Heavenly lifelines

Newcastle locals, Benita Tait and Deacon Kevin Gadd have long possessed an interest in the divine.  At the time COVID-19 first emerged, they were one year into a four-year course to become spiritual directors. Fast forward to 2023 and some might say their graduation from the course last November, alongside nine others, is a ‘God send’.

Status update: hopeful

Human rights advocates and refugees nationwide breathed a collective sigh of relief last month when the federal government announced an end to Temporary Protection Visas (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV).

Singing from the same hymn sheet

The Mahoney family has spent years making children happy by performing pantomime on stage, but it is a lifelong commitment to community service that has earned them the greatest applause.

Lead with a voice from the heart

As Australians prepare to partake in a referendum to establish a Voice to Parliament, discernment will be required.

With rhetoric surrounding both the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ vote expected to escalate, Catholics may find solace in the words delivered by Pope John Paul II to First Nations people during his visit to Alice Springs in 1986.

“Your culture, which shows the lasting genius and dignity of your race, must not be allowed to disappear… Your songs, your stories, your paintings, your dances, your languages, must never be lost.

… And the Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others.”

Introducing the 9th Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle

The ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will bring a wealth of experience to the position having served as the Bishop of Armidale since 2012.

Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle farewells Schools' Director Gerard Mowbray

On Tuesday 6 December, the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle hosted a Farewell Mass for its Director of Catholic Schools, Gerard Mowbray.

Below is a video that was shared at his farewell, which includes reflections from people who have had the pleasure of working with Mr Mowbray over the course of his 46-year career in the diocese.