The Sisters of the Good Samaritan have elected a new leadership team and discerned a new Statement of Directions for the next six years at their 26th Chapter Gathering in Sydney earlier this month. Of the 208 Good Samaritan Sisters who live and minister throughout Australia, Japan, the Philippines and Kiribati, 115 were present for the Chapter Gathering which explored issues of global and local importance.

The care for migrants and refugees was top of the agenda at the 5th National Conference on Pastoral Care in a Multicultural Church and Society, which took place on 19 and 20 July. Co-hosted by the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) and the Australian Catholic University (ACU) Melbourne, the conference provided an opportunity for formation, renewal and forming new connections.

Australian Catholic University’s (ACU) Melbourne Campus announced Canberra-based poet Geoff Page as the winner of the 2017 ACU Poetry Prize for his piece Charles S Ryan to Alice E Sumner. Page’s poem was selected ahead of Lichen: 13 points by fellow Canberran Lesley Lebkowicz ($5,000 second prize) and On Botox, bibles and baguettes by Melbourne’s Judy Keighran ($3,000 third prize).

Tune in for the latest news and updates from the Youth Ambassadors about the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) 2017.

Ruby Warber is one of four indigenous graduates recently awarded a Roberta Sykes Education Foundation scholarship, and will now undertake a Masters of Science in Global Population Health at the London School of Economics.

Australians are called to work for an economy that is based on principles of justice and equity – one that is at the service of all, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalised.

In a pastoral letter published on Wednesday 6 September, Archbishop of Brisbane Mark Coleridge addressed the upcoming postal vote on gay marriage, running through a list of potential questions that might concern members of his Archdiocese and the wider Catholic community on the issue. The letter in its entirety is published below.

By virtue of its very definition, marriage can only be between a man and a woman, Pope Francis said in a new book-length interview.
“We cannot change it. This is the nature of things, not just in the Church but in human history,” the Holy Father said in interviews with Dominique Wolton, a 70-year-old French sociologist and expert in media and political communication. Published in French, the 417-page book, Politique et Societe (Politics and Society) will be released on 6 September with Catholic News Service obtaining an advance copy, and excerpts appeared online. “When it comes to the true nature of marriage as well as gender, there is critical confusion at the moment,” the Pope said.

Broken Bay Institute (BBI), the Australian Institute of Theological Education is proud to announce the appointment of the internationally recognised expert on Vatican II and the leadership of Pope Francis, Massimo Faggioli as a Conjoint Professor. Based at Villanova University in the USA, Professor Faggioli is a world authority on the history and administrative inner workings of the Church and is the Contributing Editor to American journal, Commonweal.

Catholic Professional Standards Limited (CPS) have this week announced the appointment of two new Board Directors – Professor The Hon Michael Lavarch AO and Dr Robyn Miller PhD.
Professor Lavarch has had extensive involvement in Australian public life and Dr Robyn Miller brings more than 30 years’ experience in the community sector and child protection areas.