After twelve months of conflict in Ukraine, the toll on civilians has been catastrophic. Thousands have been killed, many more injured, millions forced to flee, and homes and vital infrastructure have been destroyed.

Since the devastating Türkiye-Syria earthquake on February 6, Caritas Australia has raised more than $1 million for the Türkiye-Syria earthquake appeal.

Three students from Sandhurst Schools have been awarded the prestigious Hansen Scholarship from Melbourne University for achieving academic success and demonstrating a commitment to their communities. The trio, who completed year 12 at their respective Colleges last year. 

On the evening of Friday 10 February 2023, the Catholic bishops of Oceania concluded their week-long gathering in Fiji  with a commissioning Mass.  

Bishop Anthony Randazzo of the New South Wales Diocese of Broken Bay has been announced as the new president of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania.

Themes which emerged from the fifty-two consultation meetings held in churches, halls and schools across the Diocese betwen July and December 2022 in preparation for the establishment of a Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC) have been synthesised into a final Report.  These themes will help to inform the establishment, operations and workplan of the SMPC.  

Caritas agencies are responding to a series of powerful earthquakes in southeast Turkey and Syria, wherethousands of lives have been lost and the death toll increases by the hour.It is expected that the death toll will increase up to eightfold in the coming days and weeks as more victims are found in the rubble.

Ruth Lawlor says that travelling around the Diocese meeting with people from all over our Diocese has been a wonderful privilege which has impacted her professionally and personally. She believes it is clear that the consultations were an important step in ‘going forth’ but says that it should not be the last step. “The new SMPC will need to be committed to continuing the Listening and Dialogue cycle … (and) will need to actively work together with the people of Sandhurst to continue walking together in synodality,” says Ruth.

Themes which emerged from the fifty-two consultation meetings held in churches, halls and schools across the Diocese betwen July and December 2022 in preparation for the establishment of a Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC) have been synthesised into a final Report.  These themes will help to inform the establishment, operations and workplan of the SMPC.  

Columban missionary priest, Fr Frank Hoare spoke on formation for mission – a key issue that emerged from the churches of Oceania for the Synod on Synodality’s consultation phases and also one of the three central tenets of the Synod. He proposed that “a new era of Christian mission will be grounded on a return to the Gospel message” and a simplification of some of the Church’s structures.