Tag Archives: Cardinal Pell

Royal commission

The Catholic Church welcomes the royal commission into child sex abuse. Picture: Bill Hearne Source: The Daily Telegraph

By + Cardinal George Pell
Archbishop of Sydney
18 November 2012

The following is the text of Cardinal George Pell’s Sunday Telegraph Column.

Last Monday the Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced a Royal Commission on the sexual abuse of children in institutions across Australia.

Naturally the victims were delighted that their struggle for justice was heard.  Many have high expectations and every decent person should work to see that all possible progress is made.

Along with the Australian Catholic bishops I welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement. The Royal Commission will provide an opportunity to clear the air.

Unfortunately the Catholic Church has been unable to reassure everyone that it is serious about dealing with sexual abuse and responding appropriately.  This is despite the fact that in 1997 the NSW Wood Royal Commission found the Catholic response “a model for other Churches and religious organizations to follow”. Continue reading →

Foundation Chapter and Eucharist heralds new era for Sisters of Mercy

Institutional leadership team of the Sisters of Mercy

MEDIA RELEASE Tuesday December 20, 2011

About 1,500 Sisters of Mercy, their friends, families and ministry colleagues gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney on Sunday, December 18, for the foundation Eucharist of the newly established Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

This historic occasion, also attended by members of other religious congregations and many bishops and priests from dioceses throughout Australia and PNG, heralded the beginning of a new era for the Sisters of Mercy. Continue reading →

Address by Sr Berneice Loch RSM, Newly elected leader of the Sisters of Mercy

Sr Berneice Loch RSM, the newley-elected leader of the Sisters of Mercy addresses the congregation at St Mary's Cathedral

Sr Berneice Loch RSM is the newly-elected Leader of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea

The Foundation Eucharist of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea
St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, December 18, 2011

Your Eminence. I thank you for your hospitality in hosting Sisters of Mercy and our many friends and guests here at this gathering today. I rather thought being called to lead a group of over 900 religious women was a daunting task, but right now, addressing such a huge gathering in this cathedral seems hardly less daunting. So I’ll keep it brief. Continue reading →

The Sisters of Mercy of Australia and PNG, Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral

On the 12th of December, 2011, the Sisters of Mercy Australia and Papua New Guinea formed one joined Congregation, which will be known as the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea. The following clip is of highlights of the Mass which was celebrated at St Mary’s Cathedral by Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop Guiseppe Lazzarotto and Archbishop Philip Wilson, as well as Bishops and Priests from Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The Blessing of the Altar; Domus Australia Rome; By + Cardinal George Pell

Archbishop of Sydney
17 October 2011
This evening we conclude the retreat day of the Ad Limina visit with both Mass in this renovated chapel of St. Peter Chanel and the consecration of its new altar.
I am not sure whether the chapel was ever consecrated previously by the Marist Fathers. But we can be sure that this place of worship has been made holy by the prayers and lives of all the Marist priests and seminarians who lived here during more than one hundred years.
As Jesus pointed out to the Samaritan woman, his followers, the true worshippers to which we belong, worship the Father in spirit and truth. It is the same Eucharist, the same seven sacraments that will continue to be celebrated here as in the Marist times, when we worship the Father through his only Son. Continue reading →