Author: Lawrie Hallinan

Australian Catholic Bishops Statement: Respond_to_the_cry_of_the_poor Pope Francis World Day of the Poor message for 2018  Apostolic See: World Day of the Poor website     

There was much in October that invited us pause and contemplate. Almost coinciding with the feast of St Francis of Assisi, Patron of Ecology, was the updated IPCC report showing that more strenuous efforts must be made to limit dangerous climate change. On the 22nd the Australian Parliament apologised for

XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (3-28 Oct 2018) could well be a significant event in the life of the Church – universal and Australian. There is much that can be taken from both the process and the outcome of this Assembly. As a process it showed

The newly founded Pontifical Public Juridical Person, Sophia Education Ministries took a big step forward with the appointment of its inaugural Board of Directors: Peter Pritchard (Chair) Elizabeth McClintock David O’Donnell Jacquie Shanahan Marie Leech Rita Carroll  RSCJ Sophia Education Ministries will be responsible for the three schools in Australia

On Sunday 14th Oct 2018, Pope Francis declared Oscar Romero a saint of the Catholic Church. St Oscar Romero was the Archbishop of San Salvador in El Salvador (Central America) from 1977 until 1980. He becomes a vocal critic of the oppression of the people by the government, army and

Webinar with Sister Bonnie MacLellan (19th September 2018). This presentation is of the Canadian context but there are similar issues in Australia: more laity involved in Church governance, religious diversity, increasing secularisation, government funding of Catholic health care. Sr Bonnie is clear that Catholic identity is defined by its context

Kate Birrell OAM, a Director (trustee) of Calvary Ministries recently received Catholic Health Australia’s top award. The following article from CHA’s Health Matters magazine provides the details. Be Brave About Change by Kerie Hull Kate (Catherine) Birrell was just  12 years old when she decided her life’s work would be caring

Junno Arocho Esteves Source: Crux https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/10/01/love-can-make-darkness-of-euthanasia-disappear-pope-says/ Oct 1, 2018   Caring for the sick, especially those near death, cannot be reduced simply to giving them medicine, but must include providing healing and comfort that gives their lives value and meaning, Pope Francis said. “Serene and participatory human accompaniment” of terminally ill

Spring is here. There is a warmth in the air, the days are lengthening and the plants are blooming. This is a great time to celebrate the Season of Creation (1st Sept- 4th Oct). While so many of the Church’s festivals have a date and symbolism that seems suited to

On 05/09/2018, Lawrie Hallinan, AMPJP Executive Officer, was at the conference of the Canon Law Society of Australia and New Zealand. He took the opportunity to thank the Society and its members for their assistance to ministerial PJPs. He said there was strong interest at the AMPJP forum in August