Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives for his general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican on 29 September, 2021. Photo: CNS/Paul Haring. Pope Francis has sent greetings and blessings from Rome as the program for the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, the first such event in this country in 84 years, began today. A message read out during the opening plenary session this mo...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG_PFLAkYOE On the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, Bishop Shane Mackinlay has said the saint that so loved creation and those living in poverty can inspire the work of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia. Bishop Mackinlay, the Bishop of Sandhurst and the Plenary Council’s vice-president, celebrated Mass for the first day of the Council’s program, a day...

Here are some of the highlights of the Opening Mass of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia at St Mary's Cathedral, Perth, on Sunday 3 October, 2021. The Aboriginal Cross stands in front of the lectern for the Book of the Gospels at St Mary’s Cathedral for the Opening Mass of the Fifth Plenary Council on Sunday 3 October at St Mary’s Cathedral. Plenary Councils Members Sr Lucy Van Kess...

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB welcomes the congregation, including Members and guests, to the Opening Mass of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia on Sunday 3 October at St Mary’s Cathedral. Photo: Ron Tan. Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has today emphasised that perhaps the most important thing that God is asking of us at this time is to return the Church to Christ and r...

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe during his Homily for the Opening Mass of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia on Sunday 3 October at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth. Below is the homily of Archbishop Timothy Costelloe for the Opening Mass of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia on Sunday 3 October 2021 at St Mary's Cathedral. On 21 November 1964, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, kn...

A new resource developed by the Office of Christian Initiation will be launched next month with the aim of engaging young people in conversation and reflection about the Christian faith.

The historic Opening Mass of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia will be celebrated by Plenary Council President and Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB at Perth’s St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday 3 October at 11am WST. The Mass will officially open the nine-month journey of the two Council Assemblies. Photos: Ron Tan/Jamie O'Brien After nearly five years of planning and 84 years since t...

The Archdiocese of Perth’s Safeguarding Breakfast on 9 September, themed ‘Every Child in Every Community Needs A Fair Go,’ was an opportunity for the community to gather and reflect on how far the Church in Perth has come in their efforts to protect children and vulnerable adults within the Catholic setting. By Amanda Murthy.

Catholic social outreach charity Pregnancy Assistance will next month be holding their 25th Anniversary Gala on Saturday 16 October at The Pagoda Resort & Spa Como, celebrating a quarter of a century of unconditional service to pregnant women and their families.

The issue of Conversion in the Agenda of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia invites Members to think about how we might better accompany one another on the journey of personal and communal conversion which mission in Australia requires.