Written by David Ahern, Kairos Catholic Journal and images by Casamento Photography

Bishop Bosco Puthur, Eparch of the Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne of the Syro-Malabar

Family groups, many in traditional Indian dress, gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral on the evening of 25 March for the installation of the first Syro-Malabar Eparch in Australia, Bishop Bosco Puthur, and the formal establishment of the Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle in Melbourne.

Special celebrants, dignitaries and the Syro-Malabar faithful attended from around Victoria, Australia and overseas. Celebrants included Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry, Archbishop Paul Gallagher; Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archdeacon Fr Francis Kolencherry; Vicar General, St Thomas the Apostle Eparchy, Archbishop Denis Hart; Archbishop of Melbourne and President of Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Mgr Greg Bennet; Vicar General, Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Dozens of priests and bishops from the Latin and Syro-Malabar rites and parish priests from the Melbourne Archdiocese participated in the Mass and installation, with St Patrick’s Cathedral at near capacity. Continue reading →

Media release, 26 March, 2014

Pamphlet about Catholic Church teaching on asylum and migration

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) launch a pamphlet today on what the Catholic Church teaches about the pastoral care and rights of asylum seekers and migrants.

The pamphlet is titled: ‘I was a stranger and you welcomed me’ (Matthew 25:35). It represents a summary of 100 years of Catholic social teaching on the issue of migration.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Fr Maurizio Pettenà, National Director of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO), said the Catholic Church has a well-defined teaching on asylum and migration, which the pamphlet summarises.

“We want to make the Catholic Church teaching on the issue widely accessible, through the pamphlet, to Australian Catholics and those interested in what the church is saying on this particularly controversial issue.”

Guest speakers at the launch will include: Najeeba Wazefadost; Winner of the 2011 Young Woman of the West Award, Aloysious Mowe; Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, and Bishop Gerald Hanna; Australian Catholic Bishops Delegate for Migrants and Refugees. Continue reading →

Bishop Bosco Puthur, Eparch of the Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne of the Syro-Malabar

At the direction of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, a new Catholic diocese in Australia will be formally established and its first Eparch installed on Tuesday 25 March at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne.

The new diocese will be called The Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle in Melbourne. It will provide a permanent presence and pastoral care for the 40,000 Syro-Malabar Indian Catholics living throughout Australia, who worship according to the Eastern tradition in full communion with Rome.

One thousand people are expected to attend the Mass and installation of the new Eparch, Bishop Bosco Puthur, along with Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal George Alencherry, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Archbishop of Melbourne and President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart and other bishops from around Australia. Continue reading →

Written by Neil Helmore, Communications Coordinator, Diocese of Townsville

Apostolic Nuncio in Australia, Archbishop Paul Gallagher with Townsville Catholic Bishop, Most Rev. Michael Putney

Over 80 invited guests gathered in Townsville last Thursday, 20 March 2014, to launch the new book by Townsville Catholic Bishop, Most Rev. Michael Putney.

Guests from all areas of Church life from across many denominations including the Anglican Primate, Archbishop Phillip Aspinal and Apostolic Nuncio in Australia, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

Bishop Michael has dedicated most of his life to the promotion and deeper understanding of ecumenism both in Australia and around the world.

“My interest in ecumenism was initially just an interest in one of the new developments in the Church, which I gave assent to with genuine enthusiasm,” he writes in his introduction. However, something pivotal occurred which meant that this particular stream of renewal became a deeper and more comprehensive part of my response to the Second Vatican Council.”

The book ‘My Ecumenical Journey’ is made up of previously published and un-published papers and addresses and represents a large sample of Bishop Michael’s theological work in the area of ecumenism, especially over the past couple of decades.

Continue reading →

Media Release, 3 March, 2014

On Tuesday, 4 March, Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Christopher Prowse will join Caritas supporters, ACT Senator Zed Seselja and the Minister and Consul General within the Philippines Embassy, Nina Cainglet for the launch of Project Compassion 2014.

Project Compassion is one of Australia’s largest humanitarian campaigns. Last year the appeal raised more than $11 million for Caritas Australia. Supporters across the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, which spans the southeast corner of New South Wales and the ACT, including many parishes and schools in the region contributed more than $330,000, towards this total.

The Canberra launch will kick off at 8am at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture in Barton, with pancakes and coffee, marking Shrove Tuesday and the start of Lent. Minister and Consul General Cainglet will share about the ongoing situation in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines where Caritas Australia is directly helping 95,000 families affected from the disaster. Continue reading →

Media Release, 25 February, 2014

Cardinal Pell said he was deeply honoured to have been appointed by the Holy Father as the Prefect of the new Secretariat for the Economy.

The Holy Father has announced the new arrangements for economic and administrative affairs after receiving a report on the review conducted by the expert panel he established last year.

The review recommendations were endorsed by both the Council of 8 Cardinals established to advise the Holy Father on governance and the Committee of 15 Cardinals which oversee the financial affairs.

The recommendations include changes to existing management structures, improvements in financial planning, reporting and auditing as well as the more formal involvement of senior lay experts in the policy making procedures. Continue reading →

Media Release
25 February, 2014

President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Denis Hart has congratulated Cardinal George Pell (Archbishop of Sydney) who has been appointed by the Holy Father Pope Francis as Prefect for the Economy of the Holy See.

The appointment comes at the end of a meeting that Cardinal Pell attended with the C8 group of Cardinals who were specifically appointed by Pope Francis for Curial reform.

Archbishop Hart congratulated his esteemed colleague, and wished him well for this post.

“Cardinal Pell is well suited to this important appointment, as the head of this important office of the Roman Curia.

“Over the past few years, different financial issues have challenged the Vatican with separate Vatican offices being called into question for their financial stewardship.

“Cardinal Pell has shown exceptional and high-profile leadership in the Australian Church and will have an important contribution to make to the universal Church in this area of finance. Continue reading →

19 February, 2014
Media release

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) expresses great sadness at the tragic loss of life at Manus Island yesterday.

One Iranian asylum seeker died and others were injured in a riot involving 77 asylum seekers on Monday evening. The asylum seeker died after a confrontation with PNG police.

Bishops’ Delegate for Migrants and Refugees Bishop Gerard Hanna has called for calm, and urged people to consider the situations which lead asylum seekers to flee countries like Iran.

“Asylum seekers often endure horrific violence and persecution in their home countries. Australia was once a place of refuge but now the journey to Australia is marked by grief, hardship and further exile”, said Bishop Hanna. Continue reading →

Media Release,
6 February, 2013

CEO of the Catholic Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council, Francis Sullivan, has this morning responded to the UN report on child sex abuse by saying the challenge for the Church in Rome is to be open and transparent.

“The challenge for the Church in Rome, as it is here in Australia, is not to become defensive, but to be open and transparent and to do all it can to ensure children are safe in its institutions,” Mr Sullivan said. Continue reading →

Media Release, 16 January, 2014

The first day (Wednesday) of the Lift Up Your Hearts National Liturgy Conference kicked off with a wonderful celebration of the Mass at St Francis Xavier Cathedral in Wollongong, celebrated by Bishop Peter Ingham of Wollongong along with the Apostolic Nuncio (Papal Ambassador) Paul Gallagher, Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, Bishop Peter Elliott of Melbourne and Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett of Lismore. Bishop Peter reflected in his homily that amid all the competing ideas and claims related to spirituality that “liturgy is the first school of spirituality” for Catholics.

Liturgy, which is the Catholic Church’s name for its public worship, is the theme of the Conference and judging from the packed Cathedral, soulful music and rich prayer, conference participants from Australia and New Zealand have a true passion for the Mass. Continue reading →