The Catholic churches of Balcatta and Gwelup released a parish annual in February for the first time in their history.

Almost 150 people attended Mass to celebrate the Day of the Unborn Child at St Mary’s Cathedral on March 23. The Mass was preceded by a Holy Hour of Adoration, in which those present prayed for all affected by abortion – such as parents, children, grandparents, and the aborted infants.

Children from Years 3 and 4 at St Joseph’s College in Albany were caught up in a frenzy of excitement last week as they made congratulatory cards for Pope Francis, the first pope to be elected in their lifetime.

Community Care Coordinator Gayleen Pfefferle had been growing her hair for the past year but it all came off when not-for-profit organisation Southern Cross Care, which provides aged care, support and accommodation services hosted a ‘head shave’ on Thursday 21 March.

An Economics student at the University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle Campus saw nine months of hair growth removed in minutes as part of the Leukaemia Foundation’s World’s Greatest Shave.

The bodies of the eight deceased Bishops or Archbishops of Perth may all be interred together for the first time in the crypt of St Mary’s Cathedral by the end of this year. The process of moving the body of the only leader of the Perth Archdiocese who is not yet buried in the crypt, Archbishop Patrick Clune CSsR, is under way.

On Palm Sunday, as the Church began the celebrations of Holy Week, Year 7 students from Kolbe Catholic College and the Star of the Sea Primary School Choir celebrated with the parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes in Rockingham.

The Ukrainian Catholic Church in Maylands hosted a memorial concert in honour of renowned Ukrainian poet, Taras Shevchenko on March 24. Around 100 people attended the concert that was held after the 9.30am Divine Liturgy in the parish hall. Several young parishioners recited poems composed by the 19th century poet, before entertaining the crowd with a traditional Ukrainian dance.

A strong crowd attended a sacred music concert in honour of St Patrick on March 16 at St Anne’s Church in Belmont. Some of the music performed included Aspice Domine de Sede by William Byrd, Factus est Dominus Firmamentum by Orlando Lasso, and Laudate Dominum by Giovanni da Palestrina.

Over 500 people from four local parishes attended a Celebration of The Year of Grace – a Liturgy of Healing and Reconciliation last Thursday night. The evening was both a spiritual and an historical one. It was a moment when, through the Grace of God, the four parishes united in faith and solidarity; the first time that the Parishes of Rockingham, Baldivis, Kwinana and Port Kennedy have come together to pray as one body.