Most Rev Anthony Fisher, the new Archbishop of Sydney

Pope Francis has announced this evening the appointment of Bishop Anthony Fisher OP as the new Archbishop of Sydney.

Bishop Fisher is currently the Bishop of Parramatta.

This appointment follows the transfer of Cardinal George Pell to the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy.

Speaking on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, its President, Archbishop Denis Hart of Melbourne, welcomed the announcement.

“For my brother bishops I congratulate Bishop Fisher on his appointment to Sydney. He will use his many gifts with generosity and faithfulness to serve God and to lead his people in Sydney Archdiocese and beyond. I assure him of our prayers for his ministry.”

ANTHONY FISHER BIOGRAPHY

Born in Sydney in 1960 to Colin and Gloria Fisher, he was baptised Anthony Colin Joseph at St Thérèse Church, Lakemba, and attended the parish school in 1965 and 1966. Continue reading →

Ron & Alice Weston celebrating 60 years of marriage

Bishop Peter Ingham’s annual Marriage Anniversaries Mass this Sunday will be a triple celebration for the Weston family with parents, Ron and Alice, celebrating 60 years of marriage, while two of their children will be celebrating their 40th (Rhonda and Mark Breeze) and 25th (Leanne and Christopher Wilson) wedding anniversaries.

The Weston family, along with 78 other couples, have clocked up a staggering 3,583 years of married life: 21 couples are celebrating 25 years of marriage; 16 couples celebrating 40 years of marriage; 24 couples celebrating 50 years of marriage; 15 couples celebrating 60 years of marriage, a further four couples celebrating 61, 62, 64 and 65 years, and one couple celebrating the healthy milestone of 66 years of marriage.

Alice, who met Ron at a New Year’s Eve dance back in 1952, credits her mother as the greatest role model in her life. Alice said, “My mother mentored my sister and I wonderfully. She had a very strong faith and instilled in us a core belief of having respect for ourselves and others. She paved the way for us in our marriages.” Continue reading →

Aurora magazine cover

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle was the big winner of multiple awards for its monthly magazine Aurora at two media conferences held last week in Canberra. This included receiving the highly respected Gutenberg Award.

Aurora attracted three awards at the Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) dinner held last Thursday followed by another four awards at the Australasian Religious Press Association (ARPA) lunch on Sunday.

The President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart, was delighted with Aurora’s success. “Since commencing distribution of Aurora through secular newspapers in 2011, the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has been able to reach a broader audience beyond our Catholic community. It has meant they’ve been able to communicate the Church’s good news stories, as well as provide honest coverage of the difficult issues they’ve faced in regard to clerical child sexual abuse”, Archbishop Hart said.

The awards from ACPA were for best layout and design, best print magazine and the Bishop Philip Kennedy Memorial Award for Overall Excellence in a Catholic Publication. Continue reading →

This article was written by Fr Brian Lucas and first appeared in the The Sydney Morning Herald on 10 September 2014

Regulators, like death and taxes, are always with us. Good law advances the common good by balancing the benefits of regulation with the extra paperwork.

On Monday at the National Press Club the CEO of World Vision Australia, Reverend Tim Costello, said that one church denominationopposed the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, because it didn’t “want a secular, atheistic regulator in charge”. On Tuesday Fairfax Media said he was referring to the Catholic Church and I completely reject that claim.

The Catholic Church has always taken a pragmatic approach to government regulation. Our concern has always been about the value and extent of the regulatory red tape, rather than the identity of the regulator. Continue reading →

Media statement, 27 August 2014

Australia’s Catholic bishops have expressed grave concern at the humanitarian crisis that is continuing to worsen in northern Iraq. The Australian bishops condemn outright the use of terrorism in the name of religion.

Tens of thousands of Christians have been forced to flee Mosul, Qaraqosh and other areas of Northern Iraq, with demands by Islamic State fighters that they convert to Islam or die. The Yazidis, other Muslim, religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq, have also been forced to flee from forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Continue reading →

Authors of Rebuilt Fr White & Tom Corcoran

Media release, 23 August 2014

The key message for the Church is to call parishioners to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ, keynote speakers Fr Michael White and Tom Corcoran told delegates attending the Proclaim 2014 Conference on the New Evangelisation.

“It is essential for the parish to reorient towards reaching those who are not active in the life of the Church,” Fr White said.

“The key elements to rebuilding the parish are focusing on unchurched people, prioritising the weekend experience and moving Church people to action,” Tom Corcoran explained.

Continue reading →

Most Reverend Edmund John Patrick Collins MSC DD AM, Bishop Emeritus Catholic Diocese of Darwin, RIP.

Bishop Ted Collins MSC DD AM laid to rest  St Mary’s Star of the Sea Cathedral Darwin

On Tuesday 19th August, The Most Reverend Edmund John Patrick Collins MSC DD AM, Bishop Emeritus of the Catholic Diocese of Darwin was laid to rest in the Crypt of the St Mary’s Star of the Sea Cathedral Darwin.

The Solemn Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial was presided by The Most Reverend Bishop Eugene Hurley DD, and con celebrated by Archbishop Phillip Wilson of Adelaide, Bishop Christopher Saunders of Broome, Bishop James Foley of Cairns and retired Archbishop John Bathersby and Bishop Luc Matthys.

An overflowing St Mary’s Cathedral with over 1,000 in attendance, were joined by Her Honour the Honourable Sally Thomas, Administrator of the Northern Territory, The Honourable Adam Giles, Chief Minister of the Northern Territory, Northern Territory Government Ministers, The Leader of the Opposition, Ms Delia Lawrie, The Right Worshipful, Lord Mayor of Darwin, Katrina Fong Lim, Members of the Legislative Assembly, Federal politicians Mrs Natasha Griggs and The Honourable Warren Snowden.

Bishop Ted Collin’s only surviving sibling, sister Madge travelled from New South Wales for the Requiem Mass, together with Bishop Ted’ niece Anne and nephews Tony and Gerard. Continue reading →

Fr Michael White addresses delegates at Proclaim 2014 Conference

Proclaim 2014, 21 August 2014

On day one of Proclaim 2014, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference National Conference on Evangelisation, Fr Michael White and Thomas Corcoran delivered a keynote address on how to ‘Make Church Matter’.

Over a number of years these two men have worked together to rebuild the parish at the Church of the Nativity in Timonium, North Baltimore, USA.

In 2013, they co-authored a book called ‘Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter’. Continue reading →

Media Release, 13 August 2014

The second Australian Catholic Youth Festival will be held in Adelaide from 3-5 December 2015, the Office for Youth announced today.
 
Hosted by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) to engage and empower young people in the life of the Catholic Church, the festival is expected to draw more than 4000 participants.
 
Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, the Bishops’ Delegate for Youth said the Australian Bishops were committed to the Festival: “After the success of the inaugural event in Melbourne and its impact across the country, the Australian Bishops have committed to repeating the Festival every three years into the future.”
 
“It is fantastic that we are able to hold the next Festival in Adelaide in 2015, and I invite all young people and their teachers and youth ministers from around Australia to make the pilgrimage to Adelaide,” Bishop Fisher said.
 
The theme of the Festival is ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’ (Mt 5:8). This is also the theme chosen for 2015 diocesan celebrations in advance of World Youth Day 2016.
 
Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson said: “I am proud that we are able to host the Festival in Adelaide in 2015, and I look forward to welcoming thousands of young people from around the country to our wonderful city to share in the Good News.”
 
“I am particularly excited about the theme for the Festival as it allows us to experience the journey of St Mary MacKillop here in Adelaide. Mary was a woman who in the face of many challenges, kept her heart pure and focused on Christ,” Archbishop Wilson said.
 
The ACBC Office for Youth will coordinate the Festival, in partnership with the Archdiocese of Adelaide and Catholic Education South Australia.
 
Over the coming months, a Steering Committee for the event will be established along with campaigns for an official festival song, workshop presenters and youth involvement.
 
An overview of the successful 2013 festival is available at:www.youthfestival.catholic.org.au.  Continue reading →

St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne

From Archdiocese of Melbourne News

The Prime Minster has declared Thursday 7 August 2014 to be a National Day of Mourning to honour the victims of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.

The Government has arranged for a National Memorial Service to take place at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, at 10.30am on Thursday 7 August 2014.

The National Memorial Service is interdenominational and members of the public are invited to attend.

Upon the Government’s announcement, Archbishop Hart said ‘I extend my deepest sympathy and prayer to those families, friends and communities so devastated by the loss of their loved ones on Flight MH17.

‘I hope and pray that all who gather at St Patrick’s Cathedral next Thursday for this National Day of Mourning for the victims will be united in their prayer and efforts to bring healing to those who grieve.

‘May the efforts of so many people of goodwill, witness the power of love which brings peace, justice and hope in these darkest days.’

– Archbishop Denis Hart

Arrangements have also been made for the outside broadcast of the National Memorial Service in anticipation of large crowds wanting to support the families of those lost on Flight MH17.

Those wishing to attend the National Memorial Service should contact a Ceremonial and Protocol Officer on (02) 6271 5991 or (02) 6271 5209 or via email at MemorialService@pmc.gov.au up until 12 noon on Wednesday 6 August 2014.