Bishop John Panamthottathil blesses the congregation during Wednesday evening’s ordination (Photo: Syro-Malabar Eparchy Media)

Hundreds of people gathered on Wednesday evening to celebrate the ordination of Bishop John Panamthottathil CMI as the second shepherd of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle in Melbourne.

Bishops from India, Europe and the United States, as well as 20 members of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, were among those who attended the ordination and installation ceremony.

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A joint statement from Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, President, Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Father Peter Jones OSA, President, Catholic Religious Australia.

Following today’s announcement that Catholic Church Insurance is voluntarily being placed in a run-off situation, we restate our commitment to responding with justice and compassion to victims and survivors of abuse in Catholic settings – as we have sought to do for many years.

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Catholic communities across the country are being invited to consider how the outcomes of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia can be integrated into local contexts with the help of a new study guide.

Dozens of decisions were made during the second assembly of the Plenary Council last year, contained in 10 decrees. While those decrees are awaiting recognitio from the Dicastery for Bishops before they can be promulgated, some initial reflection and planning can be carried out for their implementation.

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The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has appointed Fr Chris de Souza, currently serving as one of two vicars general in the Diocese of Parramatta, as its new general secretary.

Born in Sri Lanka, Fr de Souza moved to Sydney at a young age. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1983 for the Archdiocese of Sydney, and has ministered in the Diocese of Parramatta since it was erected in 1986.

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Bishop Ken Howell, left, will replace Bishop Bob McGuckin as the Bishop of Toowoomba (Photo: The Catholic Leader)

Pope Francis has this evening appointed Bishop Ken Howell, who has served as Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane since 2017, the seventh Bishop of Toowoomba.

Bishop Howell will succeed Bishop Robert McGuckin, who has led the Diocese of Toowoomba since 2012, whose resignation Pope Francis has accepted.

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World Youth Day coordinators gathered in Sydney recently as preparations ramp up for the August gathering in Lisbon, Portugal

More than 3000 Australian pilgrims will travel to Portugal for World Youth Day 2023, making it one of the largest Australian contingents to attend the gathering in its history.

A group of 25 World Youth Day pilgrimage coordinators gathered in Sydney – or joined the meeting online – earlier this month for the final preparation day before the August 1-6 celebrations.

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As a vote on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament nears, Australia’s bishops have encouraged Catholics to read and discuss the Uluru Statement from the Heart – the document from which the Voice proposal emerged.

During their plenary meeting in Sydney this week, the bishops considered how they might assist Catholics in preparing for the referendum to enshrine the Voice to Parliament in the Constitution, with a vote due in the second half of 2023.

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NATSICC chair John Lochowiak leads a smoking ceremony during the joint meeting of bishops and leaders of religious institutes

Australia’s bishops and leaders of more than 30 religious institutes gathered in North Sydney on Saturday to pray together, reflect on their ministry and discuss issues of mutual relevance.

Each year, the Church leaders meet during the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s May plenary meeting for a half-day.

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The National Centre for Evangelisation has launched a new website and a companion book to help answer the questions people commonly ask when they are considering becoming Catholic.

Becoming Catholic, which can be found at www.becoming.catholic.au, provides introductory information on God, including Jesus and the Trinity, explores the birth of the Church and covers other key topics like Mary, the Bible, the saints and sacraments.

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Photo: The Maronite Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania/Snapix

More than 30 bishops concelebrated Mass at Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral on Sunday, taking part in ongoing celebrations for the 50th jubilee of the Maronite Eparchy in Australia.

Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay was the principal celebrant for the Divine Liturgy, which was celebrated according to the Maronite Rite. He said the Maronite community was “privileged” to welcome the bishops, who are in Sydney for the biannual plenary meeting, during the jubilee year.

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