The journey towards the Plenary Council
This is a truly exciting time for the Catholic Church in Australia. The first of two gatherings being held as part of our Plenary Council, the first of its kind in 84 years, commences on Sunday 3 October 2021. The Plenary Council is the highest formal gathering of the church across the country and brings together Catholics of many different backgrounds, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit to discern what God is asking of the Church in Australia. At the end of this long period of listening to the Holy Spirit speaking through the voices of the faithful, Australia’s bishops will vote on any future directions for the Church in our country.
Priest’s Council hope: People rediscover what it means to be baptised
As the Church in Australia journeys towards the first assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, the first since 1937, the question asked by many is how the Church has changed since that last gathering. While he doesn’t remember any specifics about that event 84 years ago, Fr Frank Gordon – one of the oldest members of the upcoming Council – is testament to the changes that have taken place.
Why a Plenary Council?
There have been times when I wondered if we would ever make it. But after all the delays and changes of plan, we have come at last to the first assembly of the Plenary Council, which has quite a pre-history.
Caritas Australia’s Women for the World
From 17 to 23 September, all donations to Caritas Australia’s Women for the World campaign will be doubled by a generous group of supporters, until they reach their target of $250,000. By donating during this period, supporters can help raise an amazing quarter of a million dollars to support vulnerable people around the world.
Parishes in Harmony with Creation
You are warmly invited to the Parishes in Harmony with Creation online event.
St Mary’s Towers Online Retreats
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, St Mary's Towers Retreat Centre will be offering their September and October programs online!
Closing the Gap 2021
In August 2021, the Commonwealth Government released its first Closing the Gap Implementation Plan. The $1bn Implementation Plan provides an overview of the Commonwealth’s existing actions that contribute to Closing the Gap, as well as new investment and areas of future work. It is a whole-of-government plan, developed across the Commonwealth in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners.
Celebrating National Child Protection Week across the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
National Child Protection Week is a campaign held annually across Australia to raise awareness of child abuse prevention. The campaign aims to engage, educate, and empower Australians to understand the complexity of child abuse and neglect, and work together to prevent it. It does this through the sharing of events and resources to encourage communities to engage in conversations around children’s safety and wellbeing.