PERTH Catholics have joined other Australians in voicing concerns about the possibility of the abortion drug RU486 being available for less than $6. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recently recommended Mifepristone (RU486) and the accompanying Misoprostol be included on the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS). If the government decides to implement the recomme...

Organisers of the Grace and Silence retreat are calling all young women who wish to contemplate their vocation, whatever that might be, to join them at the Schoenstatt Shrine over four separate dates, beginning May 18.

SEVEN young adults from Perth are taking on leadership roles in their parish as part of an initiative that will help them travel to Brazil for World Youth Day in July. The Knights of the Southern Cross WA are contributing to the pilgrims’ airfares, provided they contribute to their parish’s youth ministry over the next 12 months. Youth director for the Archdiocese of Perth, Anita Park...

A “CRISIS OF RESPONSE” is hindering religious vocations in Australia, according to the Archdiocese of Perth’s vocations director, Fr Jean-Noël Marie. Only recently appointed to the position, Fr Jean-Noël is embarking on a new campaign which he hopes will encourage and support young men and women discerning their vocation. “I see myself as a facilitator, someone I hope will be able to ...

ALMOST 150 people attended Australia Needs Fatima’s first seminar held in Perth on April 27. ANF volunteer Paul Folley delivered a talk on the message of Fatima before updating those present on the recent work and campaigns of the organisation. Mr Folley said although the Fatima messages took place almost a century ago, they remain relevant in today’s world. “The Rosary from the ve...

THE president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Care Workers, Archbishop Zygmunt Zimowski, visited two health care facilities in Perth on April 19. Having first visited St John of God Hospital in Subiaco, the Archbishop then surveyed the residential aged care facilities operated by Mercy Care in Wembley. Archbishop Zimowski, who speaks only limited English, dis...

ALMOST 300 people celebrated the annual feast of San Leone (St Leo) at Holy Family Catholic Church in Kalamunda on May 5. Fr Antonio Scala was the main celebrant at the Mass, which was followed by a procession through the streets of Kalamunda. Traffic in the area came to a halt and many locals stood in amazement as the crowd, accompanied by the Belmont Brass Band, passed by. The ev...

A YOUNG Perth Catholic will compete in the International Blind Sailing Championships in Japan later this month. Claremont parishioner Kylie Forth will skipper the four-person team in a fleet racing competition that will include 19 teams from six different countries. Ms Forth said she had high hopes for the event after a strong performance in the match racing format last year in Italy....

THREE out of four parishes in metropolitan Perth have a smaller percentage of Catholics than they did ten years ago according to recent census data. Sixty-two parishes in the Perth Archdiocese had less Catholics in 2011 than they did in 2001, while only 20 metropolitan parishes have increased in size. St Joseph Pignatelli Parish in Attadale witnessed the largest increase, rising from 33.9...

Servite Catholic College in Tuart Hill celebrated one of its most important feast days on April 8, that of the Annunciation. Students and staff filled the school hall for the Mass, which was celebrated by Fr Vincent Gilbertraj OSM. the school’s chaplain.