On the 12th of December, 2011, the Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea formed one joined Congregation, which will be known as the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea. The following clip is of highlights of the Mass which was celebrated at St Mary’s Cathedral by Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop Guiseppe Lazzarotto and Archbishop Philip Wilson, as well as Bishops and Priests from Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Photo by Bobby Timonera
With the death toll rising dramatically to 652, more than 50,000 displaced and over 800 people still missing, aid and development agency, Caritas Australia, has requested urgent public support from Australians to deal with the large-scale emergency response needed in the Philippines. Continue reading
By Fr Maurizio Pettena CS
Yesterday, I stood in front of the Nativity scene that is displayed in front of St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney and considered it for a moment. The Christmas story, as always during December, is much on my mind and in my prayer this week. Even David Jones just down the road has a beautiful display in its windows of puppets re-enacting the Christmas story, complete with baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the three kings and the angels. A huge group of tourists had gathered to watch the mechanical puppets, taking photos and in some way, celebrating what Christmas is about. Continue reading
Media Release
19 December, 2011
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) today expressed sorrow over the tragedy which has resulted in the deaths of a possible 160 people, mostly thought to be asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iran.
This time last year, a similar tragedy occurred when just short of safety, a boat carrying 50 Middle Eastern asylum seekers crashed off the rocks of Christmas Island. Continue reading
By Bruce Ryan, Executive Secretary of the Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Life
My recent foray into the book of the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament, particularly though John J Collins’ commentary in the “The Collegeville Bible Commentary” but in other sources also, suggested to me some interesting themes relevant to today’s circumstances: Crisis – Isaian prophesies made over a period of time address a series of crises including the Syro-Ephraimite War against Judah, the Assyrian threats to Israel and Judah and other nations, the Assyrian subjugation of Israel, Syria and Judah, destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the Babylonian Captivity. Fundamentalism – the yearning for a simpler and purer agrarian way of life over the wealth and luxury of the ruling class. Smaller Numbers – the notion of a remnant of the people being forgiven the sin of unfaithfulness and returning from the Babylonian captivity to form the nucleus of a restored Israel and rebuilt Temple. Confusion and Dismay – the suffering of the people through the various military threats and exile. Continue reading
By Bishop Greg O’Kelly
This article was first published in “The Witness” of Port Pirie and is used with permission
At Christmas five years ago, people entering St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in Adelaide were shocked to discover that the nativity crib had been vandalised. Someone had urinated over the statues of Mary and Joseph, and the statue of the baby Jesus in the crib had been smashed into pieces. Continue reading
Media Release
15 December, 2011
The Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life (BCPL) in partnership with The Broken Bay Institute (BBI) is happy to announce the winner of this year’s youth ministry scholarship.
Ms Lauren Cole, the Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator for the Rockhampton Diocese has been award a full scholarship to study the BBI-University of Newcastle Graduate Certificate in Theology, specialising in Youth and Campus Ministry in 2012 and 2013. Continue reading
Media Release
13 December, 2011
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference today appointed Canberra Educator Donella Johnston as the Director for the Office for the Participation of Women (OPW) and as the Executive Secretary to the Bishops’ Commission for Church Ministry (BCCM).
The position was designed by the Bishops’ Conference over 10 years ago to foster the participation of women in the Catholic Church.
Donella comes from an education background, having worked as Religious Education Coordinator at Canberra Catholic college St Francis Xavier in Florey. She has also shown leadership on various Archdiocesan commissions as well as at a local parish level. Continue reading
Media Release
8 December, 2011
The Bishops Commission for Church Ministry (BCCM) has founded a new Lay Pastoral Council to develop policies for the education, formation, pastoral care and support of Lay Pastoral Ministers.
The members of the newly-formed Council are: Sr Philomena Burrell (Perth); Mrs Heather Carey (Adelaide); Sr Kathy Hatherall (Brisbane); Mr Richard McMahon (Sydney); Mrs Kathleen Lillis (Melbourne); Fr Brian Moloney (Australian Catholic Council for Clergy Life and Ministry Representative) and Bishops’ delegate Bp Peter Comensoli (Sydney). Continue reading