Media release from the Australian Catholic University | 24 November 2014

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference joined with the Australian Catholic University (ACU) on Monday 24 November to celebrate the conferring of a ‘Doctor of the University’ (honoris causa), on Archbishop Mamberti. 

The gathering also marked the Centenary of Papal Representation in Australia. The Vatican’s foreign minister Archbishop Dominique Mamberti and the Apostolic Nuncio to Australia Archbishop Paul Gallagher, former Canadian Ambassador to the Holy See Anne Leahy, and Archbishop Denis Hart, Archbishop of Melbourne and President of the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference, were among the dignitaries commemorating the event with ACU Chancellor John Fahey, Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven, and members of the ACU Senate, Chapter and staff, as well as representatives of Catholic health, education and social services groups.

ACU Chancellor John Fahey confers Doctor of the University (honoris causa) on Archbishop Mamberti.

Address by Archbishop Mamberti (PDF 2MB)

To mark the occasion events are taking place in Sydney and Canberra from 22-28 November.  Continue reading →

Celebrating International Day of People with Disability, this article was first published in December edition of Aurora, a Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle publication 

By Trish Mowbray, ACBC Disability Projects Officer

Trish Mowbray, ACBC Disability Projects Officer

Over the last couple of years, I have had the pleasure of meeting people with disability and their families through various forms of information and communications technology.

Sheira May, who lives in a developing country, contacted me via my work Facebook page when her son with Down syndrome was diagnosed with heart problems.

Fr Simon, from Pakistan, contacted me in the same way. Fr Simon runs a school for children and young adults with disability. Both Sheira and Fr Simon were reaching out for relationship and support. Continue reading →

20 November 2014 | Statement by the Australian Catholic Bishops

Jesus treated women with openness, respect, acceptance and tenderness.

In advance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on Tuesday 25 November 2014, the Australian Catholic Bishops ask all to focus on the message of Jesus Christ and his relationship with women, always one of dignity and respect.

Referring to the ‘Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus Report’ (1999) on the Participation of Women in the Catholic Church in Australia, the Australian Catholic Bishops quote Pope St John Paul II who wrote: “Transcending the established norms of this own culture, Jesus treated women with openness, respect, acceptance and tenderness.”

Violence against women has no place in our society, the Australian Catholic Bishops stress.

“Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.”

The United Nations’ Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women defines violence against women as any act of “gender-based violence” that results in “harm to women”.

According to the UN, globally, up to 70 per cent of women experience violence in their lifetime.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006) reports that in a 12-month period, between five and ten per cent of Australian women experienced at least one incident of abusive violence.

The reasons for violence are complex and we all have a part to play in reducing violence against women. Some practical ways that you can show your support for this issue include:

• Listening to women and learning from women
• Learning about the issue of domestic violence
• Challenging language that degrades women
• Learning to identify and oppose gender harassment and violence in your community
• Supporting local women’s programs
• Examining how your own attitudes and behaviour might contribute to the problem

As Pope Francis notes and the Australian Catholic Bishops reiterate: “Doubly poor are those women who endure situations of exclusion, mistreatment and violence, since they are frequently less able to defend their rights. Even so, we constantly witness among them impressive examples of daily heroism in defending and protecting their vulnerable families.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 212)

For media queries, please contact Aoife Connors on 0450 348 597 | media@catholic.org.au

Resources:

United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 25 November https://www.un.org/en/events/endviolenceday/

White Ribbon Day:  http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/

Social Justice Statement 2010 – Violence in Australia: A Message of Peace

http://www.catholic.org.au/acbc-media/media-centre/social-networking-protocol/publications-1/1024-2010-social-justice-sunday-statement-1/file

Social Justice Statement 2000 – Woman and Man: The Bishops Respond

http://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/files/SJSandresources/2000-SJSS-Statement.pdf

Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus: A Report on the Participation of Women in the Catholic Church in Australia (1999) http://opw.catholic.org.au/woman-and-man/woman-and-man-resources.html

Catholic Social Services Submission to the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022

http://www.cssa.org.au/storage/CSSA%20Submission%202nd%20Action%20Plan%20-%20Final.pdf

His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed the Most Reverend Peter Andrew Comensoli as the third Bishop of Broken Bay on 20 November 2014.

Bishop Peter Comensoli appointed third Bishop of Broken Bay

Over the past nine months, Bishop Comensoli served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Sydney while the position of Archbishop was vacant from 27 February until 12 November 2014.

Currently, Bishop Comensoli is a member of the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry and Bishops Commission for Evangelisation.

Continue reading →

18 November 2014 | Broken Bay Institute eConferencing delivers the Good News

Pope Francis has tweeted that “The Church is ever on a journey, seeking new ways to announce the Gospel.” [8 November 2014]

The BBI-ACBC eConferences have played their part by delivering the Good News via the world wide web for free across the country and abroad, every year.

Now, the much anticipated DVD of the 10th eConference on Pope Francis: Modelling the Ministry of St Peter is available and BBI is encouraging all Catholics to give and receive the gift of knowledge this Christmas with a selection of adult faith resources.

Continue reading →

Media Release | 13 November 2014

Ninth Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher

The Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP was installed as the ninth Archbishop of Sydney during a solemn Mass of Installation at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney on 12 November 2014.

President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart concelebrated the Mass with archbishops and bishops from overseas, priests of the Archdiocese of Sydney and of other dioceses and religious congregations.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Paul Gallagher DD, read out in latin the Papal Bull appointing the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP DD Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney. Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Mgr John Usher, read out the English translation of the Papal Bull. Continue reading →

Bishop Peter Ingham takes up Pope Francis’ call in South West Sydney as new evangelising ministry is announced

11 November 2014 | Media release from the Diocese of Wollongong

The Catholic Guy Impact Communities (TCGIC) includes: weekly prayer, worship events, formation and hospitality.

Taking inspiration from Pope Francis’ call for the Catholic Church to reach out in new and radical ways, Bishop Peter Ingham has announced a bold initiative in South West Sydney (part of the Diocese of Wollongong), to reach out to those in the community who are disconnected from church and faith, with a particular focus on Catholics who have stopped attending Church.

Continue reading →

Media Release | 7 November 2014

The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed as Auxiliary Bishops of Melbourne, the Reverend Monsignor Terence Curtin and the Reverend Father Mark Stuart Edwards OMI.

Mgr Terry Curtin appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne

Mgr Curtin is currently Parish Priest of Greythorn and the Episcopal Vicar for the Eastern Region of the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Fr Edwards is presently Rector of Iona College in Brisbane.

Congratulating both priests on their appointments, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart said: “On behalf of the people of Melbourne, I welcome the Holy Father’s care for us in appointing bishops-elect Terence Curtin and Mark Edwards as auxiliary bishops.”

Born in Cremorne, Sydney on 20 July 1945, Mgr Curtin was educated at St Kevin’s College, Toorak. Joining the Regional Seminary of Melbourne, he completed his priestly formation at the Pontifical Urban College, Rome. Continue reading →

Robyn Mitchell (left) CatholicCare Sydney being presented, with a merit award in the Norma Parker Award Category for Most Innovative Program, by Donella Johnston (right) ACBC Director of the National Office for the Participation of Women.

Judging the 12th annual Catholic Social Services Awards in Canberra recently, Donella Johnston writes about the experience.

On 21 October, I attended the 2014 Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA) Awards as a member of the awards judging panel.

CSSA works with Catholic organisations, governments, other churches and all people of good will, to develop social welfare policies, programs and other strategic responses that work towards the economic, social and spiritual well-being of the Australian community. Continue reading →

Award winner Margaret Pirotta from CatholicCare Sydney

Media Release from Catholic Social Services Australia |23 October 2014

Margaret Pirotta, the Coordinator of CatholicCare Sydney’s Tree of Hope program, is the 2014 Catholic Social Services Australia Award winner of the Perkins Award for Excellence in Service by an Individual.

Across Sydney, Tree of Hope provides emotional and practical outreach support to people living with HIV, their family and supporters. Margaret Pirotta has worked to ensure that Tree of Hope, based in Lewisham in Sydney with outreach in Surry Hills, provides a confidential, non-judgemental environment for people living with HIV, their family and support person, to connect with other people who understand the challenges and issues they experience. Continue reading →