Bishop Karol Kulczycki SDS and Pat Garcia wear World Day of the Sick lapel ribbons

As the pandemic enters its third year, the World Day of the Sick this Friday will pay tribute to the valuable work that Catholic health institutions undertake not just in Australia, but around the world.

In his message to mark the 30th World Day of the Sick on February 11, Pope Francis spoke directly to health care workers, recognising the importance of their work as infection rates and deaths from COVID-19 continue to rise.

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Hundreds of individuals and groups have already made submissions to the local consultation phase of the global Synod of Bishops, but Australian Catholics have three more weeks to share their stories.

In October last year, Pope Francis launched the international journey towards the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.

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Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, says at least 20,000 more humanitarian places are needed for people fleeing Afghanistan.

Catholic bishops were among those to advocate for a generous response from the Australian Government, supported by faith-based and community groups, to welcome Afghans looking to escape after the Taliban seized power last year.

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Archbishop Charles Balvo (Wikimedia Commons/Dan1)

Pope Francis has announced that American Archbishop Charles Balvo, a veteran of the Vatican’s diplomatic service for more than 30 years, will serve as the next Apostolic Nuncio to Australia.

Archbishop Balvo, currently the Vatican’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, was born in New York City and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of New York in 1976.

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by Archbishop Mark Coleridge

We’re all feeling a bit ragged at year’s end. December is the weariest time of the year, but this is more than normal end-of-year fatigue.

Many of us seem to be limping towards Christmas, eyeing off some time to rest in the company of family and friends.

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Catholics are being encouraged to participate in a nationwide survey on religious discrimination legislation currently before the Australian Parliament and speak up in favour of religious freedom.

Last month, the Attorney-General referred three bills to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights: the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021; the Religious Discrimination (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021; and the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2021.

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Archbishop Mark Coleridge (left) and Br Peter Carroll FMS

The fourth report from the Catholic Church to the National Office for Child Safety outlines initiatives across dozens of Catholic entities as they continue to strengthen their efforts to keep all people safe in Church settings.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Religious Australia accepted the recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse that organisations provide annual progress reports on their work to protect children.

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Mass for You at Home will be broadcast at 6am on Christmas Day on Channel Ten and available online later that day

People unable to attend their local parish for Christmas celebrations will get a special present, with a bonus Mass to be broadcast on Channel Ten at 6am on Christmas Day.

Mass for You at Home has been broadcast each Sunday for more than 50 years, but there was no television Mass scheduled for Christmas Day, which falls on a Saturday this year.

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The fruits of the first general assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia have been gathered together in a new report that contains dozens of proposals to shape the ongoing Council journey.

The more than 270 Plenary Council members gathered online for the first assembly in October, spending much of the week in small groups discerning responses to the 16 agenda questions.

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The commitment to sustaining the faith of those unable to attend Mass and the generosity of Catholic individuals, families and organisations means Mass for You at Home will continue in 2022.

The Diocese of Wollongong, which took over production of Mass for You at Home in April, and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference recently confirmed the plan to ensure the ministry remains on free-to-air television, as well as being accessible online and on pay television.

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