A middle school music teacher who yearns to be a jazz pianist gets his big break when he’s invited to join a highly regarded quartet. But just before his first performance with them, an accident leaves his body in a coma and sends his spirit into the afterlife. His efforts to avoid going to heaven and return to his earthly existence bring him instead to the realm where the personalities of future babies are formed. There, he’s assigned to mentor a soul who has stubbornly refused to be born for centuries. By John Mulderig

Pope Francis delivered his Christmas message and blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city and the world) from the Hall of Blessings at the Vatican on 25 December 2020, highlighting his hope that Christmas would be an opportunity for all to rediscover the family as a cradle of life and faith, a place of acceptance and love, dialogue, forgiveness, fraternal solidarity and shared joy, a source of peace for all humanity.

The Archdiocese of Perth established Catholic Outreach in 1990 with the objective of promoting, developing and implementing pastoral care programmes within parishes.
Catholic Outreach has this year marked its 30th year, inviting its many programme coordinators to a landmark Mass celebrated by Applecross Parish Priest Father Nelson Po at the Catholic Pastoral Centre chapel in Highgate on 15 August 2020, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary.

During what has been one of the most challenging years in recent memory, Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) has strived to promote the good works of the Catholic Church. As ACM Director Donella Brown explains: “The essence of good works in our Catholic Church is when people and ministries engage with and serve the community around them especially the most vulnerable”.

Hope for greater understanding of the need for people with disability to participate in their local parish community is the message shared by Lynette, Susan and Geoffrey, active members of 39 years from the Emmanuel Centre and the Ministry with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people.

Centacare Employment and Training proudly unveiled their
newly built library at Gosnells site on 23 November. Centacare Gosnells library is a tremendous addition to
providing free, accessible, educational resources for clients in Centacare’s
Skills for Employment and Education (SEE) program.

In their ongoing work and in their response to the COVID-19 crisis, our Archdiocesan Social Outreach agencies remind us powerfully that simply believing that Jesus existed is not faith – doing something in response to that belief is faith.

Catholic Homes is well placed to respond to the profound changes experienced by the aged care sector in recent times through its singular approach in how the organisation cares for its people: ‘Care with Purpose’.

The arrival of the Sisters of St John of God arrived in Perth after a long journey from Wexford, Ireland on 25 November 1895 was significant, as they would go on to provide healing and hope to the newly established colony and forever change the healthcare landscape in Australia.

The Church in Australia will celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God on the first Sunday in February each year, starting with 7 February 2021.