Media Release, 13 November, 2013

The Holy Father Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop David Louis Walker of Broken Bay. The Bishop turned 75 today, 13 November 2013.

One of six children in a close-knit family, Bishop Walker spent his childhood in the eastern Sydney suburb of Clovelly. He was educated with the Sisters of St Joseph and with the Marist Brothers at Randwick, and attended the Seminary at Springwood and Manly.

Bishop Walker was ordained to the priesthood on 21 July 1962. He was appointed Bishop to the Broken Bay Diocese on 9 July 1996 and was ordained by Cardinal Clancy in Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Church, Chatswood on 3 September 1996.

Archbishop Denis Hart, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference thanked Bishop Walker for his magnificent contribution to the Church and society. Continue reading →

Media Release, 13 November, 2013

I welcome the release today of the report by the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry.
It is our hope that the Inquiry, and its recommendations, will assist the healing of those who have been abused. We also hope they will enhance the care of victims and their
families, and strengthen the preventative measures now in place.

Victims bravely came forward to give their accounts, often at great personal cost. The
Inquiry has been an important opportunity for victims to be heard.

The report documents terrible abuse that occurred in the Catholic Church, mainly over a
25-year period from 1960 to1985. It also sets out inexcusable failures in the Church’s
response to that abuse. Continue reading →

President of the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines, Archbishop Jose Palma, has called for a novena of prayer and charity for victims of a massive Typhoon Haiyan stating; “No typhoon or flood can diminish the strength of the Filipino soul.”

Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency, has committed an initial $1 million to help in emergency relief efforts in the Philippines. Emergency supplies are now arriving in Cebu city.

Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest storms to ever make landfall, has caused widespread devastation. Almost 10 million people have been affected across 8,000 villages, 447 towns, 48 cities in nine regions across the country. Continue reading →

Media Release, 10 November, 2013

Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency, is responding through our partners on the ground in the Philippines to the devastating aftermath of the super Typhoon Haiyan.

The monster storm battered the country with winds of more than 330 kilometres per hour and had a diameter of approximately 800 km wide. The UN estimates that 4.3 million people have already been affected, and in Vietnam, authorities warned many hundreds of thousands of people could also be affected.

In the Philippines authorities have reported the death toll could reach into the tens of thousands following the Typhoon the strongest in the world this year and possibly the most powerful ever to hit land. Continue reading →

This article was first published by the Diocese of Wollogong.

Halloween is growing in popularity but its roots are lost on most people. It is observed on 31 October, the “een” or “eve” of All Hallows Day (All Saints Day) on 1 November.
“Hallow” is a word in the Lord’s Prayer – “hallowed be thy name” (may God’s name be held holy) so to celebrate Halloween without connecting it to All Saints Day would be like celebrating Christmas Eve without a Christmas Day. Continue reading →

30 November 2013

CEO of the Truth Justice and Healing Council has written to more than 1,500 Catholic priests and women and men from religious orders across Australia encouraging support for the activities of Blue Knot Day and the possibility of recovery for the victims of child sexual abuse.

Blue Knot Day and other activities will conclude this Sunday (3 November). The week’s activities are part of an annual awareness campaign coordinated by the victims of child sexual abuse group, Adult Survivors of Childhood Trauma.

Mr Sullivan said Blue Knot day is an important event that focuses on the damage done to victims of child sexual abuse. Continue reading →

By Francis Sullivan

I told the board meeting that the Royal Commission is a chance for victims, damaged by clerical sex abuse, to tell their story. It is the time for the community to hear, and really listen and appreciate the full and long term impacts of child sex abuse. Continue reading →

A Melbourne-based youth minister James Edwards has won a national songwriting competition with his official theme song for the inaugural Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF).

The song is called “Your Spirit” and focuses on the theme of the ACYF which is “The Spirit of the Lord is Upon Me” from Luke’s Gospel. You can listen to the song here:

Your Spirit – James Edwards

You breathe life into everyone,
We all sing Your praise.
You give us sight and You set us free,
Empowered to proclaim,
You are everything.

Your spirit falls,
Your spirit falls upon us all.
Your spirit falls,
Your spirit falls,
Your spirit falls,
Your spirit falls upon us all.
Continue reading →

Media Release, 24 October, 2013

The appeal is being co-ordinated by CatholicCare Social Services Parramatta. Donations will be used to provide material support and counselling to people in areas affected by the fires. Continue reading →