book is entitled ‘Listening, Learning and Leading: The impact of Catholic identity and mission’.

The publication gets to the heart of issues that includes chapters on being Called to Lead, Engagement with Aboriginal Communities, The Challenges of Child Sexual Abuse to Mission and Identity, and The Changing Face of the Catholic Community in Australia.

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Canberra’s Mowbray family, from left, Emmalee, Paul, Luke, Noah, 18 months, Glenn, Trish, and Peter. Photo: Jamila Toderas for The Canberra Times

This article was published in The Canberra Times newspaper on 23 June 2014

Written by Reporter Natasha Boddy

Laughter and chatter echoes through the Mowbray family home upon entering the front door. These are the noises of a happy family. And this a family where having a voice is clearly cherished.

For Trish and Glenn Mowbray, communication with their four children is an important part of the secret to their happy family – where everyone gets a say in how they want to live their life. “The whole point of our family is that every person, as an individual, gets to grow. That includes me as the primary carer, that includes Glenn but also our four children and grandson in reaching their full potential,” Trish Mowbray says. Continue reading →

24 June 2014, Media release

Australian pilgrims attending World Youth Day, Rio 2013

The Australian Catholic Bishops Delegate for Youth, Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, has announced that Cosmos tour company will coordinate travel arrangements for an estimated 2,000 Australians making the pilgrimage to World Youth Day (WYD) 2016 in Krakow Poland.

Having facilitated a six–month process of informing, identifying and selecting a company to support the Australian pilgrimage to WYD 2016, the Australian Bishops selected Cosmos as the company that will manage more than 30 groups.

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday

22 June 2014 

In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis speaks to us of our responsibility to care for and protect the most vulnerable people of our planet. He includes indigenous peoples.

He also speaks of those who are homeless, migrants, or victims of human trafficking, of people who are addicted, and of the extreme vulnerability of unborn children. He goes on to say that our commitment to the vulnerable embraces not just humans in need, but also the wider community of life on Earth. He includes the land itself among the vulnerable, and all the creatures that are not able to defend themselves against ruthless human exploitation.

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