27 April 2022 – 27 April 2023
Starting and finishing with the Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Patroness of the Diocese of Sandhurst 

A key recommendation in the 2020 Go Forth Review of the Diocese was that the Bishop Shane establish a Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Council (DMPC) to support him to “operate in a strategic and collaborative way, drawing on the best possible advice of lay people and clergy for delivery of the Church’s mission.” (Go Forth Report)

Today, the Catholic Bishops of Victoria announce the establishment of Pathways Victoria, a new
model for responding consistently across the Victorian dioceses to allegations of abuse in the
Catholic Church, to begin in the New Year.

The Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst welcomes today’s publication of the report on the Diocese’s implementation of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards, conducted by Australian CatholicSafeguarding Ltd. The overall audit findings showed 96% compliance, with the Diocese demonstrating that it has fully implemented or substantially progressed in implementing 97 of the 103 indicators that are relevant to its operations, and a further four indicators in the initial stages of implementation. There were twelve audit recommendations, which were all assessed as medium or low priority, and which have all been accepted by the Diocese.

The Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst welcomes today’s publication of the report on the Diocese’s implementation of the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards, conducted by Australian CatholicSafeguarding Ltd. The overall audit findings showed 96% compliance, with the Diocese demonstrating that it has fully implemented or substantially progressed in implementing 97 of the 103 indicators that are relevant to its operations, and a further four indicators in the initial stages of implementation. There were twelve audit recommendations, which were all assessed as medium or low priority, and which have all been accepted by the Diocese.

4 October 2021

The Catholic Church in Australia has been gearing up for the First Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council, which is taking over the next six days. 278 Members from Catholic Communities across the country are gathering online and in COVID-safe hubs to develop concrete proposals to create a more synodal, Christ-centred Church, which not only focusses on internal issues, but also responds to “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”

“Growing faith communities for our mission today: Insights from the genius of St Paul”

In June 2022, the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst will host a series of Zoom talks on Sacred Scripture which aim to inform and support the faith-life of the people of God in the Diocese of Sandhurst, particularly in the light of our present context: the diocesan Go Forth review, the Plenary Council of the Australian Church, the Synod on Synodality and our socio-cultural reality.

Australia’s major Church providers* have come together ahead of the upcoming election to call on all parties and candidates to commit to policies that will make a real difference in the lives of the most vulnerable. Our hope is that voters, candidates and parties will transform this vision into a better Australia.

Catholics across the country are being invited to participate in a new prayer pilgrimage as the Church journeys towards the second assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia.

The “Walking in the Spirit” pilgrimage has been prepared to encourage individuals, families, parishes, schools and other ministries to keep the Plenary Council in their prayers.

For about 60 years on the first Sunday after Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday since 2000), the Knights of the Southern Cross Victoria have held their annual regional gathering on the banks of the Murray River at Gehrig Wine Estate in Barnawatha North.

Australia’s Catholic bishops have called for a shake-up that focuses the country’s politics on the common good of all, including – and especially – those who struggle to participate in the community.

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Mark Coleridge said no one political party fully embodies Catholic social teaching. The bishops are, however, offering an election statement to encourage Catholics and people of good will to reflect on the good they can do for their community by using their vote for the good of all.