By +Archbishop Mark Coleridge

The full text of the ACBC election statement can be viewed at www.catholicsvote2013.org.au

The elusive concept of “the Catholic Vote” frequently makes an appearance during elections and this year’s Australian Federal election will be no different. But like all groups, Catholics are a broad and diverse lot, representing a wide cross section of the Australian population.

One in four Australians are Catholic. A quarter of the 5.4 million Catholics in Australia were born overseas and more than two thirds of this group are from non-English speaking backgrounds. The top five non-English languages spoken are Italian, Filipino languages, Spanish, Arabic and Vietnamese.

That diversity is a great strength as it allows us to have a great many perspectives on how best to apply Catholic social teaching to the problems that face Australia.

The first point of contact with the political process for most of us is the local candidates that present for election. The bishops have asked us all to meet with local candidates and make our concerns known. That’s important because however presidential the style of campaigning that we see every night on the television, ultimately we vote for local candidates – not national leaders. If we can award the best of the local candidates with our vote, that’s one of the most important steps we can take to ensure the national parliament runs well. Continue reading →

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCsqMGl0gdI

www.wisdomatthegate.org.au: Wisdom at the Gate is a colloquium facilitated by the Council for Australian Catholic Women and supported by the National Office for the Participation of Women. It aims to gather, connect and reenergise those who are responding to the issues of women’s participation in our church within their local context.
While acknowledging the limitations that exist, the colloquium is an invitation for women to gather and dream; to be all they can be; to re-imagine the potential of what is possible within their own context; and to distil the wisdom that women carry and nurture within their lives and our church.

Media Release

Prominent religious leaders from five diverse traditions are calling for urgent action on climate change to help avert a devastating 4° C rise in global temperatures.

In an open letter to both sides of the political divide ahead of the upcoming Federal election, they are unequivocal about human-induced climate change. They call for bipartisan support for carbon pricing, the fast-tracking of renewable energy and the winding back of coal exports.

The twelve leaders include the Grand Mufti, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammad, the Chair of Catholic Earthcare Australia, Archbishop Philip Wilson, the President of the Uniting Church Assembly, Rev. Professor Andrew Dutney and the Chair of the Hindu Council of Australia, Professor Nihal Agar.

Spokesperson for Archbishop Wilson, Catholic Earthcare Director, Jacqui Remond, said, “We urge all Australians to give this moral issue the attention it demands. If we don’t, our children and grandchildren will face devastating consequences because of our failure to act now.”

With reference to numerous recent reports, the leaders write, “influential bodies are now warning us about an unthinkable 4 degree Celsius rise in temperatures if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase. Recent experiences of extreme weather events, both here and overseas, are a mild foretaste of what this will mean.” Continue reading →

Pope Francis has decreed that the name of Saint Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, be added to Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV. Below is the Decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship together with a schedule stating how Saint Joseph is to be mentioned “with Blessed Joseph, her spouse”, after the naming of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in Eucharistic Prayers II, III and IV.
Continue reading →

Media Release
20 June, 2013

Two students from Western Australia’s Notre Dame University, supported by Caritas Australia, will clock up more than 1,600 kilometres when they embark on a road trip across the South West and Mid West, Western Australia, to bring awareness to constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency, is committed to working with Indigenous Peoples across the world. For over 40 years Caritas Australia has been working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia through its First Australians programs. Caritas’s Walk As One campaign advocates joining in solidarity with Indigenous communities to achieve a more just world. Continue reading →

Media Release
20 June, 2013

With only one month to go before pilgrims set off for WYD in Rio de Janeiro, 50 Australian pilgrimage coordinators recently met in Sydney for a final preparatory briefing before leading over 1700 pilgrims to South America.

The Australian pilgrimage to WYD will consist of over 30 groups from various dioceses, communities, groups and movements in the Catholic community across Australia. Sixteen Bishops and a large number of lay leaders, youth ministers, chaplains, religious and teachers will travel with the young pilgrims, visiting different parts of Brazil, Chile, Peru and Argentina.

Matters discussed at the briefing day included reports with the latest information and planning from the WYD Office in Rio. It also provided coordinators with spiritual formation, updated travel arrangements, logistical and critical response planning, and a time to discuss post-WYD retreat and formation strategies. Continue reading →

Media Release
June 20, 2013

The Council for Australian Catholic Women (CACW) has announced its inaugural colloquium for Australian Catholic women which will take place on Friday and Saturday 16-17 August at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney.

Wisdom at the Gate: Radiant and Unfolding is a colloquium facilitated by the CACW which aims to gather, connect and re-energise those who are responding to the issues of women’s participation in the Catholic Church within their local context.

Director of the Office for the Participation of Women (OPW) Donella Johnston is working with the CACW to organise this colloquium, and hopes that the collaborative effort will bear fruits that will last.

“The colloquium is an invitation for women to gather and dream; to be all they can be; to re-imagine the potential of what is possible within their own context; and to distil the wisdom that women carry and nurture within their lives and our church”, she said. Continue reading →

Media Release:
Catholic Earthcare Australia

To celebrate World Environment Day, on June 5th 2013, Catholic Earthcare Australia is proud to announce the launch of our 2013 annual resource- The Awesome Cosmic Story.

An interactive, educational program ‘The Awesome Cosmic Story’ explores the creation of our universe, and the world as we know it, through an inspirational blend of theology and science.

In the lead up to World Environment Day on June 5th, Catholic Earthcare Director Jacqui Rémond hopes this interactive education tool will “encourage Christians young and old to experience wonder and awe at the beauty and complexity of God’s creation. “When we spend time reflecting on our belief that everything in the universe is created by God, it’s hard to ignore our call as Christians to care for, and be responsible guardians, of such a wonderful gift, given with love.” Continue reading →

A life-changing trip to Peru provided the inspiration for students from The University of Notre Dame Australia to record their experiences in a new book titled Holistic Development in Action; Changing Lives in Peru.

Launched at Notre Dame’s Fremantle Campus by Caritas Australia CEO, Jack de Groot, the book details the students’ experiences as they travelled with members of Caritas through the Andes mountains, visiting remote schools and communities in 2012.

The trip was made available through the University’s Experience the World program, which was developed in 2005, in collaboration with Caritas Australia and the School of Arts & Sciences on the Fremantle Campus.

Arts student, Vicky Burrows, said she witnessed first-hand how effectively Caritas workers engaged with the communities to deliver change and improve the quality of life for Peruvian people. Continue reading →