July 13, 2021
Once again, we are feeling the impact of living in a pandemic and I hope you are not too overwhelmed by the latest saturation of it on our news channels, while observing all that is being asked of us, to keep ourselves and our communities safe.
July 06, 2021
Disappointingly, on Sunday 4 July were going to celebrate the commencement of NAIDOC Week at the Cathedral, however, the COVID restrictions meant that we have postponed it until September. In the Catholic Church, we also mark this day as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday, and I invite you to visit the wonderful resources at www.natsicc.org.au. You may like to use their liturgical resources, prayers or the welcome/acknowledgement of country throughout the year.
June 29, 2021
Once again, we find ourselves living with more uncertainty around COVID-19 and its possible further impacts on our lives. It is in this backdrop that we celebrated today, Sunday 27 June, the Solemnity of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Patron of our Diocese, proclaimed for our Diocese by Bishop Edmund Gleeson.
June 22, 2021
On a cold, windy and overcast Saturday, I gathered with a very diverse group of people at Foreshore Park in Newcastle to celebrate the Unity and Diversity Festival which has been celebrated in Newcastle for about seven years
June 15, 2021
My last week was bookended by the funerals of Fr Paul Bernard O’Neill and John Desmond Cavenagh. Both funerals were great tributes to two men who loved and were loved deeply.
June 08, 2021
Winter seems to have struck us with some very chilly weather, even though the sun continues to bring us some very beautiful days. I am conscious that I am writing this message on the weekend of the United Nations World Environment Day (5 June) which is calling us to take urgent action to revive our damaged ecosystems. This year’s theme is Reimagine. Recreate. Restore. These three words could be the words which describe our diocesan synodal journey.