Sr Rita Fitt SGS, who received an Australia Day honour (Photo/Diocese of Wollongong)

Dozens of people have been honoured with Australia Day Awards for their outstanding contribution to the country through their work in the Church’s various ministries.

Among the many recognised for their dedication to community were Catholic teachers, priests, religious women, health care workers and social service workers. Continue reading →

Dallas Bishop Edward Burns delivers catechesis at World Youth Day for English-speaking pilgrims.

The Australian contingent of World Youth Day Panama pilgrims has been urged to follow the example of the Apostles, to not leave the Church because of Judas and to keep their focus on Jesus.

The hundreds of young Australians have been participating in catechesis sessions along with other English speakers, with similar sessions held in more than two dozen languages. From the Greek word meaning to “echo” or “resound”, catechesis is an act of echoing the Church’s teachings to the world. Continue reading →

Music was one of the features of the Australian gathering in Panama. (Photo: Diocese of Parramatta)

Australian pilgrims had a busy first official day at World Youth Day Panama, with 700 gathering for an Australian event before joining tens of thousands of others for the opening Mass.

Australian pilgrims have descended on Panama after spending time visiting holy sites in nearby countries, including Mexico and the United States. Continue reading →

Members of the Council for Australian Catholic Women at a recent meeting

Women from across Australia will meet in Adelaide next month to be part of shaping the Church of the future.

Council for Australian Catholic Women chair Dr Trish Madigan OP said she was delighted with the early response to the Stirring the Waters: Catholic Women Responding to the Spirit
colloquium, with registrations very strong and spaces limited. Continue reading →

Fr Matthias Ogwo with members of the Rockhampton Catholic community

Priests in the Diocese of Rockhampton are sharing the joy of Christ’s birth, providing hope for communities devastated by prolonged drought and catastrophic bushfires.

Fr Matthias Ogwo, Fr Raj Kodavatikanti HGN and Fr Ronaldo Rodriguez have already begun celebrating Christmas Masses and will collectively clock up several thousand kilometres driving between isolated mining towns and farming communities. Continue reading →

Fr Brian Mathews has a huge parish that takes in Uluru.

From isolated outback mining towns to Queensland’s surf beach holiday spots, Australia’s parish communities are listening to the Spirit and preparing for Christmas.

As the Inland Mission’s parish priest for the past four years, Fr Brian Mathews is looking forward to celebrating the last ever Christmas Mass in the local pub of the soon-to-be-closed mining town of Mintabie, more than 1100km northwest of Adelaide. Continue reading →

The results of a survey about the 2011 changes to the liturgy has again opened up debate around the suitability of some parts of the English translation spoken at Mass.

At a meeting in September, the National Liturgical Council discussed the results of the National Centre for Pastoral Research document Mass Attender’s Attitudes to the English Translation of the Mass. Continue reading →

Roslyn Rajasingam, national director of the Apostleship of the Sea

Seafarers on three ships docked at Port Botany received some early Christmas cheer as part of a planned visit from the Apostleship of the Sea ministry.

Roslyn Rajasingam, Apostleship of the Sea Australia’s national director, visited the ships along with Barry Cleary, a retired ship engineer and a volunteer ship visitor for AoS for the past five years in the Archdiocese of Sydney. Continue reading →

Bishop Michael McCarthy

Queensland’s devastating bushfires have seen Catholic communities throughout the Rockhampton Diocese scramble to assist one another during the ongoing emergency.

Rockhampton Bishop Michael McCarthy yesterday praised the heroic acts of fire and emergency service workers and volunteers, who have worked tirelessly to save lives and property. Continue reading →

St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne on Red Wednesday

Two of Australia’s major cathedrals were splashed with the colour of martyrs on Wednesday night as a sign of solidarity with those who suffer religious persecution around the world.

Joining other faiths and landmark public and government buildings worldwide, St Patrick’s Cathedral in Melbourne and St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney were floodlit red. Continue reading →