As the first in two years because of cancellations caused by COVID-19, this year’s theme for the Australasian Catholic Press Association conference focused on the words of Pope Francis from his 2021 World Day of Communications message, “Witnesses of the Truth, to go, to see, to share”. Australian Redemptorist publication The Majellan has taken home the top gong at the annual awards.
Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton has mirrored Pope Francis sentiment in relation to domestic violence, following the Perth launch of the 2022 Social Justice statement Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse.
Speaking on the launch of a new guide on gender and identity, Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli, Chair of the Bishops Commission for Life, Family and Public Engagement said the Catholic Church and our schools begin from the foundational principle that each person is created in the image and likeness of God and is loved by God.
Speaking this week to representatives from across the Archdiocese, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has said the people on the ground in the concrete realities of our local communities are the ones who are there to help ensure that no child, no young person, and no vulnerable adult is ever hurt again, in any of our communities.
Catholic Mission is currently supporting a range of mission development programs in Ethiopia addressing malnutrition, the lack of access to education for young children, and the vulnerable position of women in society.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB agreed that Australia had something of a “head start”, with the Plenary Council having invited the People of God to consider significant questions around the Synod’s themes of communion, participation and mission.
“All over Western Australia, across many industries, there is a growing demand and opportunity for trained people to attend to the Spiritual Care needs of patients, clients, youth, students, employees, families and members of the public through offering compassion and support in a real and meaningful way,” Bishop Sproxton said.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB last week joined Catholic Religious Australia President, Br Peter Carroll FMS and Chair of the Association of Ministerial PJPs Eva Skira AM in Brisbane to discuss how dioceses, religious institutes and ministerial public juridic persons can collaborate to advance the mission of the Church in Australia.
The topic of faith and community were front and centre for some 40 young adults at a recent weekend retreat for Catholic Youth Ministry staff, volunteers and individuals from campus ministries, lay movements and ecclesial groups.