For the first time in more than 30 years, the Archdiocese of Perth has on 13 July held an Archdiocesan Assembly. More than 100 delegates from parishes, agencies and offices across the Archdiocese gathered for the occasion, including nominated clergy, religious, and lay delegates.

In his speech for the Diocesan Assembly on Saturday 13 July, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB spoke about the role of listening and discernment in the proposed Pastoral Council.

A key leader of the development and workings of the Assembly, Fr Vincent spoke about the task of listening and discernment in the light of Lumen Gentium. Photo: Samuel Chan/Archdiocese of Perth. The church is on a journey and that journey is to proclaim God's love and to proclaim Christ to a world in 2024, Vicar General, the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn has said. More than 100 delegates fro...

Drawing on his experience of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, Archbishop Costelloe recalled how some deeply challenging moments were overcome because organisers had decided to spend at least 20 minutes in a deep, contemplative and well-prepared prayer experience.

Archbishop Costelloe led the first speech for the Formation Day for the Archdiocesan Assembly, drawing upon the experience of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, and his role as President, in speaking about What is a Diocesan Assembly and the recommendations of a Diocesan Pastoral Council.

The 2023-2024 Perth Archdiocesan Assembly, continued Fr Vincent, is the first of its kind for the Archdiocese and was announced Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB in April 2023, and launched on Trinity Sunday 4 June 2023 at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Formally launching the 2023-2024 Diocesan Assembly on behalf of Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, Episcopal Vicar for Education and Faith Formation the Very Rev Fr Vincent Glynn explained that convocation of the Assembly comes out of the recent Plenary Council held by the Church of Australia in 2021 and 2022.