The Ruby Princess is seen during its ill-fated trip to New Zealand last month (Rebecca Comini photo)

The Ruby Princess’ much-maligned status in the country’s COVID-19 story didn’t stop the Catholic Church offering pastoral care to the crew and seeking to ensure they got the help they needed.

Bishop Bosco Puthur, the Bishop Promoter of the Apostleship of the Sea ministry to seafarers, wrote to New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian, calling for the state authorities to ensure the welfare of the crew was not forgotten.

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In response to the dramatic changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the bishops of Australia have made the “difficult, but necessary” decision to postpone the first assembly of the Plenary Council.

Changes in the ways people live, work and communicate due to the pandemic led the Bishops Commission for the Plenary Council to consult with the advisory and planning teams, as well as the wider Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

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The Catholic Church is inviting its various agencies across the country to consider what facilities could be made available to support national efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 within the community.

“The Catholic hospital and aged care network is at the forefront of the Church’s response, offering high-quality, compassionate care to those currently suffering from COVID-19,” said Archbishop Mark Coleridge, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

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Plenary Council president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has written to more than 250 other Catholics across the country, calling them as delegates for the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia.

“At a time in our Church’s history we’ve not seen before, with the suspension of Masses across the country and around the world, the announcement of our Plenary Council delegates is a source of great joy for the People of God in Australia,” Archbishop Costelloe said.

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by Joe Zabar

With the 2020-21 Federal Budget less than two months away, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Treasurer Josh Frydenberg have been softening up the public for the potential political fallout if they fail to deliver their much-touted Budget surplus.

The coronavirus, this summer’s bushfires and the ongoing drought have the Government justifiably nervous about what this might mean for the Budget and its reputation as strong economic managers.

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Pope Francis has this evening appointed Bishop Patrick O’Regan, currently Bishop of the Diocese of Sale in Victoria, as the 12th Archbishop of Adelaide.

Bishop O’Regan said his appointment comes at a critical moment for Catholics in Adelaide and across the country.

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The Leadership for Mission program for young Catholic women is one local initiative to help support the role of women in the Church.

The chairman of the Bishops Commission that supports women’s participation in Catholic life says the Church should celebrate its many outstanding female leaders on International Women’s Day.

Archbishop Christopher Prowse, who leads the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry, said March 8 will be a day to particularly recognise the irreplaceable role of women in the Church.

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Melbourne’s Natalia Teguhputri is preparing to take her knowledge and passion to Italy as one of 2000 young entrepreneurs, economists and change-makers attending the Economy of Francesco summit.

Miss Teguhputri, who was born in Indonesia and now works in finance, is deeply committed to various community development causes, including in the provision of clean water, sanitation and hygiene in developing countries.

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A researcher, educator and Church historian with a deep commitment to the empowerment of lay people in the Church has joined the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference as an executive secretary.

Clara Geoghegan has this week taken on responsibility for two of the Conference’s episcopal commissions: the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry, and the Bishops Commission for Relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

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Archbishop Mark Coleridge says Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Querida Amazonia (Beloved Amazonia) is not just for a distant and alien part of the world, but has much to offer the Catholic Church in Australia.

“The Amazon is remote from us but the issues are not,” the president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference said.

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