Archbishop Coleridge

The world at the moment seems a real mess – terrorism, the refugee crisis, climate change, economic woes, political turmoil and so on. But in one way or other the world has always been a mess. It certainly was when Jesus was born.

In Palestine at the time there were dramas of every kind – not least of which, from a Jewish point of view, was the Roman occupation. Whatever about the famous pax romana, things were anything but peaceful in the Holy Land. As one conquered warlord said of Rome, “They create a devastation and call it peace”. Into that mess Jesus was born; and the mess is symbolised in the Christmas story by the circumstances of the birth – no room at the inn, the farm animals, the feed-box into which the newborn is placed.

When the child is born, God enters into the human mess to transfigure it. The transfiguring begins at Christmas but will be complete only once Jesus is raised from the dead and even the mess of death is transfigured. The shadow of the cross falls across the crib; but so too does the light of Easter.

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The recent horrors in Paris, Syria and throughout the Middle East show that our world has changed. The dark, foreboding thrall of possible violence, the struggles of nations and the never-ending lines of refugees underline the suffering which is so present in our human condition. It is not surprising that we become anxious and restless, and even when we do get some peace our wounds and memories are a burden to us.

Yet we sense that there must be something more to life. In the midst of this suffering and confusion the Lord comes to us again as a tiny baby. Pope Francis invites us this Christmas to be still and place ourselves at the Manger of Jesus and to ask ourselves, “Do I really allow God to love me? Do I really have the courage to welcome with tenderness the difficulties and problems of those who are near to me?” Continue reading →

John L. Allen Jr laughs on board a flight with with Pope Francis

Poor communities often preserve a wisdom rooted in the Gospel that’s sometimes lost on the affluent, veteran journalist John Allen told the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in a recent interview.

The famed Vatican correspondent and Associate Editor of Crux said, ‘One role for Catholic social services in sync with that insight could be to think creatively about ways that wisdom could be shared.’

Allen will visit Australia next year to deliver an address at a mission conference for Catholic Social Services in Australia from 24 – 26 February 2016.

The Pope is calling for a Church that is poor and stands with the poor, that gets personal and goes beyond traditional forms of social engagement. Asked what new directions could be considered by Catholic Social Services, Allen says, ‘For one thing, making sure that the voices of the poor are heard. During his recent trip to Africa, Francis visited a slum in Kenya and insisted that the poor must be more than objects of charity, however well intentioned’. Continue reading →

Fr Greg Bourke

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference appointed Fr Gregory Bourke as Executive Secretary of the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry and Director of its Office for Clergy Life and Ministry, and  commencing in January 2016.

Archbishop Hart, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, acknowledged with gratitude the priestly leadership of Fr Bourke over many years within the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Fr Brian Moloney will finish his term in the role in mid-January when Fr Bourke takes up his appointment.

Fr Bourke was ordained in 1981 and has served the Archdiocese of Melbourne as Assistant Priest, Parish Priest, staff member of Corpus Christi College and Chaplain of the Bushfire Recovery ministry.

Since 2011, Fr Bourke has been Director of Ministry to Priests and Ongoing Formation of Clergy in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

During the recent bishops plenary meeting at Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney, Archbishop Hart said, ‘As Director of the Office for Clergy Life and Ministry, Fr Bourke will bring his rich pastoral experience, care of clergy, knowledge of priestly formation and ongoing formation, together with his understanding of the issues faced by clergy both locally and nationally. Continue reading →

Bishop Hurley with young people from the Darwin Diocese.

It was a rare occasion to see a diverse group of young people dine with a large number of bishops during an informal dinner at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival on Friday 4 December last.

The gathering was a unique opportunity for the Australian bishops and young people to chat and laugh together.

‘It is awesome to have this time to meet the bishops face to face in a relaxed way and to meet other young Catholic people like me from all across Australia’, said one young woman from Brisbane.

Archbishop Fisher, Bishops Delegate for Youth, spoke at the event encouraging youth to, ‘be the gift of new life that the Church needs today’. Continue reading →

Archbishop Hart presents Ron and Mavis Pirola with their plaque of appreciation.

On 25 November, the Australian bishops expressed gratitude to Ron and Mavis Pirola and Kevin and Margaret Andrews for years of dedicated service to the Australian Catholic Marriage and Family Council.

During a luncheon at the bishops’ plenary meeting on Wednesday 25 November 2015, Archbishop Hart, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, thanked both couples sincerely for their voluntary efforts on behalf of the church. ‘Your commitment and service to the Australian Catholic Marriage and Family Council has been valuable and it is appreciated by all of the bishops.’

A specially commissioned plaque was presented to both couples from the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference as a token of appreciation for their contribution to the Council. Continue reading →

Girls wanna have fun – (L-R) Jessica Basilio, Rachel Tantular, Bridget Correia, Kirsty Hughes, Aura Maria Becerra Cerinza (Archdiocese of Perth).

The next Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF), to be hosted in Sydney in December 2017, will launch a national Year of Youth.

The Australian Catholic Bishops recently approved a proposal from the Australian Catholic Youth Council to host a national Year of Youth in 2018.

The Year of Youth in 2018 will celebrate ten years since Australia hosted World Youth Day in 2008.

The Year of Youth will coincide with the liturgical year of 2018 and will begin on the first Sunday in Advent on 29 November 2017, reaffirming the important role of young people in the life of the Church. Continue reading →

Reflecting on the Year of Mercy, Archbishop Denis Hart, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, considers mercy as the bridge which connects God to humanity.

In our modern world we see so many signs of the efforts of men and women to master challenges and problems.

The remarkable progress in science and technology, the tremendous advances in medicine, our capacity to build taller buildings, wider roads, and to travel and use modern means of communication, have brought our beautiful world to become a global village.

We are proud of our achievements and resistant to admit weakness or failure.

Pope Francis is inviting all people of goodwill to celebrate a Year of Mercy from 8 December 2015 until Christ the King 20th November 2016. The Year will begin fifty years after the close of the Second Vatican Council, which introduced a new epoch in the Church’s life.

Modern people are so proud of their achievements that we find it hard to admit failure.  Yet, because we were all sinners, Jesus came as the face of the Father’s mercy, inviting us to realise our true need of mercy and forgiveness.  Rather than pushing aside our weakness, we are invited to know that God is near. Continue reading →

This Human Rights Day, 10 December 2015, Australia must take stock of its human rights performance, according to Bishop Vincent Long.

The Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council says, ‘There are certain groups in Australia and in our region whose rights have been undermined – often over many years.

‘The First Peoples of Australia continue to be over-represented on almost every indicator of disadvantage. News that little or no progress has been made on key ‘Closing the Gap’ targets of life expectancy, literacy, numeracy and employment is an indictment on our society. Warnings by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner show that governments are failing to properly consult and gain free, prior and informed consent from Indigenous communities before imposing measures like the compulsory Healthy Welfare Card or plans to close remote communities. Continue reading →

Official Year of Mercy logo

Dear Friends in Christ,

Earlier this year, at midday on Saturday 20^th June, the Angelus bells rang out in every parish of the Diocese of Bathurst, as we began the celebrations marking 150 years of our local church.

The Angelus was a wonderful prayer to begin with. It recalls us to the moment of Mary’s yes when she conceived Jesus. It recalls a new beginning in human history: when the Word of God became flesh and dwelt amongst us: a moment of mercy. “The tender mercy of our God in which the rising sun has come to visit us.” (Luke 1:78)

The celebrations which began that weekend will continue until October – November 2016, when we commemorate the events of the arrival of our first Bishop, Matthew Quinn; and our first community of Mercy Sisters, led by Mother Ignatius Croke.

This observance of our sesquicentenary will also, from today, be linked to a worldwide observance of the Jubilee of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis. That Jubilee will begin today, 8^th December, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception; and close on the Feast of Christ the King Sunday, 20^th November 2016. Continue reading →