Tuesday 16 January

The view that Catholic agencies cannot provide professional pregnancy counselling could lead to a situation of "anti-choice" if women feel discouraged from seeking help, Board Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia's Fr Joe Caddy has said.

Writing in this week's Eureka Street Extra, Fr Caddy, also Director of Centacare Melbourne, said suggestions that Centacare Sydney should not be involved in the Federal Government's new pregnancy telephone helpline service misunderstood non-directive counselling, the purpose of the helpline and mistrusted the "well-established professionalism of Centacare."

Monday 15 January 2007 

"We have come to believe in God's love" is the theme of a youth  retreat to be held near Melbourne this weekend.

Hundreds of Catholic youth and young adults from across the country are preparing themselves for the retreat, which will focus on the joy of knowing and communicating God's love in the world, especially in the lead up to World Youth Day Sydney.

Thursday 11 January 2007

Centacare Catholic Community Services in Sydney has defended its role in the new national telephone pregnancy counselling hotline.

The Chief Executive Officer of Centacare, Bernard Boerma, told Sydney's The Catholic Weekly that while the Catholic Church's views on abortion were well known, the Church also recognises the “value of a decision-making counselling model which is non-directive and independent”.

Wednesday 10 January 2007

The "scandal of hunger" calls for a change in ways of living, as the planet has sufficient resources for all its inhabitants, Pope Benedict XVI has said. 

The Pope made the comment during an 8 January address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See at the Vatican, in which he expressed his concerns about the situation of the world at the beginning of 2007.

Tuesday 9 January 2007 

The killing of 24 missionaries in 2006 was a testimony to the constant dangers people face when they leave the security of their homes to go and spread the Good News, Catholic Mission’s National Director Father Terry Bell said.

Catholic Mission is the Church’s global mission aid agency, which has supported missionaries in 160 countries for more than 180 years.

Tuesday 9 January 2007

Dante Algheiri's famous "The Divine Comedy" has been turned into a musical by an Italian mosignor, expected to premiere in Rome later this year before touring through Europe.

Monsignor Marco Frisina, who has composed many liturgical songs, symphonies and chamber music scores and has written and performed for Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, has used different kinds of music represent the Dante's vision of the afterlife.

Monday 8 January 2007

The Vatican has released an English translation of Pope Benedict XVI's reflection on his 2006.

The Pope delivered the address to Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops and Superior Prelates in Clementine Hall, Vatican City on Friday 22 December.

Wednesday 3 January 2007

Catholic Education Office Melbourne (CEOM) is offering school leavers the chance to win teaching scholarships at Campion College in Sydney.

Applications for the CEOM Campion College Teacher Education Scholarships are open to past students of Catholic secondary schools intending to prepare for a career in teaching in Catholic schools.

Tuesday 2 January 2007

The jury of the Australian Catholic Film Office (ACFO) has awarded its 2006 Film of the Year to Rolf De Heer and the people of Ramingining’s “Ten Canoes”.

Director of the office and jury chair, Jesuit priest, Fr Richard Leonard said:  "This film has already been much lauded at film festivals here and abroad, as well as being awarded Best Film at the recent AFI awards. Its accolades, however, did not mean it was the natural choice for our award. There are a few other Australian films last year that were similarly praised and yet would not have been considered for the ACFO’s film of the year."

Vatican City, Tuesday 2 January 2007

Welcoming in the new year at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI said a world suffering from wars and terrorism can find peace only through respect for human dignity and human rights.

The Pope celebrated Mass in St Peter's Basilica on 1 January, which the church marks as World Peace Day, and quoted from his peace day message that was sent to governments around the globe. The theme of the message this year was "The Human Person, the Heart of Peace."

Tuesday 2 January 2007

The Pope's prayer intentions for the month of January have been released.

The Pontiff's general intention is: "That in our time, unfortunately marked by many episodes of violence, the pastors of the Church may continue to indicate the way of peace and understanding among peoples."

His missionary intention is for the Church in Africa, that it may become a more authentic witness of the Good News of Christ and be committed, in every nation, to the promotion of reconciliation and peace.

Tuesday 2 January 2007 

In the wake of the execution of former Iraqi dictator Sadaam Hussein, the Vatican reaffirmed its condemnation of the death penalty.

Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, made that comment Saturday, the day Hussein was executed by hanging at a former military intelligence headquarters in Baghdad's Shiite neighborhood of Kazimiyah.

Tuesday 2 January 2007

The John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family has released a brochure on the Feast of the Holy Family, celebrated throughout the Church on the Sunday between Christmas and New Year's Day.

Vatican City, Monday 25 December 2006

A humanity that has made breakthroughs in communication technologies and biology needs a Savior as much as ever, said Pope Benedict XVI in his Christmas Day message.

"How can we not hear, from the very depths of this humanity, at once joyful and anguished, a heart-rending cry for help?" asked the Pope during his Christmas Day address before he gave the traditional Christmas blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city of Rome and the world).

Saturday 30 December 2006

With around 80 weeks to go, World Youth Day Sydney 2008 (WYD08) said today it achieved many milestones this year but much work lies ahead as it prepares to host the world’s largest youth event.

WYD08 Coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher OP said several major announcements were expected to be made in the new year including sites for major events, significant business partnerships and details of registration and pilgrim packages.

Wednesday 20 December 2006

Australians are renowned as a generous mob. This Christmas working Australians will spend an estimated $856 on food and gifts - placing Australians amongst the most generous in the world when it comes to spending on Christmas.
 
Really though how generous are we? In an age of unprecedented affluence in Australia, a huge gap has developed between us and the 1 billion people who live on less than $2 per day.

Wednesday 20 December 2006

The Archbishop of Melbourne, Most Reverend Denis Hart, announced today the appointment of Mr Stephen Elder as the Director of Catholic Education.

Wednesday 20 December 2006 

Long serving Australian Catholic Bishops Conference employee, Elisabeth Cowie, has been recognised for her dedication to Australia’s clergy with the awarding of a Papal Medal.

Elisabeth received the “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” Papal Medal at a special dinner in Canberra on Sunday night.

Tuesday 19 December 2006

Dear Friends,

Christmas is a time of hope and joy. We rejoice at the coming of Jesus our God, who is near to each one of us. He meets us, shares our humanity and enriches it by showing us that every human life is precious. Our response to the challenges of every day has unique value. We live in the hope of the kingdom He prepared for us where all our desires will be fulfilled.

Tuesday 19 December 2006 

Pope Benedict XVI has appealed to the international community and to private institutions to help the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have sought refuge in Syria.

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates the number of such refugees at 600,000.