News

This month’s newsletter is dedicated to Pope Francis, who of course is seriously ill in hospital in Rome.  Having had the privilege of meeting him a few times, I can say that his personal warmth is the greatest and most appealing of any public figure with whom I have been

As  religious  nuns  and  brothers  are of course lay  people,  the  key  changes  Pope  Francis  is  making  to  their  governance roles  open  up  new  opportunities  for  all  the  laity. In  a  ground-breaking  decision,  Pope  Francis  has  appointed  a  woman  for  the  first  time  as  prefect  of  a  Vatican  dicastery.  On 

AMPJP Council and Executive Director At a recent meeting, Catholic Religious Australia shared with others its recognition that AMPJP has had a much greater engagement than previously, both internally and externally during 2024. 2024 has been a very strong year for AMPJP, and it would be fair to say it

Australians at the Synod on Synodality Australia had the highest representation per Catholic population of any country at the Synod, perhaps for two reasons.  The first is that the the Australian Plenary Council was seen as a model for the later Synod on Synodality.  The second is that we have

From the beginning of his pontificate and even before, Pope Francis has encouraged every Catholic to grow into a Missionary Disciple of Jesus.  Only by living out a full Catholic Christian life will each of us gain a closer relationship with Jesus and all the joy and happiness in life

What an AGM, Annual Dinner and Canonical Stewards Forum for AMPJP!  Over two days this week an enormous energy was generated in the hearts  and minds of so many involved with this Association. Susan Pascoe’s studied approach belies an enormous intellect and an ability to distil what is most important

August in 2024 is undoubtedly the no. 1 month for leader formation opportunities in the Church in Australia.  You will see many below from our Events Page… In considering our own formation needs, the Church is perhaps asking three particular things of a Canonical Steward or other Catholic leader: to

@AI pic by freepik The Macquarie Dictionary word of the year for 2023 was “Cozzie livs” — a light-hearted play on the term “cost of living”.  For the Catholic Church in the last year, the word of the year has surely been “Formation”.  And formation is a highly complex subject,

From: Parramatta Diocese        Aug 5 Parramatta and online, Aug 14, Melbourne Dr Myriam Wijlens: “The Prophetic Voice of the Laity in the Renewal of the Church”. Internationally recognised Dutch theologian, ecumenist and consultor to several Vatican bodies, Dr Myriam Wijlens will be coming to Australia as part