Men praying at Maximus Men’s ministry night. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. In a world saturated with noise, screens and relentless demands, the very idea of silence can feel foreign, especially for men carrying the weight of work, family and constant responsibility. Yet silence, far from being a luxury, may be exactly what the soul needs most.  On Saturday, 21 […]

Screenshot of some of the 2026 IEC Workshop attendees. Photo: Screenshot. “The Eucharistic Congress is not just one week in 2028. It starts now.” That was the clear message from the recent parish planning workshop for the International Eucharistic Congress. More than 150 people from across Sydney – clergy, parish leaders, and everyday parishioners – […]

The great works of God do not always make the nightly news.   Sunday, 1 March, was just such a day. Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP launched the Year of Prayer in preparation for Eucharist28 at St Mary’s Cathedral with Mass and a Holy Hour.   Concelebrating were Eparchs from the Melkite and Chaldean churches, the auxiliary bishops of Sydney, priests working in the Archdiocese, and a large […]

Michael Jaksic helping deliver the Everlasting Love, Marriage preparation Course. Photo: Supplied. In a culture where weddings can easily overshadow marriages, one course is quietly helping couples put first things first. The “Everlasting Love Marriage Preparation Course” run by the Life, Marriage and Family team, is arming them with a spiritual and practical “survival kit” designed […]

Group of young adults from All Saints Parish in Liverpool, at the launch of Fidelis for 2026. Photo: The Catholic Weekly. As a staple in many young adults’ calendars, Fidelis launched its first event of the year on 25 February, drawing hundreds of young people together to ask the big questions about faith, vocation and life.  The night began […]

Annual dinner dance hosted by Somascan Missions. Photo: Supplied. A record-breaking fundraising tally was just one highlight at an annual dinner dance hosted by Sydney-based charity Somascan Missions. The evening for more than 650 guests held in Condell Park on 14 February showcased many life-changing successes since the last annual fundraiser.  It raised almost $400,000 for the charity’s local and global projects which assist orphaned, abandoned and impoverished children in […]

Women’s Lenten retreat 2025. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. Each year, more and more women are choosing to step away from the noise of everyday life and treat the annual Women’s Lenten Retreat as a kind of pilgrimage.  What began as a single retreat day has now grown so significantly that in 2026, organisers have had to open two […]

Year of Prayer promotional poster for the International Eucharistic Congress 2028. Photo: Supplied. In the lead up to the launch of Eucharist28 on 1 March, St Peter Chanel & St Joseph Parish in Berala will host Eucharist 28: Deanery Mission, a three–day spiritual gathering designed to renew faith through prayer, reflection, and encounter with Christ. […]

It was a stiflingly hot day on 22 February, but St Mary’s Cathedral was standing room only at this year’s Rite of Election. A record number of nearly 460 candidates and catechumens – a 20 per cent increase on last year’s numbers – affirmed their desire to enter fully into the life of Christ and his […]

St Mary’s Cathedral hosted its first dedicated Lunar New Year celebration. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. Sydney’s Chinese Catholic community has grown significantly in recent years, with increasing numbers attending Mass and joining parish life. The boom was marked this month when St Mary’s Cathedral hosted its first dedicated Lunar New Year celebration.  People attended from parishes […]

Pablo Parajo, current senior seminarian at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd. Photo: Supplied. At an age when most young boys were still deciding what their favourite colour was Pablo Parajo knew he wanted to be a priest.  “There was a particular Mass at the Filipino church, and I noticed how extremely happy the priest […]

Entrance for the Rite of Election 2025. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 There are moments in the life of the church that pass almost unnoticed by the world yet speak with unmistakable clarity to those who have learned how to listen. The Rite of Election is such a moment.  As the church gathers this […]

The Catholic Weekly’s 2026 series of Disciple Diaries opens with Brendan Schneider’s remarkable journey from the disorienting lights of Sydney’s early‑2000s rave scene and the rise of Pentecostalism, to the fresh spring of Catholic renewal now stirring in Sydney.  Raised Catholic in the Shire and educated at St Patrick’s, Sutherland, Brendan turned away from the faith as a teen. […]

Bishop Daniel Meagher. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. As Lent begins on 18 February, the church once again invites Catholics to return to the sacrament of reconciliation, a deeply meaningful encounter with Jesus Christ that for some who have been away, or new Catholics who haven’t gone very often, can feel daunting.  Some may feel awkward about confessing their sins, feel unsure about what to […]

Dr Michael Walker, a Social Justice Facilitator for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney at the local launch event in Lewisham. Photo: Supplied. Vinnies Lewisham has hosted the local launch of the first of two social justice statements released by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in 2026.   Co-hosted by the Justice and Peace Office and attended […]

Year of Prayer promotional poster for the International Eucharistic Congress 2028. Photo: Supplied. Catholics across Australia are invited to remain in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday 1 March, as the church begins a new phase of spiritual preparation for the 2028 International Eucharistic Congress in Sydney.  The national hour of Eucharistic adoration, promoted by […]

Deacon Lawrence Zimbe with the flowers he brought for Our Lady. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. On a day the world marks with roses, chocolates, and romance Lawrence Zimbe offered a bouquet not to a sweetheart, but to Our Lady represented by her statue, following his Valentine’s Day ordination to the diaconate by Bishop Daniel Meagher in Annandale.  “I’ve been devoted to Our Lady since […]

Chloe Mombeshora helped relaunch the new Catholic Jobs online website. Photo: Supplied. Chloe Mombeshora has come full circle: the young woman who once found her own role through Catholic Jobs Online is now part of the team behind its relaunch.  She first discovered the platform while searching for work that felt more closely aligned with […]

Safeguarding morning tea with Jennifer Orre (far right). Photo: Supplied. On 11 February, the Archdiocese of Sydney’s Safeguarding and Ministerial Integrity Office hosted its first ‘Tea and Talk’ event, welcoming personnel from more than 26 parishes and communities across the archdiocese.  As the archdiocese continues to strengthen its commitment to the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults, the event offered a powerful space for connection, learning, and hope.   “The […]

Koe performing at EastFest 2024. Photo: Supplied. Two fresh faces have joined Sydney Catholic Youth (SCY) within the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation: Rachael Johnson and Koe Evangelista. Their gifts, stories and zeal bring an exciting new chapter to the faith in Sydney.  They come from different parts of the archdiocese and have different talents and personalities, but […]

Parishioners who helped with the building of the new Grotto at St Michael’s in Belfield, standing in front of the new Grotto. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2026 Hundreds of people gathered in St Michael’s parish in the inner west suburb of Belfield on 15 February for the dedication of a new grotto to […]

A group shot of women at the Lenten retreat held at St Mary’s Cathedral on 16 March, 2024. Photo: Alphonsus Fok As the holy season of Lent unfolds, women across Sydney and beyond are being invited to pause, reflect and deepen their spiritual life at a pair of inspiring retreat days this year. The Dominican […]

Fr Ben Saliba speaking for the anniversary gathering to launch the group’s second year. Photo: Paul A Ahad More than 100 men gathered at St Mary Queen of Heaven Parish, Georges Hall, in Sydney’s southwest for the monthly meeting of the parish men’s group, marking its first anniversary.  Members and guests of The Men of Mary […]

The celebration was attended by the Governor of NSW Margaret Beazley, Cardinal Mykola Bychok, and other civic and religious leaders. Photo: www.snapix.com.au The Maronite Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania gathered in faith and unity at St Maroun’s Cathedral, Redfern, on Sunday to celebrate the Feast of St Maroun and formally launch the 2026 […]

Youth leaders made a pilgrimage to Mary MacKillop Chapel in North Sydney and the saints’ tomb. PHOTO: Abbel Gaspi With Ash Wednesday approaching, our minds turn to the significance of Lent and how important it is to connect to the faith in the 40 days’ lead up to Christ’s death on the cross.  Why not […]

Somascan Fathers celebrating the feast if its founder, St Jerome Emiliani. Photo: Mat De Sousa Despite last weekend’s heavy rain, crowds poured into St Joseph’s Catholic church in Moorebank to celebrate the Solemnity of St Jerome Emiliani, founder of the Somascan Fathers who care for the parish community. Accompanied by traditional hymns dedicated to Mary, […]

Bishop Anthony Percy with the first year seminarians at the Opening Mass for 2026. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. The Seminary of the Good Shepherd in Homebush has welcomed its new students and staff at a Mass to open the seminary year.   Held on 8 February and principally celebrated by Bishop Anthony Percy, the seminary welcomed 13 […]

Tania Rimac. leading Alpha Leaders Course last month. Photo: Supplied. As the church in Australia looks toward the 54th International Eucharistic Congress in 2028  (Eucharist28), to be held in Sydney, parishes are being invited to see themselves not just as spectators, but as missionary communities at the very heart of the buildup.  That vision drives the upcoming Parish Online Workshop, organised […]

Bishop Andrew H. Cozzens of Crookston, Minn., chairman of the board of the National Eucharistic Congress Inc., kneels in prayer before the monstrance during Eucharistic adoration at the opening revival night July 17, 2024, of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller) “You become what you love.” […]

Divine Liiturgy in the Ukrainian Byzantine rite at St Andrew’s Ukrainian Church. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2026 Around 500 Sydneysiders processed through the streets of Lidcombe last week to honour  Our Lady of Good Success and in support of Bridget Sakr’s Heartfelt community.   On 7 February, Cardinal Mykola Bychok and Bishop Richard Umbers […]

Left to right: Peter John McGregor, Tracey Rowland, and Kevin Wagner at the launch of Eschatology at the Beginning of the Third Millennium and Introducing Communio Theology held at the University of Notre Dame Australia on 5 February, 2026. Photo: Michael Cook. I was just easing myself into a chair at a book launch for Eschatology […]

Our Lady of Good Success Marian procession 2025. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 Catholics across Sydney are being invited to once again to take to the streets of Lidcombe in prayer, as organiser Bridget Sakr prepares for the third annual Marian procession in honour of the 2 February feast of Our Lady of […]

Members of Mandarin speaking community doing Alpha Coaching Day. Photo: Supplied. Over the weekend of 31 January and 1 February, parishioners from across Sydney and beyond, gathered for Alpha Coaching Days, designed to prepare the next wave of Alpha leaders as missionary disciples at the heart of parish renewal.  “Each time a parish prepares to run Alpha, […]

Front cover of the Lenten resource for 2026. Photo: Archdiocese of Sydney. As we prepare to enter Lent this year, the Parish Renewal Team within the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation is delighted to release their new Lenten Companion, themed around the powerful words of Jesus at the Last Supper: “This is my body, given for you.”  “Taken from the words […]

Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General Hugh McDermott, Bishop Anthony Percy and Senior Vice President Giles Tabeteau. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. St Mary’s Cathedral has hosted the 95th Red Mass commemorating the beginning of the law term, a tradition dating back beyond 1245 in Paris.   Attended by law students, politicians, and members of the legal fraternity, it reminds lawyers of […]

Fr Bernie Thomas with the replica icon of the St Damiano Cross. Photo: Tara Kennedy.  In a worldwide jubilee year commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis, Mary Immaculate church in Waverley has unveiled a replica of the famous San Damiano Cross.   The original, which hangs in the Basilica of St Clare in […]

When exploring the revolutionary teachings of St John Paul II in his Theology of the Body (TOB), few would expect references to the film Titanic or the song “The Glory of Love.” Yet popular-culture touchstones such as these are one method Dr Christopher West, president of the Theology of the Body (TOB) Institute in the United […]

Young couple dating. Photo: Pexels.com. For years, Alison De Sousa has experienced and heard countless stories about how bleak the dating scene is in Sydney and wanted to do something to fix the culture. She wanted dating to return to the way it once was and the way as Catholics are called to date – […]

In late 2024, a Synod Working Party, commissioned by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP and led by Bishop Daniel Meagher, recommended a diocesan Synod be held in response to three significant and repeated longings: that our liturgies be more prayerful, that our parishes and other church communities be Christ-centred and that our church be mission-oriented.   These longings emerged after extensive […]

Moe Turaga with Jessa Royupa and Alison Rahill. Photo: Supplied. The first inquest in Australia into a death linked to modern slavery has highlighted a web of exploitative practices.   In her report, which was handed down on 16 January, NSW deputy coroner Rebecca Hosking left no doubt that modern slavery is a reality in […]

Official website for Eucharist28 is now live. Photo: Screenshot of Eucharist28 website. The official website for the International Eucharistic Congress 2028 (Eucharist28) is now live at eucharist28.org. Every parish in the country will be receiving a “Eucharist28 Starter Pack” in the coming weeks, containing a letter from the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, […]

Professor Hayden Ramsay, recently appointed President of the Catholic Institute of Sydney. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. Professor Hayden Ramsay was recently appointed President of the Catholic Institute of Sydney, bringing with him decades of experience in philosophy, Catholic higher education, and ecclesial leadership in Australia and abroad.  He now joins The Catholic Weekly as a new regular columnist, to tackle life, faith, reason  […]

The Eucharistic procession through the streets of Punchbowl to welcome the installation of the St Charbel statue. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2026 Thousands of faithful gathered on Thursday evening, 22 January, for a major public expression of Catholic faith as a solemn Eucharistic procession accompanied the arrival of a huge bronze sculpture depicting […]

More than a hundred men from across the country made the trek to Our Lady of Mercy Church in Penrose Park for the inaugural Australian Men’s Crusade Conference. Photo: Supplied Braving the cold and heavy rain, more than a hundred men from across the country made the trek to Our Lady of Mercy Church in Penrose Park […]

More than 500 people filled St Kevin’s Church, Eastwood, on a rain-sodden Saturday night for a moment of collective wonder about the deepest meaning of Christianity and what it means to be human.  The mostly young adult crowd had come to hear US-based Theology of the Body speaker and author Christopher West, known world-wide for presenting Christianity in all its embodied glory with frankness about the realities […]

Men carrying a statue of St Joseph as they make their way through the overnight Camino. Photo: GIOVANNI PORTELLI 2025 Sydney’s annual Catholic men’s pilgrimage has gained international recognition, with the Camino of St Joseph featuring in a documentary produced by Shalom World TV.   The Camino of St Joseph was conceived by the Life, Family and Marriage team […]

Mass to commemorate Eileen O’Connor on the 105th anniversary of her death. Photo: Supplied. Dozens of the faithful have braved Sydney’s heat to commemorate Eileen O’Connor on the 105th anniversary of her death.   The memory of Our Lady’s Nurses for the Poor (OLN) co-founders O’Connor and Fr Tim McGrath MSC was honoured in the Mass held in St Brigid’s parish in […]

Premier of NSW Chris Minns. The government announced an inquiry by the lower house law and safety committee on 22 December, with comments due by 12 January, and recommendations submitted to parliament by 31 January. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025. The NSW Government’s inquiry into a law banning phrases like “globalise the intifada” should […]

Eileen’s tomb 10 January 2026. Photo: Supplied. Sometimes it’s taking a stroll in a client’s local surroundings, absorbing the environment, and having a conversation.   Sometimes it’s a simple coffee catch-up. Sometimes it’s just presence.  Eileen O’Connor’s Brown Nurses help disadvantaged people in Sydney to cope with chronic and complex health, cultural and social care challenges. They have been doing it for more than 100 years.   Even though she was seriously disabled by a spinal condition, O’Connor […]

Bishop Daniel Meagher confirming the four children. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 Four Aboriginal children were confirmed by Bishop Daniel Meagher at the Reconciliation Church in in La Perouse just before Christmas.   The four went through a unique sacramental program designed by the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM). While their preparation was similar to other programs across […]

Fr Chris de Sousa CRS leading the procession. Photo: Supplied. Hundreds of families from Sydney’s west made the trip to the shrine of Our Lady of Mercy in Penrose Park in celebration of the Feast of the Holy Innocents.  The annual visit by parishioners of St Joseph’s Moorebank and St Christopher’s Holsworthy was part of the Somascan Christmas pilgrimage […]

Chris Meney with wife Mary Clare. Photo: Marilyn Rodrigues. Chris Meney has been a steady and trusted presence in the day-to-day life of Sydney’s Catholic community for more than a decade, serving as the first lay chancellor of the Archdiocese of Sydney.  Now retiring to spend more time with his large family, he says he and his wife Mary Clare are open […]

Santo Nino has become a focal point for devotion, bringing a centuries-old Filipino tradition to Revesby. Photo: Supplied For the third-year running, St Luke’s Parish in Sydney’s south-west has welcomed the community to celebrate Señor Santo Niño de Cebu, the Holy Child Jesus, on 18 January with a 10am Mass followed by a fiesta. The […]

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP blesses worshippers as he exits St Mary’s Cathedral following midnight Mass for Christmas 2022. The Mass is traditionally one of the most-attended in St Mary’s Cathedral throughout the year. Photo: Giovanni Portelli This year was the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, one of the most pivotal gatherings in Christian […]

The series, called Eternal Rest: The Art of Dying Well, is a video program from the Augustine Institute and will be presented by Willow Tree Funerals funeral director Bruce Missen. Photo: Pexels.com. In an effort to help relieve anxiety and stress surrounding death, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Varroville will be hosting a four-part series on death and the afterlife. The series, called Eternal Rest: […]

Members of the New South Wales Faith Affairs Council and faith leaders in a 15 December emergency meeting convened by Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper. Photo: Supplied. The New South Wales Faith Affairs Council is inviting Australians to undertake an act of kindness, compassion, or charity to bring light into the world and honour the victims […]

Opening of Christmas at the Cathedral 2025. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 Amidst one of the darkest weeks in Sydney’s history, the opening night of Christmas at the Cathedral saw Sydney’s mother church become a beacon of healing and unity. Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP hosted a memorial prayer service attended by Prime Minister […]

More than 200 people took part in a torchlight procession from Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Earlwood, to the Grotto of the Society of Our Lady of Lourdes. Photo: Supplied On the evening of 8 December, the Feast of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, more than 200 people took part in a torchlight procession […]

Holy Family Maroubra’s 22nd annual Christmas Carols with Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP on 14 December. Photo: Giovanni Portelli Portelli In the lead up to the Nativity of the Lord, parishes across Sydney got into the Christmas spirit by hosting carols for their community. Crowds packed Holy Family Catholic Church in Maroubra for the parish’s 22nd […]

Founder of Lumen Verum Apologetics Arlette Bowen receives her Dempsey Medal in July 2018. PHOTO: PATRICK J LEE The parish of St Michael the Archangel, Belfield, formally farewells Mrs Arlette Bowen, the founder of ‘Lumen Verum Apologetics’, this December following her 30 years of voluntary service as its chair and host.  “Lumen Verum” began on Friday 16 February, […]

Police officers arrive at St. Vincent’s Hospital following a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney Dec. 14, 2025. Two gunmen targeted Jewish beachgoers at an event celebrating the first day of Hanukkah, leaving 12 dead, including a gunman, and 29 wounded, New South Wales police said. (OSV News photo/Izhar Khan, Reuters) Archbishop Anthony Fisher […]

Police officers arrive at St. Vincent’s Hospital following a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney Dec. 14, 2025. Two gunmen targeted Jewish beachgoers at an event celebrating the first day of Hanukkah, leaving 12 dead, including a gunman, and 29 wounded, New South Wales police said. (OSV News photo/Izhar Khan, Reuters) A Statement from […]

Danial at the Rite of Election Mass. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 In 2025, the Life, Marriage and Family (LMF) team witnessed a vibrant renewal of faith and commitment, as unprecedented numbers participated in initiatives for families, women, men, and new Catholics.  At the Rite of Election at St Mary’s Cathedral, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP welcomed a […]

Fr Paul Van Chi, Parish administrator of St Therese’s parish in Lakemba, with his parishioners. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. In this season of Advent, as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of the birth of Christ, we are drawn to reflect on the beautiful fraternity of the Holy Family. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph lived in […]

Participants of an Alpha coaching day held in February 2025 in Sydney. Tania Rimac is pictured third from left. Photo: Supplied In 2025 the Parish Renewal Team (PRT) of the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation continued to support parishes to live the evangelising mission of the church locally.   With a strengthened focus on equipping parish leaders, supporting parish priests, fostering […]

Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney director of public affairs and engagement Monica Doumit. Photo: Supplied. Religious freedoms and threats to the Christian faith are at the forefront of a new podcast which assesses upcoming or already implemented laws and legislature.  The Freedom Matters podcast, launched on 18 November, bills itself as a “quarterly update on current and emerging threats to religious […]

Across Sydney, something remarkable is happening. In the midst of Advent and as the year draws to a close, the archdiocese is experiencing a revival of faith, community, and mission.   A Second Spring – A New Dawn of Faith in Sydney, the new documentary from the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation, delves into the people, stories, and […]

Choir Procession in the Town Hall. Photo: Supplied. A brand new Catholic Christmas Festival will bring together thousands of people this December at Sydney’s iconic Town Hall with two days of major events to mark the Christmas season. From Friday 19 to Saturday 20 December, the Town Hall will come alive with the annual Carols For Peace on […]

Purpose Fest was held on 2 July 2025 at Rosebank College in Sydney’s Five Dock. Photo: Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 By Julian Vieira “The church is not dead, it is not even tired!” (Benedict XVI).  During the Jubilee Year of Hope, Sydney Catholic Youth (SCY) witnessed first-hand the joy and faith of young people from all across Sydney.    In April, the SCY team organised a sell-out camp for students in Years […]

South Korean delegation at the return of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney in preparation for World Youth Day in Seoul in 2027. Photo: Abbel Gaspi. St Mary’s Cathedral was brimming with joy and excitement as the World Youth Day (WYD) cross and icon returned to Sydney for […]

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP announcing that the next ACYF will be held in Tandem with the International Eucharistic Congress in 2028. Photo: ACYF/Archdiocese of Melbourne. Addressing thousands at the conclusion of the ACYF25 commissioning Mass in Melbourne, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP announced that the next Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) will be held in Sydney in 2028.   It will […]

Christmas at the Cathedral as seen from Hyde Park. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2024 This year’s Christmas at the Cathedral takes audiences deeper into the spirit of Christmas than ever before, expanding the footprint of the experience, illuminating new spaces and creating a true Christmas spectacle for families.   Now in its fourth year partnering with the Archdiocese of […]

The two newly ordained priests, Fr Giovanni Julio Gonzalez and Fr Jorge Mairena Marquez. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. Two missionaries of the Neocatechumenal Way, Giovanni Julio Gonzalez and Jorge Mairena Marquez, were ordained as priests of the Archdiocese of Sydney, by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP on 5 December in St Mary’s Cathedral.   Fr Julio Gonzalez comes from […]

About 400 parishioners from the St Catherine Labouré Gymea parish packed Doltone House in Sylvania Waters to listen to Moira Kelly AO in this year’s 4th annual Laboure Lecture, Photo: Supplied. Moira Kelly AO, arguably Australia’s greatest humanitarian with a list of awards longer than the arms of the many children she has saved, has stressed the […]

Fr Anthony Robbie hosting an Order of Malta dinner in Bondi. Photo: Supplied. Christmas is for some one of the most isolating times of the year, especially in a cost-of-living crisis where families may have to choose between buying gifts and treats for loved ones or buying necessities. Communities including the Order of Malta, St […]

2024 Christmas at the Cathedral with the Elachi family. Photo: Supplied. For Sydney families searching for a magical, affordable Christmas experience, ‘Christmas at the Cathedral’ offers the perfect night out. For Dany Elachi and his family of seven, a summer’s evening at the St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt has become not just a seasonal tradition but […]

Student catechists with Bishop Daniel Meagher. Photo: Supplied. Some of the archdiocese’s dedicated special religious education (SRE) catechists have been recognised for their years of mission in the annual Archdiocesan Catechist Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney.  Held on 16 November, the Mass honoured 48 SRE catechists who hit milestones in their service, with special recognition for those who had served 20, 25, 40, and 55 […]

Sisters of life visiting St Joachim’s in Lidcombe to help run the Advent retreat. Photo: Patrick J Lee. Women from across Sydney gathered in their hundreds to spend the day with the Sisters of Life at St Joachim’s in Lidcombe, on 29 November, for a rare opportunity to slow down and rediscover the true reason […]

Sydney pilgrims getting ready for Day 2 of ACYF in Melbourne. Photo: Supplied. As Sydney pilgrims prepared for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne, the Sydney Catholic Youth Team hoped it would help and encourage the youth in one particular area of concern: isolation.  They shared that many young people feel like they don’t […]

All liaisons for the International Eucharistic Congress 2028 at a retreat held at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney. Photo: Supplied. From across the country they came: Perth, Geraldton, Darwin, Adelaide, Rockhampton and everywhere in between was represented.  From 11-13 November a retreat was held at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney for those men and women appointed […]

The World Youth Day cross and icon are carried through a crowd of pilgrims in Sydney, Australia, July 14. The two symbols of the international Catholic youth gathering were brought to central Sydney following a journey that covered thousands of miles across the island continent. (CNS photo/Tim Wimborne, Reuters) (July 14, 2008) World Youth Day […]

Deacon Peter Van Khuơng Tran at his ordination. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. It’s not often that two men from a single parish are ordained as deacons in a single week. But 2025 was a lucky year for Our Lady of the Rosary parish in the outer western Sydney suburb of Fairfield.   On Wednesday, 19 November, Philip Pham, once a refugee from Vietnam, was […]

The Booklet for the ordination to the diaconate for Deacons Philip and Robert. Photo: Patrick J Lee. After years of prayerful discernment and study and with the loving support of their families, Philip Pham and Robert Tonkli were ordained by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP in St Mary’s Cathedral on 19 November.  Deacon Pham, 65, and […]

Fr John Iacono and Mark Kazzi. Photo: Supplied. St Charbel’s Maronite Catholic Parish in Punchbowl and a local kickboxing studio have hosted dozens of men seeking a morning of prayer, exercise, and fellowship on 15 November.   About 60 men and teens aged from 16 to 45 attended Mass in the church before heading across the […]

Fr Michael McLean greets parishioners after Mass. Photo: Supplied. St Mark’s parish in Drummoyne said farewell to its long-serving parish priest, Fr Michael McLean, along with priest-in-residence Fr Denis Minns OP on Sunday, 23 November.   Fr McLean, who is also episcopal vicar for clergy, has been parish priest for 12 years, since 2013. Stepping in […]

A prayer vigil commemorating Red Wednesday. Photo: Supplied. By Staff writers and OSV News St Mary’s Cathedral and St Maroun’s Cathedral in Redfern joined 14 other cathedrals and churches across Australia and New Zealand in praying and advocating for the world’s persecuted Christians on 19 November.   Each marked Red Wednesday, the focal day of a […]

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP with Hayden Ramsay. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. Significant contributors to Australian Catholic education in Sydney have been honoured with knighthoods in the Order of St Gregory the Great, which were bestowed on them by Pope Leo XIV.  Radiation oncologist and former master at Warrane College in the University of New South Wales Dr Gerald Fogarty OAM, president of […]

This Christmas, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP warmly invites everyone to join him for Christmas at the Cathedral, an event that has grown to become Sydney’s ultimate free Christmas event.    “It is with great joy that I invite you to join us for Christmas at the Cathedral,” the archbishop said of the annual celebration that transforms St Mary’s Cathedral […]

Sr Miriam James Heidland SOLT in Sydney at the Catholic Women’s Network conference in September. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. When the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation first began connecting with international guests and collaborators in its mission to form missionary disciples, it quickly became clear that not every story or insight could fit into print or make it onto the main stage.   Some of the […]

Twelve-year-old Eimear, second from left. Photo: Supplied. Twelve-year-old Eimear is preparing to make history at this year’s Carols at the Cathedral on 16 December, when she takes her place among the boys in the St Mary’s Cathedral choir, in the iconic event which will see girls and boys singing together for the first time in […]

The founder of the St Merkorious Charity, Paula Nicolas, received the Archbishop of Sydney’s Dempsey Medal during the celebration, recognising her years of service to the disadvantaged. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. On 14 November, hundreds of Sydney’s homeless celebrated an early Christmas in St Mary’s Cathedral Forecourt with food and music at the seventh annual Street Feast.  The St Merkorious Charity provided a BBQ for the cheery celebration. Its founder […]

Crowds enjoy the opening night of the Lights of Christmas at Sydney’s St Mary’s Cathedral. PHOTO: Giovanni Portelli This Christmas will not only see St Mary’s Cathedral transformed by a breathtaking light spectacular, but Sydney’s iconic mother church will also resonate with the uplifting sounds of choirs, bands, and performers during daily concerts from 17-25 December 25 in an invitation to experience joy and faith through […]

For Catholics it’s a unique experience: Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP carries the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of Sydney. Photo: Giovanni Portelli By Rob Snell, Evangelisation Officer University Chaplaincies Central to our Catholic faith is the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.   This is more than a proposition for assent; it is the embodied presence of […]

Sr Mary Grace SV shares her hopes for the Sydney tour of the Sisters of Life. Photo: Sisters of Life, Martin Jernberg Photography As Christmas fast approaches, Catholic women across Sydney are invited to pause and receive anew the promises of Advent at the upcoming ‘Sisters of Life Advent Retreat’, hosted by the Catholic Women’s Network on 29 […]

Soon to be permanent Deacon, Robert Tonkli as he was walking the Camino. Photo: Supplied. Two permanent deacons will be ordained by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP on 19 November. This will be the first ordination of permanent deacons in the Archdiocese since 2020.   The two deacons are Robert Tonkli and Philip Pham.  The Catholic Weekly […]

Visitors pass through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in pilgrimage Feb. 8, 2025, as part of the Jubilee of the Armed Services, Police and Security Personnel. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez) The Jubilee Year of Hope, as designated by the late Pope Francis, is drawing to a close, but there is still […]

Christmas at the Cathedral will be on this year from 17 – 25 December. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2024 The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney invites one and all to experience Sydney’s most beloved Christmas celebration, Christmas at the Cathedral, as Sydney’s mother church transforms into the dazzling heart of holiday festivities once again.  […]

Over two inspiring days, the Alpha Catholic Conference ignited the faith of more than 200 Catholics from across Australia, providing a powerful celebration of formation, fellowship, and expert guidance.   Attendees were equipped and energised to deepen their faith and boldly transform their parishes and communities.  Themed “The Way of Hope,” the conference – held at the Liverpool Catholic Club on 31 October […]

The Sisters of Life. Photo: Supplied. For most women, Christmas is an annual exercise in chaos management and seasonal survival. Hope and renewal might be the last two gifts on the Christmas wish list. But that is certainly what is on offer in preparation for the festive mayhem, as women across Sydney are invited to […]

Fr Hugh Thomas CSsR passed away age 85. Photo: Miracle Prayers Facebook page. Sydney Catholics are mourning the loss of four community stalwarts after the death of Fr Hugh Thomas CSsR due to cancer at the age of 85.   A Redemptorist missionary priest for 60 years, he dedicated his life to devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, setting […]

St Marys Cathedral choir. Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2022 Musical and spiritual history will be made this Christmas at the annual Carols at the Cathedral concert. The St Mary’s Cathedral choir is the oldest permanent musical group in Australia, and for the first time in its 200-year tradition, audiences will witness the inclusion of girl […]

Parish of the Holy Martyrs Andrew and Agnes, Malabar–Matraville, celebrating their first parish annual dinner. Photo: Patrick J Lee. Catholics of the Parish of the Holy Martyrs Andrew and Agnes, Malabar–Matraville, came together for their first annual parish dinner, marking one year since their churches’ official decree of amalgamation was signed by Archbishop Anthony Fisher […]

In an historic moment for the church in Sydney, the third and final of the regional Synod consultations saw hundreds of Sydney faithful gather to offer their ideas for the future of the church at All Saints Parish in Liverpool on 16 October.  Marked by a resounding atmosphere of positivity, collaboration and hopeful sharing, the […]

Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP delivering a bioethical “state of the nation” address in Melbourne. Photo: Michael Wong, courtesy of Melbourne Catholic. Bioethics might seem a niche interest for physicians and philosophers. But bioethics stories often end up on page one and send talkback radio into a frenzy. Issues like abortion, euthanasia, transgender rights, IVF, […]

If you were to interview the nearly 60 couples celebrating marriage milestones at Life Marriage and Family Sunday, and ask them the secret to their successful unions, two words would consistently come up: prayer and perseverance.  On 19 October, these were two recurring themes permeating the joy and love on display at ‘Life Marriage and […]

Renewed for Mission Day attendees from Our Lady of Mt Carmel Mt Pritchard 2025. Photo: Supplied. The parish community of Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Mt Pritchard gathered for a transformative “Renewed for Mission Day” on 11 October – a faith-filled event designed to inspire, equip, and unite parishioners in their shared mission to […]

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP giving his talk, ‘God-Obsessed’ to those present at the Thomistic Institute Sydney chapter at the University of Sydney. Photo: University Catholic Chaplaincy/Supplied The Thomistic Institute Sydney wrapped the year up with an evening event for students and alumni of University Catholic Chaplaincy. They heard Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP deliver a thought-provoking […]

Bishop Michael Gielen on a recent trip to Europe. Photo: Supplied. Excitement is building across Sydney as parishioners prepare to step into their calling at “The Way of Hope”, the Catholic conference designed to ignite faith, equip leaders, and renew hearts, hosted by Alpha Australia in partnership with the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.  Whether hoping […]

The statue of St Luke. Photo: Supplied. St Luke’s parish in Revesby, in Sydney’s south, has unveiled six new statues to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the primary school.  Four of the statues join two already in place outside: St Luke, at the church’s entrance, and St Charbel, the first statue to be built.   Both […]

Christopher West speaking at Seymour Centre in Chippendale in 2016. Photo: Giovanni Portelli In a world with over 80 gender options, where parents can often feel like they’re paddling against the current, struggling to fight the good fight in the spiritual battle at home, Dr Christopher West’s message on the theology of the body (TOB) […]

Pets receiving a blessing at St Patrick’s in Mortlake. Photo: Supplied. Sydney’s furry friends have made a welcome addition at parishes across the city as pet owners line up for blessings in honour of the feast of St Francis of Assisi. Churches in Bondi and Mortlake were among those commemorating the day and allowing animals […]

Marvin Do’s path to Catholicism began in an unlikely place  – his home gym in Western Sydney.   Born into a Buddhist family in New Caledonia and raised in Australia, Marvin had never given much thought to Christianity, let alone Catholicism.  In his early 20s, Marvin’s life revolved around his career and fitness routine. Twice a […]

Annual Père Laval Mass at St Joseph’s Catholic parish in Moorebank. Photo: Supplied. Amidst joyful songs of devotion, the Mauritian Catholic community gathered to celebrate the annual Père Laval Mass at St Joseph’s Catholic parish in Moorebank on 28 September. The Mass in honour of Blessed Jacques-Désiré Laval, known as Père Laval, was celebrated in […]

Fr Corrado Maggioni SMM, president of the Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses, with Bishop Richard Umbers. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. “This is My Body, Given for You” has been chosen by Pope Leo XIV as the theme for the International Eucharistic Congress to be held in Sydney in 2028 (IEC2028).  Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP announced […]

Fr Yacub Barkat with parishioners at St Gabriel’s church in Bexley, part of St Mary MacKillop Parish, Rockdale City. Photo: Alphonsus Fok St Gabriel’s church in Bexley is one of Sydney’s prettiest churches, and its people among the happiest following its amalgamation with St Mary MacKillop parish in Rockdale City.  The long-awaited change, decreed by […]

Sr Elena Marie Piteo OP will be delivering the keynote address at the upcoming ‘Way of Hope’ Alpha Catholic conference. Photo: Supplied. As the ‘Way of Hope’ Alpha Catholic Conference approaches on 31 October and 1 November at the Liverpool Catholic Club, anticipation is building for the keynote address by Sr Elena Marie Piteo OP, […]

Nearly 20 years after people filled Royal Randwick Racecourse for Mass with Pope Benedict XVI, nearly 1000 Catholic women met there again to be refreshed in their work of transforming the world. The inaugural conference hosted by the Catholic Women’s Network (CWN) of the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation drew together 950 women to sing, pray, […]

Fr Chris Ryan MGL, parish priest at St Declan’s in Penshurst. Photo: Supplied. As the parish priest at St Declan’s in Penshurst, Fr Chris Ryan MGL has been more than a compassionate shepherd – he’s a keen judge of leadership potential within his community. While not all priests are naturally equipped to be a ‘parish […]

Fr John Burns and Sr Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, leading the day of renewal for religious sisters. Photo: Supplied. The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney has hosted religious from across the city and beyond for a day of renewal, encouragement, and healing.  Organised by Sr Cecilia Joseph OP and vocations director Fr Daniele Russo, the day provided […]

Parish priest of Ryde-Gladesville Parish Fr Greg Morgan with the Herring family. Their son’s terminal condition has united the parish in faith and service while a food van on the grounds of the St Charles Borromeo church is the family’s way to give back to the community. Photo: Alphonsus Fok On the evening of 18 […]

Gymea parishioners experience how food and faith come together at Alpha. Photo: Supplied. Fr Greg Morgan from St Catherine Labouré Gymea is candid when he speaks about his relationship with Alpha, the wildly successful global evangelisation tool. “I was an Alpha sceptic. I’ve always thought that we could do our own program, take our own […]

Jacinta with her daughter Madison Blake and grandaughter Sophia Crewther. Photo: Supplied. The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) is on the search for Jacinta Collins’ successor after almost a decade of leading Australian Catholic education through a period of uncertainty to one of confidence in its future and mission.  The executive secretary to the Bishops Commission for Education and chief executive officer of the NCEC is looking forward to focusing more on […]

Fr Paul Van Chi, Parish administrator of St Therese’s parish in Lakemba. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. The Little Flower has got her mojo back. After many humdrum years, St Therese’s parish in Lakemba celebrated her feast day last weekend (28 September) with a vibrantly multicultural parish Mass and fete.   It was also the 90th anniversary of the church, dedicated to the 19th century Carmelite, St Thérèse of Lisieux, in 1935.  The new parish administrator, Fr Paul Van Chi, told The Catholic Weekly that the day’s festivities symbolised the revitalisation of his parish.   He was […]

Fr John Burns speaking at the Fidelis event at Canterbury Leagues Club. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 Beloved Catholic author and speaker Fr John Burns, from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, is currently inspiring hearts and renewing faith across the Archdiocese of Sydney.   He is here with Sr Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, both guests of the archdiocese on mission to inspire and transform young and […]

The Synod consultation for All Saints, Liverpool will be on Thursday, 16 October 2025. Photo: Supplied/Dani. Douglas Colbran, the newly-appointed youth and young adults coordinator at All Saints Liverpool, is ‘hyped’ as he prepares to bring up to 50 young people to the upcoming Synod consultation that will be held there next month.  “I’m very […]

Joan and Declan with Dr Christopher West. Photo: Supplied. For Joan and Declan Sally, Theology of the Body is more than a course – it’s been a wellspring of truth that continues to shape their marriage, their parenting, and their work as educators. Having attended two retreats and eagerly anticipating the third in January next […]

On 20 September, the Cathedral Hall at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney echoed with the sound of more than 300 men reciting the rosary at the opening of the third annual ‘Be Not Afraid’ men’s conference. With the theme ‘Thorn in the flesh, finding strength in weakness’, the conference, hosted by the Sydney Centre for […]

Bishop Michael Gielen with his parish family in Christchurch. Photo: Supplied. Bishop Michael Gielen from Christchurch, New Zealand, is bringing a message of hope and practical evangelisation when he speaks at the upcoming conference for parishes, ‘The Way of Hope’ conference in late October.  His message is clear: “Transformation is possible. It can be done.”  […]

Former parish council chairman Hugh De Lapp and his wife Lorraine, of St Christopher’s, were honoured for their extensive catechetical and evangelisation support. Photo: Mat De Sousa Within the two months of arriving to Sydney as the priests of St Joseph’s parish in Moorebank, Somascan Frs Mathew Velliyamkandathil CRS and Chris de Sousa CRS were […]

Construction for the Sydney Archdiocese’s new archives building has officially begun. L-R: Chris Meney, Chancellor, CAS; Jobelle Magno, Digital Records Specialist; Eliza Tome, Digital and Archival Information Assistant; Theresa Schaefer, Assistant Archivist; Lienntje Cornelissen, Archives Manager; Bishop Daniel Meagher. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. The site of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney’s new archives building is officially under […]

Antonella and Daniel Mifsud on their wedding day. Photo: Supplied. For Antonella and Daniel Mifsud, Life Marriage and Family (LMF) Sunday is a chance to remember what matters most. “It’s an opportunity to renew our marriage vows, and it’s a time for reflection on our marriage,” said Antonella. The Life, Marriage and Family Sunday Mass […]

Amanda (far left), Joanna (third from right) and Lisa (far right) with friends who attended the retreat. Photo: Supplied. Anticipation is building for the Anointed Women’s Conference on 27 September, particularly among the many women transformed by their experience at this year’s Women’s Lenten Retreat also organised by the Catholic Women’s Network (CWN) with the […]

Throughout August and September, the Parish Renewal Team within the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation held workshops to help parish pastoral councils in their vital work supporting Sydney parishes. With the theme: ‘Foundations for Effective Parish Pastoral Councils’, The Catholic Weekly attended the second of three workshop nights, held on 11 September. The 13 parishes from […]

The funeral Mass held in Our Lady of Fatima Church where Monsignor Kerry Bayada was farewelled. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 Monsignor Kerry Bayada was farewelled on Tuesday, 16 September in a touching service held in the parish he served faithfully for 30 years.  Tens of mourners paid their respects to the late […]

IMAGE: Freepik Labor is favoured to win Saturday’s by-election for the NSW State seat of Kiama. But the crowded field of 13 candidates, its turbulent recent history, and changing demographics make the result unpredictable.   The Labor government of Chris Minns is two seats short of a majority and has to rely on crossbenchers to pass […]

Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims from the popemobile after celebrating the canonization Mass of Sts. Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Sept. 7, 2025. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez) By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS). The greatest risk in life is to waste it by not seeking […]

Archbishop Christopher Prowse, pictured earlier this year. Photo: Paul Osborne ACBC. In 1950, Catholic bishops issued On Immigration, a landmark pastoral letter urging the community to offer generosity to those seeking to make Australia their new home. Seventy-five years on, Australia’s Catholic bishops have issued Under the Southern Cross: A Journey of Faith and Unity. […]

Bede Alexander, founder of Fit for the Kingdom. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 For Bede Alexander, the 23-year-old founder of “Fit for the Kingdom,” the Camino of St Joseph is both the rarest and most perfect of Catholic men’s events that unite mind, soul and body. “Fit for the Kingdom” is an apostolate […]

St Peter Chanel Primary School celebrated 100 years of education. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 St Peter Chanel Primary School in Regents Park recently celebrated (8 August) its centenary with a gala dinner for parents, friends and supporters at The Renaissance Lidcombe.   About 700 people attended chief executive officer of Catholic Schools NSW […]

Bishop Tony shared both his vocational journey and his passion for making St John Paul II’s Theology of the Body (TOB) accessible to all. Photo: Supplied. On Saturday 9 August, many gathered in St Mary’s Cathedral’s Chapter Hall in Sydney for the Love, Sex & the Body: Unlearning the Lies event—an afternoon of honest and engaging […]

Five Dock was transported to Italy on 17 August as the street turned out for celebrations of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. Photo: GIOVANNI PORTELLI 2025 If the Sydney suburb of Five Dock were miraculously transported to Italy on 15 August, it would be deserted; its shops shuttered, scraps of paper and empty water […]

Pope Francis has invited the whole church to reflect on the path of synodality, which is both the way of life and the fundamental action of the church. “It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the church of the third millennium,” he says.   On 12 March Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP announced […]

Farewell Mass for the Marist Fathers who have looked after St Patrick’s Church Hill for 157 years. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 St Patrick’s Church Hill is everyone’s second parish, Bishop Daniel Meagher told people at a farewell Mass for the Marist fathers who have looked after the church for 157 years.   Originally […]

In an age where young men can struggle to find authentic role models and meaningful community, the Camino of St Joseph offers something different—a call for the ordinary to become extraordinary. More than 1,000 men are expected to walk through the night across seven churches from Como to Cronulla and for them the overnight pilgrimage […]

Sr Miriam James Heidland SOLT will be the guest keynote speaker at the inaugural Women’s Conference.  Photo: Supplied. She is one of the most prominent female voices in Catholic media today.  As a powerful global voice for evangelisation and discipleship, she has transformed her pain into healing, with a voice that is both dynamic and […]

Fr Benjamin Saliba with Pope Leo XIV and Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP at the Vatican. Photo: Vatican Media. Fr Ben Saliba, master of ceremonies for Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, was stunned when his boss invited him to accompany him to the Vatican to meet Pope Leo XVI during the recent Jubilee of Youth. Archbishop Fisher […]

Mateo and Katerina with their children. Photo: Supplied. When Katerina Poljak encouraged her husband Mateo to join the Camino of St Joseph pilgrimage last year, she could never have imagined the profound transformation that would follow. What began as a wife’s gentle nudge toward deeper faith became a complete spiritual awakening that has revolutionised their […]

Vlado with his companions team he established in his parish. Photo: Supplied. For decades, Vlado Kevric thrived in the corporate world, managing teams of over 100 people across insurance branches and call centres. Success was measured in targets met, KPIs exceeded, and bottom lines improved. But something was missing. “It was always a job or […]

Armed with their ideas and a vision for the future church in Sydney, families are ready to seize this rare opportunity to help steer the future of their faith at the upcoming Synod consultations, beginning on 30 August.  Mother of four Phillipa Manley sees the synod consultations as a way of shaping her faith—which is […]

Tomasz delivers an introduction to a fortnightly course based on St John Paul II’s Love and Responsibility at St Joseph’s Catholic church, Moorebank. Photo: Supplied. Every Catholic revert has a story to tell, and for Tomasz Juszczak it was St John Paul II’s Theology of the Body that sparked his journey back to the church.   […]

For parishes without existing councils, these workshops offer an ideal starting point. For those with established councils, the sessions provide concrete direction and strengthening of existing efforts. Photo: Supplied. In an era dubbed by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP as a “second spring”, where Sydney parishes are witnessing a remarkable resurgence of faith, with increasing RCIA […]

Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2024 The Sutherland Shire will witness something extraordinary on 5 September as a thousand Catholic men walk on the Camino of St Joseph, an overnight pilgrimage through one of Sydney’s most beautiful regions. The camino will offer participants a unique blend of spiritual nourishment and natural beauty on their […]

As Catholics across Sydney prepare to share their practical ideas for the church’s growth at three upcoming Synod consultations—beginning on 30 August in Menai—parish communities are already actively exploring ways to reinvigorate the church for the years ahead.  His Grace, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, has convoked a diocesan Synod for Sydney between 30 April and 3 […]

Sydney pilgrims bound for the Jubilee of Youth take one last photo before boarding their flight to Rome via Poland on 20 July. Photo: Moments with Jazz Photography. Teary farewells quickly turned into hopeful excitement as more than 40 pilgrims from Sydney’s South West set out for the International airport ahead of their flight to […]

St Charbel Statue at St Luke’s Parish in Revesby. Photo: Patrick Tadros. Modern life is abuzz with 24/7 distractions. Perhaps the 19th century Maronite hermit, St Charbel, has the answer to cutting ourselves loose from them, Bishop Daniel Meagher told hundreds gathered at Revesby parish on 20 July. He said that the saint’s life was […]

Marun and two of his sons. Photo: Supplied. No other event in the Catholic calendar offers a more profound opportunity for fathers and sons to walk together in faith than the St Joseph Camino pilgrimage. This overnight journey held on 5 and 6 September has become more than just a physical trek; it embodies the […]

Members of the Chinese Catholic Pastoral Community with Tania Rimac from the Parish Renewal Team for a leadership renewal conference. Photo: Supplied. Members of the Chinese Catholic Pastoral Community gathered at St Joseph’s Retreat Centre in Baulkham Hills for a leadership renewal conference, a day shaped by reflection, formation, and a deep sense of mission […]

Fr Laurie Foote OP speaking with Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP at the latest Grace and Truth night. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. St Mary’s Cathedral hall was transformed into a classroom in the evening on 18 July, as Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP led the audience through a reflection on the person of Jesus Christ in the latest […]

(L-R) Sean Rahilly, Dr Renee Kohler-Ryan, Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Mary Anne Carroll OAM and Michael Digges. These four Sydney laypeople were among the last Catholics worldwide to receive papal honours from Pope Francis which recognised their contribution to the growth of the faith in Sydney. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 One worked to […]

Head coach Fr David Romero CRS coaches the children as they go through their basketball drills at St Christopher’s Primary School Hall in Holsworthy. Photo: Alison De Sousa Worried about the overuse of TV and devices in the home, Charlie Sarkis looked for an active community where his boys would be encouraged to take part […]

As a young Islander growing up in Sydney’s outer western suburbs, seeking to escape the relentless cycle of poverty, gangs, and alcohol abuse, Josh Mokoroa called out for Jesus. The Australian-born Cook Islander initially found the Lord’s voice amid the blazing lights, concert stage and stirring voices of fellow Islanders of a Pentecostal church. But […]

Marini Logarti and her volunteers. Photo: Supplied. What happens when a trained nurse discovers that God has gifted her in ways she never imagined? For Marini Logarti, “Called and Gifted” became the key to unlocking a completely new path in life – one that has led her from the hospital ward to parish event management […]

(L-R) Nathanael, Matthew, Marcus, Marius, Natalie, and Hanita Adhi Hiu. Photo: Patrick J Lee. Serving God is a family affair for the Hiu family. All five members are involved in the sacramental and liturgical life at St Mary’s Cathedral and in Sydney’s Indonesian Catholic community.  Marius, 45, Hanita Adhi, 44, and their children Nathanael, 17, […]

The 2025 St Joseph Camino Walk will take place on 5-6 September. Photo credit: Giovanni Portelli As the St Joseph Camino Walk approaches on 5-6 September, Michael Jaksic, Life, Marriage and Family (LMF) Officer who oversees the Archdiocese of Sydney’s men’s ministry describes the camino as a “spiritual warm-up” that will prepare men for the […]

Bishop Daniel Meagher. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 Bishop Daniel Meagher says the Archdiocese of Sydney is well on track to follow the Vatican’s guidelines for the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality, the process aimed at discerning and supporting reforms in the church which was opened by Pope Francis in 2021.  […]

Michael Harvey. Photo: Supplied. In a time when many parishes are seeking renewed vitality and deeper engagement, the role of hospitality and invitation has never been more critical.  Recognising this need, renowned international speaker Michael Harvey, as a guest of Divine Renovation Ministry, will host a practical workshop at All Saints Liverpool on 17 July, […]

Fr Peter Smith of St Augustine’s Church in Balmain. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. Fr Peter Smith of St Augustine’s Church in Balmain has a vision for the parish as a visible, and audible, praying community in the heart of Sydney’s inner west. Despite some opposition, he says the reaction to a proposed expansion of the historic […]