22 May 2020

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has agreed to entrust the country to the care of Mary Help of Christians on her feast day, seeking her intercession for the safety of all our people especially in this time of COVID-19 pandemic. 

19 May 2020

The Sandhurst Plenary Council Committee has released a new report,   pdf "Please Change" What Sandhurst Catholics said about Plenary Council Phase 1: Listening and Dialogue (704 KB) .

Click read more to view the report.

14 May 2020

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference released pdf A Word of Encouragement to the Catholic People of Australia (249 KB) , assuring the people of God of their prayers and reasons for hope in this new stage of the response to Coronavirus.

13 May 2020

The Catholic Bishops of Victoria have written a Pastoral Letter regarding the joyous news that churches can reopen for small Masses and private prayer. 

- pdf Read the new Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of Victoria (229 KB)

Adult Faith Education Sandhurst presents a new lecture series: Understanding the Word of God

Join the Rev Dr Brian Boyle for a three part lecture on the nature of Scripture in the Catholic tradition.
These lectures will give you a sense of the shape of contemporary Catholic theology regarding sacred Scripture and a familiarity with some key concepts in this area which is crucial to the practice of the Catholic faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Click read more to access the video links and lecture notes.

God is present in our solidarity and solitude

This is a time of great transition and disruption. Our lives have rapidly been emptied of their normal routines and activities, spending much more time at home, with less and less of the connections and contacts that we take for granted. More and more shops and businesses have closed, and even our churches, playgrounds and cafes stand silent and empty. As we worry about how the pandemic might progress, we are feeling vulnerable and anxious, uncertain about what the coming months will hold for us.

Bishop Shane Mackinlay and Paul Desmond, Executive Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst, published a media release pledging support for Catholic school students whose families are impacted economically by Coronavirus.

During this time of social isolation it is important that we pray and stay connected to our community. A range of online resources are available to assist with this. These include daily prayers and readings, prayer services, the Sunday Office, commentaries, homilies and reflections as well as Gospel based activities and resources to support personal and family prayer. LITURGY HELP: Go to: liturgyhelp.com/aus/sand/pray and follow the prompts to access. Let us create prayerful solidarity with our community and the whole Body of Christ. Liturgy Help (www.facebook.com/LiturgyHelp). Here are some more resources to help you and your family.

Prayers continue and livestream details from the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst will be announced soon.

- Read the Letter from the Bishops of Victoria suspending public liturgies and Masses

13 March 2020

Prayerful greetings to the people of God across Victoria,

You would be aware of the precautionary measures underway in light of changes to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Following this afternoon’s decision of the governments of Australia, all organised non-essential large gatherings (of 500 or more) are recommended to cease from Monday 16 March. In our circumstances, this includes the celebration of Mass and other liturgies that bring together significantly large numbers.

18 February 2020

Bishop Shane Mackinlay presented the Monsignor Peter Jeffrey Oration in Shepparton on 18 February 2020 to the Education Leaders of the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst.

The address shared Bishop Mackinlay's considerations on issues such as leadership and formation, passing on the faith to the next generation, good governance, the 5th Plenary Council in Australia, synodality, and Pope Francis' pontificate.

LENT 2020 Leaflets for prayer and reflection for individuals and groups.

Free to download from Adult Faith Education Sandhurst.

Sandhurst Youth Ministry is seeking two vibrant youth workers to join the Diocesan team.

The two position are:
1) Youth Ministry Worker- Event Management and Communications
2) Youth Ministry Worker- Music Ministry and School Outreach

The Poor Clare Colettines are a religious order of women in the tradition of St Clare and St Francis of Assisi, who live in enclosed communities of prayer, silence, and peaceful work to pursue perfect Christian love in lives given entirely to Jesus Christ.

The community of Poor Clare Sisters at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Kennington, have served the Church through prayer for over 50 years, as a blessing to the entire Diocese of Sandhurst, the people of Bendigo, and Kennington Parish.

The number of sisters has declined over the years and there are currently three Poor Clare Sisters in Kennington, who are advancing in years.

Here is a Prayer In the Face of the Terror of Bushfires adapted for us by Fr Tony Hill, parish priest of Euroa.

3 January 2020

With acrid smoke hanging in the air across the region these last few days, we have all had a strong reminder of the bushfires that have affected so many areas of South-East Australia this last week, including a number of communities in our own diocese. There is a deep concern for those who have died, and those who have lost loved ones or property.

We can be very grateful for the heroic efforts by fire fighters and other emergency personnel, and the impressive coordination of evacuations and warning messages.  While the cooler weather has provided some respite in the last couple of days, the fires are continuing to burn, and it is anticipated that there will be significant threats again in the coming days.

Christmas is our celebration of the God who is with us.

It’s 10 weeks since I was ordained bishop. In that time, I have visited parishes, schools, healthcare providers, and welfare agencies in various parts of the diocese, and met with groups and committees that are involved with different dimensions of the life of the church, both in the diocese and more broadly. I am on a steep learning curve about the extraordinary richness and diversity of people and activities that are taking place in our region.

The Sandhurst Diocese ‘Pathways for Families’ online resource contains a wide variety of live links to information, networks and resources to enrich, interest and support families in their continuing journeys in Faith, Prayer, Spirituality, connections to families and wider community, and much more.

Lyn Breen, the Adult Faith Education officer of the Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst has produced a new series of Advent resources to use within Parishes during the Advent season.  Click the link below to view the resources.

The Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev Shane Mackinlay, Eighth Bishop of Sandhurst, took place at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo, on Wednesday 16 October 2019 at 12:00 noon.

Bishop Shane Mackinlay, the eighth Bishop of Sandhurst, was ordained to the episcopacy in Bendigo’s Sacred Heart Cathedral on Wednesday 16 October.

Today the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference released a statement on the outcome of Cardinal Pell's appeal in the Victorian Court of Appeal.

Please read the ACBC's statement here.

Dear Friends,

With joy and thanksgiving, I write to inform you that His Holiness, Pope Francis has appointed Very Reverend Associate Professor Shane Mackinlay as the eighth Bishop of Sandhurst. This appointment follows Pope Francis’ acceptance of my resignation as Bishop of Sandhurst, having attained the retirement age. This appointment was announced at 12:00 noon, Roman time (8:00pm this evening local time), 23rd July, 2019.

THE SANDHURST ‘WHEEL OF PRAYER’ DAY PROGRAM NOW AVAILABLE!
August 3, 2019, 10.00 am – 3.30 pm Mons Peter Jeffery Parish Centre (behind St Brendan’s Church) Shepparton (No Cost. Lunch provided)

We hope you enjoy exploring Pathways for Seniors 2019-2020 online via computer, smart ‘phone or tablet!