ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL, SYDNEY, 2 MAY 2025 Alexander, the fourth century Bishop of Alexandria, once saw some kids playing by the sea, mimicking the ritual of Baptism. He asked who they were and discovered that the one playing bishop was called Athanasius. After questioning the boy-bishop, Alexander told him his baptisms seemed to be valid […]
ST MARY’S BASILICA, SYDNEY, 1 MAY 2025 “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the wise and learned, and revealing them to mere children” (Mt 11:25-26). Jesus’ words of thanksgiving tonight upend conventional wisdom: God’s revelation, He makes clear, is not first and foremost for the clever or […]
Pope Francis waves from a car as he leaves Rome’s Gemelli hospital April 1, 2023. The 86-year-old pope, who had been hospitalized since March 29 for treatment of bronchitis. (OSV NEWS photo/Remo Casilli, Reuters) Homily for Mass of Easter Tuesday and for the late Pope Francis St Mary’s Basilica, Sydney, 22 April 2025. “Woman, why […]
St Peter Chanel and St Joseph Parish, Berala. Photo: Parish Facebook page. It’s very appropriate that today, as we celebrate our parish patron saints, St Peter Chanel and St Joseph the Worker, who stand tall over our parish, protecting us, praying for us and shining as an example to us, that the Risen Jesus takes […]
St Mary’s Catholic Church, Concord, 30 April 2025 Welcome to St Mary’s Church in Concord for the Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial for Fr David Coffey, a priest of the Archdiocese of Sydney. David was born in Lismore in 1934, one of four children to Leo and Mary. He was educated at St Joseph’s Mildura, […]
On Good Friday five priests there heard the confessions of people of all ages for five hours. One of them was in the confessional until 1.00 am in the morning. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. Lent, Holy Week, Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday have come and gone, but what some Sydney priests remember is hearing a huge […]
Anzac Day memorial Mass. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. Sydneysiders marked Anzac Day with style and reverence, remembering both those who fought and died for our country as well as those currently in the armed forces. Among the dawn services, games of two-up, and a tribute service in the Opera House forecourt, a Mass at St Mary’s […]
Floral wreaths laid at the memorial for fallen soldiers following the the Vigil Mass for Anzac Day at St Mary’s Cathedral on 24 April, 2025. Photo: Alphonsus Fok Nowadays, although this is not greatly to my credit, I skip the 4.30am Anzac Day Dawn Service in Martin Place and choose the nearby sleep-and-brekkie-friendly 10am option. […]
Balk family with Father Knight and Bishop Umbers. Photo: Supplied. This is the story of a romance that has endured for 75 years. Beryl and Kevin Balk, 97 and 98 years old respectively, of St Andrews parish in Malabar, have just received a Papal Blessing as a capstone to their marriage. Kevin told The Catholic […]
ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL, SYDNEY, 24 APRIL 2025 Formerly known as the Glebe Island Bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Australia was completed in 1995. In a ceremony in 1998 it was renamed “the Anzac Bridge”, as a fitting memorial to those who had fought in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. In the year […]
Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
