Bishop Kennedy with Chris Smyth & Alan Bowyer, Directors of Education in the Dioceses of Armidale and Wagga Wagga.

It would be easy to reduce the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC2016), held in Cebu Philippines from 24 – 31 January, to a series of statistics.

Attendance figures such as 350,000 at the opening Mass at Plaza Independencia, 1.5 million people participating in the Eucharistic Procession, 5,000 First Communicants including over 400 street kids, 1000 additional police, 3 platoons of the Regional Public Safety Battalion, 12,000 registered delegates plus volunteers, exhibitors, food providers, ushers, transport and so on.

For the 50 plus delegates from Australia privileged to attend this Congress, the impact on our lives has been immediate and we hope long lasting too. As we have immersed ourselves in the various talks, Eucharistic and cultural celebrations, we have been awestruck at the public expressions of the Catholic faith.

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Apostolic Nuncio celebrates Red Mass

Homily by Archbishop Yllana, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, during the Red Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral on 1st February 2016.

Brothers and Sisters all in Christ Jesus,

The words of Scripture we have just heard from Luke’s gospel describe the mission of Jesus. This is the mission of the Church and the vocation of every Christian – to bring liberty to captives, to set the downtrodden free, and proclaim the good news that God is love.

In the time we have this morning I can only offer a few brief thoughts on how these texts can guide you in your important task in the coming year.

You are called, the prophet Isaiah says, to act with wisdom and insight, to judge the wretched with integrity, with equity to give a verdict for the poor. Continue reading →

Archbishop Prowse

The Catholic Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Christopher Prowse, delivered a Homily at Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, on Tuesday 2 February 2016, marking the Opening of the Federal Parliamentary Year.

In attendance were the Prime Minister, Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP and the Opposition Leader, Hon Bill Shorten MP.

Archbishop Prowse spoke about “the Golden Rule” which states, “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you”.

“In a world of galloping diversity, to find the gold nugget of a universal solidarity ethic, is indeed, a Eureka moment!” the Archbishop said. Continue reading →

Dr Bob Dixon

On 29 January 2016, the Pastoral Research Office (PRO) celebrates its 20th anniversary since the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference established it in 1996.

Initially called the Pastoral Projects Office, the focus was to carry out two major research projects: to acquire, analyse and distribute data on the Catholic population from the Australian Census to parishes, dioceses and Catholic agencies; and to coordinate the participation of the Catholic Church in the National Church Life Survey.

The first staff member of the office was Dr Robert (Bob) Dixon. Then General Secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Fr Michael McKenna, now the Bishop of Bathurst, appointed him as Project Officer to carry out research that was envisaged to take three years to complete. However, the remit of the Office increased and its role became an integral function of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. Dr Dixon, who later became the foundation Director of the Pastoral Research Office, completed a PhD while directing the Conference’s research activities.

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Official Year of Mercy logo

Seeing mercy as an action word invites reflection!

Mercy has been seen by some as a kind of privilege that I could grant to someone else, even though they may not deserve it.

However, Mercy is at the heart of all Christian beliefs, stretching back to the Old Testament when God revealed himself as one who has never ceased to show mercy to his people.

Then in the New Testament, Jesus was the embodiment of God’s Mercy.

Living out God’s mercy in our lives is not about a gift, which in our discretion, we hand out and measure out on our terms.

God’s mercy is something we receive in measures which go way beyond our merits.  God does not sit there in judgment. Continue reading →

On February 7, 2016 Caritas Australia, the international aid and development agency of the Catholic Church, will launch its annual Project Compassion appeal – one of Australia’s largest humanitarian fundraising and awareness-raising campaigns.

This year marks 50 years of Project Compassion, which thanks to supporters, schools and parishes across Australia raised a record-breaking $11.57 million last year.

Each year Project Compassion, which runs through the six weeks of Lent, brings hundreds of thousands of Australians together in solidarity with the world’s poor, to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. Money raised goes towards Caritas Australia’s humanitarian and long-term development programs in more than 40 countries across Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Latin America and with First Australian communities. Continue reading →

St Josephine Bakhita

Australians should not be indifferent to human trafficking and can take simple steps to combat this global injustice.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life (BCPL) and Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) are calling for a day of prayer, reflection and action against human trafficking on the Feast of St Josephine Bakhita on 8 February 2016.

‘In marking the Bakhita Day of prayer and fasting in this Year of Mercy, Australia’s Catholics should be mindful of Pope Francis’ challenge to us to stop human trafficking. We can all commit to learning more about human trafficking. We can commit to helping victims of human trafficking. And we can commit to tackling the systems that enable human trafficking to flourish’, said BCPL Chair, Bishop Terry Brady.

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A long drive during the visit

From 9-15 December last, I experienced the expanse and diversity across the Diocese of Wilcannia–Forbes. Not too mention the friendliness of the local people. Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green hosted me for a week in the Western part of his Diocese, centring in Broken Hill. 

Flying into the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes is quite a different experience. The REX plane seated 33 passengers and flies lower than interstate commercial aircraft, thus, less pressure on your eardrums, which is pleasant and you see more. My flight also experienced some interesting turbulence. 

Distances are immense. Wilcannia-Forbes covers 51% of NSW, broken into 20 parishes with 14 priests. While the chancery and the bishop’s house are based in Forbes, the Cathedral is a nine hour drive to Broken Hill. Bishop Columba, like other locals, seems to think nothing of a two hour drive. 

Heat is also a reality. At 7.00pm, it had cooled to a pleasant 35 degrees! Continue reading →

CRA logo celebrating the Year of Mercy

Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) proudly unveiled a logo to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy which began on the 8th of December 2015 and will conclude on the 20th of November 2016.

The logo reflects the call of Pope Francis to contemplate the mystery of mercy throughout the year to become more effective witnesses of God in our lives. We are all called, said Pope Francis, “to look beyond, to focus on the heart to see how much generosity everyone is capable.”

The logo is for the use of CRA members and the ministries and partners of its member congregations and institutes. Church groups, parishes and the broader Australian Catholic community are welcome to use the logo for the promotion of the Year of Mercy.

“The logo depicts the CRA cross and shows the region of Australia, Oceania and Asia where many religious women and men associated with CRA serve the marginalised,” said CRA President Sister Berneice Loch. “Showing these regions on the globe demonstrates our interconnectedness and unity in mission with others striving for merciful love in the world.” Continue reading →