Just over sixty years ago, stalwart Cathedral parishioners Wilma and John McCormack, were married at Wilma’s home parish of St Joseph’s in Ouyen. Their diamond anniversary was acknowledge  Sunday Mass on Sunday 12 September after Mass at St Joseph’s Quarry Hill, with a Blessing from Bishop Shane and presentation of a Papal Blessing parchment.

By Michael Chisholm

In August 2021, members of the Aboriginal Education Team from  Catholic Education Sandhurst Pty Ltd were invited to speak and present at the 2021 Sandhurst Priests’ Inservice.

Sandhurst Disability Contact Coordinator, Mary Pianta, thoroughly enjoyed the Tokyo Paralympic Games. While Tokyo was fighting off a COVID-19 curse of over 5000 new infections a day, the Games opened eyes, won hearts and fulfilled the dreams of many. That the games went ahead at all is a cred to all involved writes Mary. 

Disability Contact Coordinator, Mary Pianta visited PepperGreen Farm recently. It stuck her that the vision of this social enterprise is very much in-line with Pope Francis’ concerns for our environment and people living with a disability, as expressed in “Fratelli Tutti, 98” and reiterated in the Australian Bishops’ Social Justice Statement 2021 “Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor.”

By Kerry Stone

Caritas India has given Caritas Australia this report about what has been achieved through the recent support from Australians. “Each day was a nightmare for me after my return to the village with the lost job due to pandemic. The worries of livelihood and sustaining family disturbed me each day,” said Dileep, one of the migrants from Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh.

By Kerry Stone

Caritas Australia has launched its annual Women for the World Campaign. Join Lulu Mitshabu, Caritas Australia’s Program Coordinator in Africa, for a virtual talk and Q&A session on Tuesday, 21 September. Lulu will speak about how your support is empowering women in the Democratic Republic of Congo with the skills they need to take control of their lives and forge a path out of poverty. 

Tasmanian Anna Murchison has won Australia's richest poetry prize with her poem 'Child of Gath-hepher'.  Murchison did not start writing poetry until she was 50 and now, at age 54, still considers herself a “new and unschooled” writer.

Sunday 10 October

The Marian Festival will again be held online in 2021. Mass will be followed by a programme of the Crowning of Our Lady, Act of Consecration, Rosary, Litany, Reflection, and Adoration, concluding with Benediction.

"We can take a national and international perspective on migrants and refugees. This is good. Yet, if our concerns do not start with our neighbours, so many of whom are migrants and refugees in Australia, then something is very wrong."

Archbishop Christopher Prowse, Chairman Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry, reflects on Pope Francis' message for Migrant and Refugee Sunday. 

Heartfelt tributes have poured out from across the Diocese and beyond for Fr Paul Purcell.  

We share with you the following:

The Homily at the prayer vigil for Fr Paul by Fr Junray Rayna

Fr Paul's eulogy by his niece, Clare O'Brien

THe Homily at Fr Paul's Funeral Mass by Fr Rom Hayes.

Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2021

In the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti, I expressed a concern and a hope that remain uppermost in my thoughts: “Once this health crisis passes, our worst response would be to plunge even more deeply into feverish consumerism and new forms of egotistic self-preservation. God willing, after all this, we will think no longer in terms of ‘them’ and ‘those’, but only ‘us’” (No. 35).

After an initial delay in 2021, the annual Archbishop’s dinner will now be held on Friday 5 November at Moonee Valley Racecourse.

Archbishop Peter A. Comensoli will be the Guest Speaker and former race-caller, Bryan Martin will be the Master of Ceremonies. The event is a major fundraiser for the Priests Support and Education Fund, helping seminarians and military chaplains with the cost of their studies.

Sandhurst seminarian, Jackson Saunders, offers this second article in his three-part series on the life of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. We consider the establishment of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart in Penola and their expansion into Adelaide and beyond. However, troubles arose, and Mary went to Rome, before the Institute made Sydney their Mother House.

“I don’t know about you; however, I must admit that there have been times where I have gone through the motions reciting the Apostles Creed. We often rattle through the words without contemplating their beauty and meaning in our Catholic faith.”

Seminarian, Jackson Saunders, reflects on the Creed. 

His Holiness, Pope Francis has invited participants in the fifth Mission: One Heart Many Voices conference, to a “renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, the bond of unity and love.” In a message forwarded by the Apostolic Nunciature to Fr Brian Lucas, National Director of Catholic Mission, Pope Francis sent cordial greetings and good wishes to all those taking part in the three-day conference

Part One of a Three part series. 

Mary MacKillop was canonised as St Mary of the Cross and became Australia’s first Saint in 2010 became Australia's first Saint.  In the first of a three-part series, Sandhurst seminarian, Jackson Saunders, looks back at her life, the establishment of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, which she co-founded, and their work in the Sandhurst Diocese.

The Sisters of the Good Samaritan Study and Mentoring (SAM) Program offers financial assistance for women undertaking tertiary studies at a recognised theological institution. Core components of the program include opportunities for spiritual direction, mentoring and dialogue with like-minded women.

By Kerry Stone

With all the crises currently being reported including COVID, climate events and Afghanistan, little is being heard of the disaster unfolding in Lebanon.

Lebanon has reached boiling point from enduring a series of crises that have been escalating over the past 18 months. Today, the population faces a dire humanitarian crisis with the country rapidly running out of power, water, fuel, medicine and food.

By Kerry Stone

After the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the south of Haiti on Saturday August 14, Catholic agencies, Catholic Relief Services (Caritas USA) and Caritas Haiti have been working to provide relief to over 75,000 affected families.

It is clear many Afghan people, particularly ethnic minorities, women and children, are in great danger in their own country. In addition, more than 5,100 Afghans living in Australia, many with families in Afghanistan, have no certainty about their future in Australia. Kerry Stone shares responses from Caritas Australia, Archbishop Coleridge and Bishop Vincent Long and provides the opportunity to advocate through CAPSA (Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum).

Upon hearing and seeing the distressing news coming out of Afghanistan last week, members of the local Afghan community gathered at a Bendigo Catholic Church for a time of prayer and solidarity—just before another lockdown was imposed on regional Victoria.

By Mary Pianta 

We are only halfway through the Tokyo Paralympic Games and I have watched some of the most talented athletes and heard the most incredible stories. These dedicated athletes refuse to be defined by anything other than talent and will. They are inspiring examples of athletes showing, resilience, courage and skill.

By Lyn Breen

Today, 1 September, is the first day of Spring and the first day of the Season of Creation. Today, of all days, let's go out and look at the world around us. Let's take in the beauty of God's creation and be reminded of the sacred trust we have, as human beings created in God's image, to care for the earth and care for the poor.

What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ in the world today?

Sandhurst seminarian, Jackson Saunders, reflects on his studies at Catholic Theological College in East Melbourne. One of his favourite subjects has been Moral Theology. Jackson considers how this subject is much more life-giving and exciting than it sounds, as it all about exploring what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ in the world today.

The Victorian Bishops have released a pastoral statement expressing their concern for the Afghan community overseas and in Victoria. The Bishops call for justice and compassion to guide the Australian Government's decision making and commit to pray for and welcome all new arrivals from Afghanistan.