The liturgical display at the Archdiocesan Assembly Formation Day, Saturday 23 September 2023. Photo: Jamie O'Brien There is just 7 days to go till the first Archdiocesan Assembly is held on Saturday 13 July. And this weekend, the Perth Catholic community is being encouraged to dedicate this Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 July to praying for the upcoming Archdiocesan Assembly. Vicar General,...

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...

In his second Walking Together – Weekly Thoughts for Reflection from the Synod, Archbishop Costelloe writes we in Australia had a head start in terms of what the Synod is trying to achieve.

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.

Jesuit Fr Frank Brennan SJ has recently talked about the impending decision and vote of the Voice; the referendum to decide to change the Australian constitution to recognise our First Nations People.

“We must strive to listen to community leaders who know what is good for their communities just as those of us who are not Indigenous know what is good for ourselves and our loved ones,” writes Fr Frank.

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 met in October.

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.

Issue 37 of The Record Magazine features Archbishop Costelloe’s Plenary Council Pastoral Letter, published 27 July, as well as the Concluding Statement.

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.