After a year break due to covid restrictions, the Orchestral Mass held its largest event in its’ sixth-year history – with the involvement of a 68-piece orchestra and a total of 115 choir members from WA schools (Catholic, Anglican, Uniting Church and public schools) – joining the St Mary’s Cathedral choir at its’ 11am Sunday Mass on 25 July, celebrated by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB. By Amanda Murthy.

Fourteen Catholic Education school choirs participated in the annual Sacred Choral Section of the Catholic Performing Arts Festival at St Mary’s Cathedral on 27 July.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme Heal Country was reflected in the Archdiocese annual NAIDOC Mass held at Saint Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, 1 August. The 11am Mass attended by hundreds was a way to gather in prayer with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, bound by the gift of our common faith. By Amanda Murthy.

Hundreds turned out for the 2pm and 6pm UNDA Graduation Masses on 12 July at St Mary’s Cathedral.

“Have I visited my grandparents, my elderly relatives, the older people in my neighborhood? Have I listened to them? Have I spent time with them?” Pope Francis has said Sunday 25 July in his homily marking the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Born in Birmingham, England, on 28 June 1921, 100 year old Irene Withnall is described as a chatty, strong-willed and formidable woman.

In a video and text released by the Vatican, Pope Francis’ prayer intention for June 2021, focused on the beauty of marriage, inviting everyone to pray for those preparing for marriage, which he said is “a vocation born from the heart.” On 28 August, the Archdiocese of Perth will celebrate a Marriage Mass at Saint Mary’s Cathedral.

The Catholic Arts committee is this year honoured to introduce “The Spirit of the Arts” to the annual Performing Arts Festival. Staff and students of Catholic Education schools were present for the festival’s opening ceremony at St Mary’s Cathedral on 22 July, led by Fr Vincent Glynn EV.

Redemptorist Mater seminarian Grzegorz Rapcewicz has spent 10 years discerning his vocation and is now set to be ordained to the Diaconate, en route to priesthood, on 12 August at St Mary’s Cathedral.

An Oak Jubilee and a 100th birthday are just two of the remarkable achievements of Presentation Sister Evangelist Barrett PBVM, endearingly known by her carers at Nazareth House as “Sr Mary”.