It’s not enough to want to grow – although that’s a start; you have to plan for it and that planning must have God at its heart, say pastoral planners in the Diocese of Parramatta. Amid incredible ethnic diversity and expansion, they are not afraid of making frank assessments in pursuit of a brighter future, writes Robert Hiini.

The lay vocation is chronically undervalued, argued Dr Andrew Kania on February 26. Here is an edited version of the talk he delivered at the inaugural Dawson Society talk in Northbridge.

When Salma fell pregnant, she felt frightened and unsure. Thanks to Pronoti, a rural midwife from the Safe Motherhood Project, Salma’s fears dissolved and she gave birth to a healthy baby girl called Maya.

Bread and circuses. As a state election looms the advertising has intensified temporarily in line with all other previous elections and much of it seems to be not very clever or original. To put it bluntly, our major political leaders and their parties display a distinct lack of imagination matched only in extent by their political cunning. Is this because electoral strategists themse...

The decision to close Nagle Catholic College’s boarding hostel was not taken lightly, writes Dr Timothy McDonald …

Like everyone else, I was surprised by the sudden resignation of Pope Benedict, whom we had all come to love. This raises many questions. Is this provided for in law? To whom does the Pope submit his resignation? And can the Cardinals elect someone who is not a Cardinal?

Raymundo, now 24, was only nine years old when he joined the circus. This was the beginning of a whole new life, away from the influence of gangs, drugs, alcohol and a potential life on the streets.

We all know Lent is a time of self-denial. Perhaps the ‘crystal bucket’ could help us grow more in this special season of Faith …

Can being disabled and needy give others the chance to be more humane? One bioethicist thinks so, writes Anna Krohn …

Catholic bush families grappling with the growing pressure of fly-in, fly-out economic forces seem to have few friends these days, says Fr Robert Cross …