Pope Francis has issued the Lenten statement for 2024, entitled “Through the desert, God leads us to freedom”
Local and national consultation on Synod opens
Catholics around Australia are being asked to contribute to a global discussion on the future of the Church.
Vatican offers clarification on Papua New Guinea visit
Discussion around a visit by Pope Francis to Papua New Guinea is at an early stage, the Vatican has clarified.
Pope Francis’ visit to Papua New Guinea welcomed as ‘meaningful’
The President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania, Most Rev Anthony Randazzo DD JCL, has welcomed the news that Pope Francis will visit Papua New Guinea in August.
Unity in Understanding – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council statement
IN the spirit of Ephesians 2:14 – “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups
one” – we, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC),
invite our fellow Australians to a moment of reflection and unity this Australia Day.
Parish profiles to help Catholics better serve their local communities
PROFILES of 1230 Catholic parishes across Australia have been published, offering a wealth of insight they can use to better serve the needs of their local communities.
The parish “social profiles” draw on data captured in the 2021 Australian Census and examine the Catholic and local population within parish boundaries. Continue reading
New Synod of Bishops role for Archbishop Costelloe
Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costelloe as a consultor of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.
The appointment is in conjunction with Archbishop Costelloe’s concurrent appointments as a Member of the Preparatory Commission, and as one of the nine President Delegates to the Synod. Continue reading
Document helps those accompanying Catholics considering euthanasia
Australia’s Catholic bishops have released a new document to guide priests, chaplains and pastoral workers who are asked to provide pastoral support to Catholics who are considering euthanasia.
The publication of the document, To Witness and to Accompany with Christian Hope, follows the legalisation of euthanasia in all Australian states.
Church in Australia carrying forward its pursuit of synodality
One “particular grace” of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia has been its encouragement of many initiatives in the Church across the country, according to a letter to the People of God prepared for the Solemnity of Christ the King.
As the Church marks the end of the liturgical year this weekend, the letter provides an update on work carrying forward the Plenary Council’s outcomes while awaiting the Holy See’s formal recognitio of the Council’s decrees.
Church called to be welcoming, healing and hopeful
Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Archbishop Charles Balvo and Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP
A senior Vatican official who served as Apostolic Nuncio to Australia has told the country’s bishops that the Church is being called to be welcoming, healing and hopeful in a world challenged by war and unrest.
Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations, is on a six-day visit to Australia to mark the 50th anniversary of Australia-Holy See diplomatic relations.