Addresses and Statements

St Mary’s Cathedral Hall, Sydney, 19 September 2026 A reading from the First Letter of St John: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the desires of […]

After-Dinner Address for Samuel Griffith Society Conference Hilton Hotel, Sydney, 22 August 2026 Thank you for that warm introduction. I also thank your President, Mr Allan Myers AC KC, and the members and friends of the Samuel Griffith Society for your hospitality and this opportunity to offer a few remarks. Not too long before this […]

Pastors & Principals Day, Waterview Homebush, 16 June 2026 1. Good News in the data—maybe… Last month, nearly 21,000 students in Years 5, 7, 9 and 11 completed our Survey of Religious Attitudes and Practices—a response of over 90%. Nearly 8 out of 10 (78.33%) of them said they believed Jesus is truly God and […]

Four Seasons Hotel, The Rocks, 12 June 2026 I. Demons In 1872 Russia was already teetering on the edge of upheaval. Halfway through his reign, Tsar Alexander II was rapidly expanding Russian territory in Central Asia and Russian influence in the Balkans. Sweeping economic, military and administrative reforms were intended to modernise his country. Symbolising […]

Pallazo Cardinal Cesi, Rome, 22 May 2026 Your Eminence Fernando Cardinal Filoni, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; Avvocato Giuseppi Pugliesi Alibrandi, General Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; Your Excellency Hon. Keith Pitt, Australian Ambassador to the Holy See; Your Excellency Most Rev. Richard Umbers, […]

St Mary’s Cathedral Forecourt, Sydney, 15 May 2026 Lord Mayor, Lords episcopal, Reverend fathers and sisters, distinguished guests, archdiocesan officials, friends all: In The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors and Architects published in 1550, the father of art history, Giorgio Vasari, tells us of a great mischief hatched in Rome earlier in that […]

Sofitel Wentworth, Sydney, 9 May 2026 Your Excellency Governor Beasley and Mr Wilson, Prime Minister Albanese and Ms Haydon, Minister Prue Carr representing the Premier, Sir Peter and Lady Cosgrove, bishops, clergy, distinguished guests, generous sponsors, friends one and all: welcome, and thank you for being here tonight. On 15 April 2019 the world watched […]

St Mary’s Cathedral College Hall, Sydney, 3 May 2026 They had met many times before—the disciples of Jesus after His ascension. To elect a replacement for Judas. To await the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost. To discern how to care for the widows. To choose and ordain the first deacons. But it’s the so-called […]

St Mary’s Cathedral College Hall, Sydney, 1 May 2026 Last week the ‘impossible’ was achieved: the Kenyan Sabastian Sawe ran a marathon in under two hours—becoming the first person ever to do so in a competitive race. On crossing the finishing line in front of Buckingham Palace he made the sign of the cross, for […]

ST THOMAS CHALDEAN CATHEDRAL, BOSSLEY PARK, 21 APRIL 2026 Your Beatitude, Your Eminence, Your Excellencies, Reverend Fathers and Sisters, brothers and sisters in Christ, On behalf of the (Latin) Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney and the Catholic Bishops of Australia, it is my bitter-sweet duty—bitter-sweet like Dahinia or Zane Zane or Dolma—to welcome and farewell His […]