Fr Paul Bird CSsr - Bishop-Elect of Ballarat

The following media statements contain information about the appointment on 1 August by the Holy Father of Fr Paul Bird CSsr as Bishop of Ballarat. The retiring Bishop Peter Connors and the Bishop-Elect Paul Bird are assured of our prayers over the coming months.

Fr Paul Bird CSsr will be ordained Bishop on 16 October, 2012.

Statement from Archbishop Denis Hart, President of the ACBC

On behalf of the Australian Bishops and for the bishops, priests and people of the Province of Melbourne, I warmly welcome the announcement of the appointment of Father Paul Bird CSsR as Bishop-elect of Ballarat.

Father Bird has given distinguished service to the Redemptorist Order as Provincial and as retreat-giver, liturgist and teacher.  For twenty years from 1987 he was Superior of the Redemptorists in Melbourne and editor of Majellan Publications.  After fifteen years as a member of the Provincial Council, he has served as Provincial since 2008.

We welcome Bishop-elect Paul and know that his exceptional gifts will bring rich blessings to the people of the Diocese of Ballarat, whom he will serve with faith, generosity and love.  He is a gifted leader and will be welcomed warmly by the people of Ballarat Diocese and beyond. Continue reading →

Fr Chris Ryan speaking

The PROCLAIM CONFERENCE will be held from 9-11 August, 2012 at the Concourse in Chatswood, Sydney. More information is available as well as registration and information on speakers at the following link www.proclaimconference.com.au

PROCLAIM 2012 is a conference on the New Evangelisation organised on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference by the National Office for Evangelisation and Catholic Mission.

The aim of PROCLAIM 2012 is to give people an understanding of the new evangelisation. It will also help attendees in building parishes that can evangelise effectively today. Some participants may already be actively engaged in the new evangelisation while others will be unfamiliar with the term and what it entails. Continue reading →

By Fr Maurizio Pettena

This article was first published in CathBlog, a daily service of CathNews

Our public conversation about refugees and asylum seekers seems to be degenerating once again into political statements and rhetoric.

Yesterday, in a commercial for the Today Tonight program, statistics flashed across the TV screen proclaiming: “illegal boat people with the destination Sydney – you’ll be shocked at the numbers!” Continue reading →

Original fellowship recipients, 2006

By Beth Doherty

In 2005, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference through the then Commission for Australian Catholic Women approved an inaugural fellowship which would draw together young women from across Australia for academic and spiritual formation.

This pioneering course was known as the Young Catholic Women’s Interfaith Fellowship.

The first program of its type in the world, the Young Catholic Women’s Interfaith Fellowship began in 2006, and has seen all of its graduates gifting the Catholic Church and society with a wide range of skills ranging from education to media, to social justice advocacy and youth ministry, to pastoral care and academic leadership in various forms.

 Continue reading →

The ACBC has prepared a kit for the celebration of World Communications Day which includes the following YouTube of Bishop Peter Ingham, Chair of the Australian Catholic media Council, sharing on the theme.

You can download the kit here or by visiting www.catholic.org.au

The Australian Catholic Media Congress will kick off in just three weeks’ time from 30 April – 2 May at the Menzies Hotel in Sydney.

Registration is still open at www.communicatingthewordACMC2012.com and all are most welcome.
The Congress, which takes place just once every three years, is the premier Catholic Media event held in this country and will draw people from the Pacific and New Zealand as well as Australian Catholic professionals.
Here are just some of the presenters who will be sharing their gifts with us at the Congress, and we encourage you to consider registering for some or all of the proceedings! Continue reading →

By Beth Doherty

Melinda Tankard Reist is a Canberra writer, commentator and advocate who has developed a profile over the last 20 years through her work on issues affecting women and girls.

A media commentator, tweeter and blogger, Melinda is someone who dares to speak out, even when it attracts abuse and vilification. Continue reading →

Media Release
2 March, 2012.

The Official website for “A Year of Grace” has been launched today at www.yearofgrace.catholic.org.au signalling the start of preparations for this important event for the Catholic Church in Australia.

A Year of Grace is the Australian bishops’ gift to the Church to celebrate and renew our faith and life as Catholics. It will begin at Pentecost 2012 and is an exhortation from the bishops of Australia to “Start afresh from Christ.”
Project Officer for the Year of Grace Fr. Peter Brock hopes that the site will become a hub for Catholics during the Year of Grace. Continue reading →