Bishop Christopher Saunders

Fifty years ago, Pope John XXIII issued his last social encyclical Peace on Earth. The scope of his call for world peace was wide-ranging – encompassing all aspects of society, from the relationships between individual citizens to the interaction of nation states on the world stage.

Pope John provided a blueprint for a peaceful society based on the human rights of each citizen and the good of society as a whole. He emphasised the primary responsibility of governments to ensure the ‘right to live’ through entitlement to ‘the means necessary for the proper development of life, particularly food, clothing, shelter, medical care, rest, and finally, the necessary social services’. The standard of governance could be judged in terms of the support offered when people faced crises like ill health, disability, enforced unemployment and deprivation. Continue reading →

Cards for Mother’s Day from Caritas Australia

There’s no doubt that mothers around the globe help make the world a better place to live.

This Mother’s Day, Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency, is offering the opportunity to help change women’s lives around the world by giving the Global Gift of Healthcare.

Caritas Global Gifts are an easy way to make giving meaningful and at the same time help vulnerable communities.

When you purchase a Global Gift card for Mother’s Day via the Caritas website, you can choose from one of six gifts ranging from $10 to $200. This card explains to your mother how a donation has been made on her behalf.

The money goes towards funding Caritas Australia’s partners in nearly 200 programs in over 30 countries around the world, which focus on the most vulnerable including, women and mothers. Continue reading →

Bishop Joseph O’Connell, photo from www.cam.org.au

Media Release, 28 April, 2013

Bishop Joseph O’Connell, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Melbourne has died at Caritas Christi Hospice, Kew on Saturday 27 April 2013. He was 81.

In 1949 Bishop O’Connell commenced studies for teaching, but at the beginning of 1950 he entered Corpus Christi College Werribee to study for the priesthood and was ordained by Archbishop Justin Simonds in St Patrick’s Cathedral on 28th July 1957.

Bishop O’Connell obtained a doctorate in Canon Law in July 1961 from the Gregorian University, and lived at St Peter’s College in Rome while studying.

He worked in the parishes of West Melbourne and Yarraville, combining this with work in the Archdiocesan Tribunal, becoming Vice Officialis on 13 November 1968.
He was named Auxiliary bishop by Pope Paul VI on 12 February 1976, being consecrated by Archbishop Frank Little on 31 March of that year.

Archbishop Denis Hart, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said that Bishop O’Connell’s contribution to Canon Law and a care for migrants will be among the things he will be remembered for.

“His contribution to jurisprudence and tribunal practice has long been esteemed. As Episcopal Vicar for Religious from 17 March 1969 he provided much assistance”, he said. Continue reading →

Media Release, 24 April, 2013

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Ross Fox as the Executive Director of the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC). Mr Fox, at present Director of Policy, Research and Communications with the Catholic Education Office, Melbourne, will take up his NCEC appointment in Canberra on 1 July 2013.

Ross was educated at UNSW (Bachelor of Engineering, First Class Honours) and Oxford (Honours MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics). He has a depth and range of practical and consultancy experience in a diversity of situations – from McKinsey & Company in Sydney to a remote Indigenous community in WA to a senior executive policy position in the Melbourne Catholic Education Office. He has also worked in industry and as a political and school education advisor and negotiator at state and federal level along the way. He is active in local parish life and has a strong practical faith commitment. Continue reading →

Mark eConference

You can now register for the St Mark – A Crucified and Risen Messiah eConference which takes place in 3 weeks time.

Follow the link http://mark.vivlive.com and click on the REGISTER button.

We strongly encourage you to both REGISTER your site or your individual participation as we often receive enquiries from people that would love to participate with others, it also enables us to keep you informed with information as it comes to hand as well as TEST your equipment that you intend to use on the day, this can be done simply by viewing the Welcome Message. Continue reading →