The Catholic bishops of Australia met for their week-long biannual plenary meeting in early May. Bishops in some provinces gathered in hubs to participate in the video-conferencing sessions, while others participated from their home diocese. Bishop Shane Mackinlay was elected vice-president of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia.

At the May 2021 Bishops Plenary, Australian Catholic bishops approved three priorities specifically to help the work they undertake as a college of bishops. These priorities are:- formation, collegiality and a missionary disposition.

Caritas Australia welcomes the commitment made Wednesday night by the Australian Government to pledge an additional $50 million to the international vaccine effort, COVAX, which aims to provide much needed vaccine doses to lower-income countries to combat global vaccine inequity. 

By Mary Pianta

We know that people with a learning disability are up to twice as likely to experience mental health problems, due to many factors like discrimination and social isolation. Learning Difficulty Week 2021 will take place online from 14 to 20 June. This year’s theme is Art and Creativity. 

On Sunday 2 May a luncheon was held to congratulate Mr John Hogan on his retirement, to celebrate his legacy and thank him for 40 years of service to the Diocese. Mr Hogan was the seventh Cathedral organist, ninth Director of the Choir, the Diocese’s first Organist and Director of Music and our first lay Diocesan Director of Sacred Music at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

On Sunday 6 June, the Feast of Corpus Christie, Altar Server Mason Crosier was inducted into the Guild of St Stephen by Bishop Shane before delighted parishioners at Mary’s Church in Mooroopna. Mason has shown great devotion to the ministry of serving at the Altar of the church.

On 26 of May something very special happened at St Patrick’s Primary School. Six of our students were baptised before a congregation of over 300 students, teachers and parents.

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Max Davis, the Military Ordinary for Australia.

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of Sr Irene McCormack’s death, Catholic Mission Perth Office invited student leaders from various Catholic schools and colleges to share their reflections on her incredible story and legacy, at St Joseph’s Convent Chapel in South Perth, WA.

Fr Rom Hayes celebrated 50 years of priesthood on Pentecost Sunday. On the invitation of Fr Junray Rayna, he returned to his former parish of St Kilian’s to celebrate Mass and enjoy a barbeque with people from all over the diocese who had joined the celebrations.