ACBC President and Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, who served as the Plenary Council’s President, speaks during his homily for the Closing Mass of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, Saturday 9 July, at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral. Photo: ACBC/Fiona Basile. One “particular grace” of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia has been its encouragement of many initiatives in the Chu...

Plenary Council Vice President and Sandhurst Bishop Shane Mackinlay said the guide will be particularly relevant for those who participated in the Plenary Council process and those who have been involved with preparing for the Synod of Bishops for a Synodal Church, but also for people who are new to the path of synodality.

As the acts and decrees were received, the bishops sang the Te Deum, acknowledging the solemnity of the moment in the life of the Church in Australia.

In their first private one-on-one conversation, Perth Archbishop and President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the Most Reverend Timothy Costelloe SDB, told Pope Francis, “The church in Australia is alive!”
America Magazine journalist Gerard O’Connell recently spoke with Archbishop Costelloe via zoom.

The Fifth Plenary Council of Australia and the global Synod on Synodality were key discussion points for Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President and Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB and Pope Francis when they meet this week.

In celebrating the Eucharist, we are celebrating, and being drawn into, the great mystery of our salvation, said Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, in a Pastoral Letter published Tuesday 16 August.

The Pastoral Letter addressed the whole Perth Catholic community, focusing on what it means for us to be a Christ-centred Church which is prayerful and Eucharistic.

In a Pastoral Letter released this week Wednesday 27 July, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB highlighted that in the two formal Assemblies of the Plenary Council, and in the many years of preparation, there has been a recognition that, in spite of the many failures and limitations of individual Catholics and of Catholic communities, the Church remains a powerful force for good in our society.

Plenary Council Members applaud the closing of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, Saturday 9 July 2022. Photo: Fiona Basile/ACBC. The nine-month celebration phase of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia ended on Saturday, with Council Members standing and applauding as President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB formally declared the Council closed. Almost four-and-a-half years aft...

Archbishop Costelloe encouraged Members to believe that what the Archangel Gabriel said to the Blessed Virgin Mary is true for them today: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow.”

Plenary Council Members have celebrated the passage of almost all motions contained in the Motions and Amendments document that formed the second assembly’s agenda on Friday 8 July.