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 →

Faith leaders gathered at Parliament House, Canberra on 2 December 2015

Faith leaders met in Parliament House on Wednesday, 2 December 2015, as part of the Australian Freedom Network campaign against #slavery.

Details about the campaign are available online: www.afn.org.au

Fr Brian Lucas signed the Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders Against Modern Slavery on behalf of Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, President, Archbishop Denis Hart.

Fr Brian made special acknowledgement of the presence and work of the sisters of Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans.

The event was hosted by the Salvation Army. Two women, who were victims of trafficking in Australia, spoke about their experiences and pain. 

A number of politicians addressed the meeting including, The Hon Julie Bishop MP, Foreign Minister, and The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Deputy Leader of the Labor Party.

The meeting was also addressed by the head of the Global Freedom Network, Andrew (Twiggy) Forrest.

Official Year of Mercy logo

Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved.

(L-R) Festival MCs, Caitlin Brown (Adelaide), Joshua Rajasingam (Melbourne) and Holly Roberts (Adelaide).

Travelling from dioceses across Australia, around 3,000 young people arrived in Adelaide overnight by air, rail and road to celebrate a three-day faith filled festival.

The Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) takes place from Thursday 3 December to Saturday 5 December 2015 at the Adelaide Convention Centre.

As the final rehearsals are underway and set up concludes, the excitement is building amongst volunteers and staff as they await the arrival of thousands of young people at the opening plenary this afternoon.

The Festival is being hosted by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in partnership with the Archdiocese of Adelaide.

Young people from Year 9 to 25 years will participate in five plenary gatherings where everyone will come together and celebrate as the young Church in Australia. The final plenary will culminate with a closing Mass.

Over 60 exhibitors, from a diverse range of Catholic organisations, have set up interactive stalls and demonstrations to allow young people to experience the breath of the Church in its many expressions. Continue reading →

Inclusion matters for people of all abilities and the Church must take a truly pastoral view that embraces our total community, Bishop Terry Brady said on International Day of People with Disability, celebrated worldwide on 3 December 2015.

This year’s theme is ‘Inclusion matters: access and empowerment for people of all abilities’.

Bishop Brady, Bishops Delegate to the Australian Catholic Council for Disability, said, ‘It is appropriate that we observe and celebrate the International Day of People with Disability as we prepare during the Advent season for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The Church has taken this day as an opportunity to encourage a truly pastoral view that embraces our total community as the living Body of Christ’. Continue reading →

Year of Mercy logo

Continuing an ancient tradition in the Church, dioceses across Australia are preparing to open Doors of Mercy for the Jubilee of Mercy that will commence on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December 2015, across the Church internationally.

Pope Francis wants the Holy Year to be for believers ‘a true moment of encounter with the mercy of God’. The Holy Father asks the faithful to make pilgrimage to the Holy Door, open in every Cathedral or in the churches designated by the diocesan Bishop. Everyone can participate in the Jubilee pilgrimage.

Throughout Australia, Holy Doors are planned in every diocese to symbolise our entry into a new experience of the mercy of God.

The National Office for Evangelisation will be a source of information and resources about how dioceses are celebrating the Year of Mercy locally.

The Jubilee of Mercy will conclude on 20 November 2016, the feast of Christ the King. Continue reading →

Senator Anne McEwen deputy chair human rights subcommittee.

Opening statement given by ACBC Public Policy Director, Jeremy Stuparich, to a public hearing of the Australian Parliament’s Human Rights Subcommittee inquiry on Australian advocacy for abolition of the death penalty.

27 November 2015

I appreciate the invitation from the Committee to speak with you today about efforts to end the death penalty internationally.

Australia’s Catholic bishops oppose the death penalty and want to see it abolished everywhere.

The bishops welcome the Committee’s inquiry in this area because they want to understand how they can more effectively contribute to the goal of ending capital punishment worldwide.

The death penalty can in Australia be seen as an issue remote from our lives, but earlier this year, the bishops were active not only in lobbying for clemency for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran but also importantly in prayer vigils on their behalf. The executions of these two young men reminded Australians of the pain and sadness that accompanies all judicial killings around the globe. Continue reading →

Jewish and Catholic leaders gathered at Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney.

For the 18th time over many years, the Australian Catholic Bishops Commission for Ecumenism and Inter religious Relations and Australian Jewish leaders met for talks on Wednesday 25 November 2015.

The talks took place while the Australian Catholic Bishops gathered for their plenary meeting at Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney from 23 – 27 November 2015.

Archbishop Christopher Prowse, Chairman of the Bishops Commission for Ecumenism and Inter religious Relations, said, ‘There is a great fraternity amongst us. We share our faith on various levels and there is respect and friendship between the Jewish and Catholic leaders.

‘We discussed the area of religious intolerance in our world today and in particular in Australia,’ Archbishop Prowse added.