Animations introduce new Church Authorities
The Association of Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (AMPJP) has produced two short animations which explain Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (PJPs) and the AMPJP to the wider Church. For many Catholics, the first time that they heard about the AMPJP and Ministerial PJPs was during the Plenary Council and in its Decrees. The first Australian Ministerial PJP was established in 1994 and the AMPJP was formed in 2016. Caritas Australia’s Cambodian Country Representative retires after an extraordinary 30 years
After a remarkable career of 30 years, Caritas Australia is saying farewell to Sothy Lay, Caritas Australia’s Country Representative in Cambodia.Bishops' President Hopes Church Will Continue Along Journey Of Discovery
140 Years of Faith and Worship in Bethanga Celebrated at Farewell Mass
Bishop Shane celebrated the Farewell Mass at St Francis Church, Bethanga on Saturday 20 August. Wodonga priests, Fr Junjun Amaya PP, Fr Uday Marneni AP and Fr Adi Indra AP concelebrated at this final Mass in Bethanga, which Fr Junjun described as bittersweet. The timber church, which was built in 1876 is now up for sale.
In his Homily, Bishop Shane said the Mass was a day to celebrate and acknowledge the faith and tradition of those who had worshipped in St Francis over the last 140 years.
Dr Donna Bailey, Sandhurst archivist, shares a history of the Church.
Sandhurst Clergy focus on Integral Ecology at Annual Inservice
Australian synthesis for global Synod of Bishops available online
The Australian National Synthesis for the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, colloquially known as the Synod on Synodality, was published in August 2022. The Australian synthesis draws from the local diocesan consultations that took place between October 2021 and March 2022, after which diocesan reports were prepared. Countries around the world are producing national syntheses that will assist the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in its ongoing work to prepare the international gathering in Rome in October 2023.
Br Mark Needham 60 Years a Marist
Congratulations to Br Mark Needham who recently celebrated 60 years as a professed Marist Brother, 15 of those years serving in the Diocese of Sandhurst as a teacher, football coach, representative tennis player, Religious Education Coordinator, Youth Group Leader, Sports master, Retreat Centre Director and, more recently, as one of the founding staff at Marist College, Maiden Gully. Would he do it all again? Absolutely!
Caritas Australia Push for Australian Government to Help Fight Famine
Caritas Australia has joined the Help Fight Famine alliance calling for Australia to:
Save lives now through an urgent Famine Prevention Package of $150 million avert catastrophe in the worst-affected hunger hotspots;
tackle the root causes of the global hunger crisis through investing long-term in a targeted Global Food Security Strategy; and,
Strengthen resilience of the Asia Pacific region to climate change, disasters, and economic shocks by increasing Australia’s development assistance.
Make Hunger History Campaign
Right now, 49 million people are on the brink of famine. Conflict, COVID, climate shocks and now the war in Ukraine, have created the perfect storm for an unprecedented global hunger crisis. In the horn of Africa the worst drought in decades has devastaed crops and livestock across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. You can help fight famine with Caritas by writing to your member of parliament , calling for action and creating awareness in your parishes and schools -- all through Caritas' Make Hunger History campaign. Bendigo is Ablaze!
For the first time in three years well-known Sandhurst priest, Fr Rob Galea and his band performed live for more than 1200 students over two days at the Ablaze Youth Festival at Ulumbarra Theatre in Bendigo last week, writes Jenni Kennedy. 
