More than 800 people gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sunday 8 January for the 11am Mass on the Feast of the Epiphany, following the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on Saturday 31 December, aged 95, nearly 10 years after leaving the papacy to retire to what he said would be a life of prayer and study.

Statement on the Death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. By the Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB Archbishop of Perth

In his 2022 Christmas Message, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB says that Christmas is a time when we remember that God has come so near to us in the person of Jesus, born not in luxury and splendour but in the most humble of circumstances.

“As we welcome him once again, at the end of a very challenging year for many, we know that he comes, as he always does, to heal our wounds and warm our hearts.”

In a Pastoral Letter published in October last year, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB said the confessional experience is a personal encounter between that person and Christ.

However, the law that obliges the priests to violate the seal of confession if they receive information about the sexual abuse of minors or vulnerable people has this month come into effect, Tuesday 1 November.

The answer to the question of who is at the heart of the Church is not Archbishop Tim or Pope Francis, or the Cardinals or anybody else,” Archbishop Costelloe said speaking to more than 800 people Sunday 20 November for the launch of World Youth Day 2023 on the Feast of Christ the King at St Mary’s Cathedral.

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“Let’s roll up our sleeves and put our faith into practice to help our brothers and sisters through direct involvement. These were the words of Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB at the 2022 LifeLink Christmas Appeal Liturgical Launch.

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.

Pope Francis has recently personally expressed his thanks to the four dozen people who read through hundreds of reports about the listening phase of the Synod of Bishops.

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, was in Rome for the occasion, which included reviewing the 112 syntheses submitted by national bishops’ conferences from around the world, as well as syntheses from the Eastern Catholic churches, religious orders, church organisations and movements, offices of the Roman Curia and individuals.

Leaders of Western Australia’s Catholic, Muslim and Jewish communities – which all share a common origin Abraham – have last week come together to speak about issues that unite them and strengthen the bonds of friendship.

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.