Media Release
19 December, 2011
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) today expressed sorrow over the tragedy which has resulted in the deaths of a possible 160 people, mostly thought to be asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Iran.
This time last year, a similar tragedy occurred when just short of safety, a boat carrying 50 Middle Eastern asylum seekers crashed off the rocks of Christmas Island. Continue reading
By Bishop Greg O’Kelly
This article was first published in “The Witness” of Port Pirie and is used with permission
At Christmas five years ago, people entering St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in Adelaide were shocked to discover that the nativity crib had been vandalised. Someone had urinated over the statues of Mary and Joseph, and the statue of the baby Jesus in the crib had been smashed into pieces. Continue reading
Caritas Australia invites you to join us on a first-time interactive journey throughout the world with our Advent Calendar, which for the first time available as an iPhone App which can be downloaded here http://www.caritas.org.au/advent/index.html
Continue reading
PLENARY WRAP-UP, NOVEMBER, 2011
The following information pertains to the proceedings of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Plenary Meeting which took place from 22-25 November at Mary MacKillop Place. If you require any more information, please email media@catholic.org.au Continue reading
Media Release
24 November, 2011
The new English translation of the Roman Missal was officially launched today by the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Philip Wilson during the Bishops’ Plenary meeting in Sydney. Continue reading
Media Release
24 November, 2011
The Australian Catholic Bishops today at their Plenary meeting expressed solidarity with the Coptic Christian community in Egypt.
In recent months, sectarian violence has plagued the country. Continue reading
By Fr Peter Brock
You’ll have seen Archbishop Wilson’s Letter, on behalf of the Australian Bishops, announcing the Year of Grace [www.yearofgrace.catholic.com.au]
The Bishops have chosen, as a sort of sub-heading, a phrase from Pope John Paul II’s Novo Millennio Ineunte: “starting afresh from Christ”.
So that might be the four-word answer to the question.
At the meeting of our National Planning Team, we brainstormed a slightly longer version:
“Listening to the wisdom of God, the Year of Grace calls us to:
· encounter Jesus Christ in prayer
· seek healing and renewal through repentance
· grow as disciples by cultivating the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that the Church in Australia will continue to be transformed by the power of Christ’s resurrection”. Continue reading
“One Body in Christ” – Release of a New Resource for Welcoming People with Disability
Media Release
16.11.11
The Australian Catholic Disability Council and the Disability Projects Office of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference have released today a new resource for parishes and Church communities called One Body in Christ, Welcoming People with Disability. Continue reading
By Marita Winters, Director, Catholic Enquiry Centre and the National Office for Evangelisation
Recently I’ve been part of several dinner conversations on the state of the Catholic Church.
Does that sound familiar?
During one, there was comment on the average age of the few participants at a vigil Mass -the estimate given was “at least mid-60’s”. During another there was discussion around the overwhelming participation for registration for a parish Sacramental program one week and the return to half-empty seats the following week. Continue reading
By Patricia Mowbray
The Disability Projects Office of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is a much more all-encompassing ministry than one might imagine. It involves encouraging and promoting the full participation of people with disability, their families and friends in the faith life of our Church in Australia.
It’s all about taking our rightful place in the Body of Christ. Continue reading