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 →

Media Release 11 Jan, 2014

The Holy Father Pope Francis has today announced the erection of a new Eparchy to serve the growing Syro-Malabar Church throughout Australia.

Thousands of Syro-Malabar Catholics, primarily from the South of India, worship in Dioceses across Australia, and a growing number of priests from this tradition are serving in Australian parishes.

The first Eparch for the Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne is the Most Reverend Bosco Puthur.

Bishop Puthur is also named Apostolic Visitor for the Syro-Malabar faithful resident in New Zealand.

Bishop Puthur was born in 1946 in Parappur, India. He has a Licentiate in philosophy and studied at the Pontifical College Propaganda Fide in Rome, where he gained a Licentiate and Doctorate. He speaks English, Malayalam and Italian. Continue reading →

Media Release, 19 December, 2013

In the spirit of Christmas, the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office encourages the Australian people to look upon asylum seekers with compassion and mercy.

“Whilst policy is becoming more restrictive and punitive, we ought not lose sight of the fact that on the boats there are people” said Bishop Gerard Hanna, Australian Catholic Bishops Delegate for Migrants and Refugees.

“When people turn up unexpectedly, or when people are despised, we honour their humanity; for they are human persons made in the image of God” said Bishop Hanna.

“At Christmas, our eyes and our hearts gaze upon Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. The Gospel story tells us that they sought refuge in a manger because there was no room for them at the inn (Lk 2:8)” he said.

“Many asylum seekers now live in our community without work rights and receive merely 89 per cent of any relevant government benefits forcing them to live below the poverty line. They live precariously with no possibility to be reunited with their family and are prevented from making an application for any permanent visa or to undertake refugee status determination” said Fr Maurizio Pettenà, Director of ACMRO.

“This year over 6000 asylum seekers will spend Christmas in immigration detention facilities” said Fr Pettenà “It is part of the mission of Christ’s faithful to ensure no one is excluded from the community (cf. EG 59).” Continue reading →

Photo from ACNC website

Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s International Aid and Development agency has a new CEO at the helm. It is Paul O’Callaghan, who brings enormous experience in foreign aid and development, social and disability services and the Catholic sector to his leadership role.

Mr O’Callaghan has held senior leadership roles in the not-for-profit sector and in the Department of Foreign Affairs, including time as High Commissioner in Samoa and as the Australian Representative to the South Pacific Regional Environment Program. He also had diplomatic assignments in Malaysia and Thailand.

He is looking forward to 2014, when Caritas celebrates 50 years of work, living out God’s vision for a just and compassionate world. Continue reading →

Much of what we know about the Catholic Church in Australia today is a result of the work the Pastoral Research Office (PRO) has done over the years.

The Beliefs and Practices of Australian Catholics Conference and the Parish Workshop Day will explore the issues that matter to all Australian Catholics. It will look at the research results and consider what they mean and how we need to respond.

This Conference will take place from: Wednesday evening 19 February to Friday afternoon 21 February. Continue reading →