By Josh Low Now more than ever in today’s society, the father figure is in danger of becoming more and more hidden or even absent. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there are currently close to 1 million single parent families in Australia, of which more than 80 per cent of single parents are female. The Census however, does not also take into account fathers who may be...

By Daniele Foti-Cuzzola At Christmas time, Italian pastry shops and bakeries produce a number of delicious cakes, pastries and breads that are associated with the birth of Christ. Among the many popular Christmas treats produced at this time, is Panforte, which literally translates to ‘strong bread’. Panforte is a speciality of Siena, Tuscany and dates back to the 13th Century, where it was...

By Daniele Foti-Cuzzola It was only fitting that Melbourne based photographer and journalist Fiona Basile named her debut children’s book Shhh…God Is in the Silence, as it was in the silence that she found her inspiration. After working for several years at the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne’s Kairos Catholic Journal, Basile took a period of extended leave and enrolled in a 30-day silent r...

Animated characters appear in the movie “The Star.” Photo: CNS/Sony Pictures. By John Mulderig A holiday treat suitable for all but the tiniest, The Star (Sony) is a delightful animated version of the Christmas story told from the perspective of some of the animals present in the manger. Director Timothy Reckart and screenwriter Carlos Kotkin skilfully balance religious themes suc...

Today, many adults face questions of faith, life and meaning. Navigating through such questions in a manner that builds faith and understanding can at times be challenging, and can in some cases result in one becoming discouraged in their pursuit of answers and understanding. What do we really believe about the Bible? Does the world need Jesus Christ? If so, why? If God is so good, why do ba...

Denzel Washington and Colin Farrell star in star in a scene from the movie “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” Photo: CNS/Sony By John Mulderig Writer-director Dan Gilroy’s drama Roman J. Israel, Esq. is a generally intriguing character study pitting idealism against the hard realities of contemporary life and the allure of wealth and comfort. Though the film takes left-wing values for granted...

Fr Manoel Lopes Borges and Fr Ernesto Cerutti during their Ordination to the Priesthood in 2007 at Infant Jesus Church, Morley Parish. Photo: Peter Rosengren. By Josh Low On 16 November 2007, Deacon Manoel Lopes-Borges, Ernesto Cerutti and Arnel Taracina were ordained to the priesthood at Infant Jesus Church, Morley by then Archbishop Barry Hickey. In celebration of the tenth annivers...

Hector and Miguel embark on an epic adventure in Disney Pixar’s Coco. Photo: Supplied. By Daniele Foti-Cuzzola For more than 20 years, Pixar have crafted stories that have taken viewers of all ages on unforgettable journeys, from the depths of the ocean, to outer space, to the Scottish highlands and Parisian kitchens. But Director Lee Unkrich’s (Toy Story 3) latest offering Coco takes...

Father Andrew Bowron blesses a cross mosaic made by students from St Mary’s School in Merredin. Photo: Supplied. By Caroline Smith Members of the Merredin Catholic community came together in their hundreds to celebrate the 90th anniversary of St Mary’s School earlier this year. The celebration, which included a school fair and a reunion dinner was held on Saturday 14 October, and broug...

Dan Stephens and Christopher Plummer in a scene from the film ‘The Man Who Invented Christmas’Photo: CNS Photo/Bleeker Street. By John Mulderig Its rather ill-chosen title notwithstanding, The Man Who Invented Christmas (Bleecker Street) involves no denial of the Nativity. Instead, this charming fact-based historical drama tells the origin story of Victorian author Charles Dickens’...