Award-winning US-based author and media literacy educator, Sister Rose Pacatte, will deliver the opening keynote address and lead masterclasses at the 2024 Australian Catholic Communications Congress.

More than 2.6 million Australians have been granted a pay rise though this week’s decision by the Fair Work Commission (FWC) to raise the nation’s minimum wage. The approved increase of 3.75 per cent takes effect at the beginning of July. The minimum hourly rate will rise from $23.23 an hour to $24.10, or by $33 per week for a full-time worker.

“As we journey together, we must continue to heal from the past while also looking toward the future. We need to find effective ways to ensure the common good is shared by all people of this nation, especially our First Nations People,” said Chair of the Bishops Commission for Relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Bishop Charles Gauci, as Australians marked National Reconciliation Week.

A new suite of resources for parents provides useful and at times challenging comment from specialists including Andrew Fuller, Prof John Hattie, Prof Donna Cross & Dr John Edwards – as well as other valuable research findings from around the world.

In May 2021, when the most recent survey was conducted, just over 53,000 people attended Mass celebrated in a language other than English each weekend, which represented 13.6 per cent of all Mass attenders – a rise of 3.3 per cent since the last count in 2016.

Bishop of Sale, Greg Bennet, will take on the role after Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher, retired from the position at the end of the maximum three, two-year terms.

Twenty-five dioceses and three Eastern Catholic Church eparchies submitted summaries of their consultation outcomes, while a further 13 organisations submitted summaries from the national consultation – culminating in the final report.

The Australian Catholic Bishops have this week expressed their concern for the conflict in the Holy Land.

“We believe that a just ceasefire with the release of all hostages and unhindered access for desperately needed aid are essential at this time. We support global efforts to negotiate a lasting peace.”

The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program has last week shared the results of its largest ever parenting survey, which reveals the stark reality of cost-of-living pressures, emotional distress, sleep deprivation and concerns about social media and screen time on their kids’ mental health and wellbeing.

Spiritual father of the Illawarra, Macarthur, Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands, Bishop Peter Ingham passes away