Catholic Weekly - Archdiocese News

The Council of Nicaea depicting the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325. Photo: Supplied. In an age where many seek deeper meaning and connection to tradition, Fr Marcus Holden’s upcoming talk The Beauty of the Nicene Creed-The Truths of Faith seen through Christian Art offers a unique perspective that bridges art, history, and faith.   […]

A profound stillness enveloped St Mary’s Cathedral as hundreds gathered in solemn unity on 1 May, to honour the memory of the late Pope Francis at the Pontifical Requiem Mass.   It was a night of sacred memorial and reflection under the reverent guidance of Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, as the Archdiocese of Sydney offered a […]

Deacon Tai Pham. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 This month, Deacon Tai Pham will be ordained as a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Sydney.  Deacon Pham arrived in Australia from his native Vietnam in 2018 after discerning that God wanted him to carry out his ministry overseas.   He said the culture in […]

Fr James Baxter OP speaks at Grace and Truth. Photo: Alex Woolnough. People young and old gathered together for an evening of prayer, formation and discussion in this year’s first “Grace and Truth” forum run by the Dominican sisters and friars at St Mary’s Cathedral in April.  More than 80 of Sydneysiders battled the dreary […]

To a world growing ever darker and emptier, Christians can bring people Christ’s light, fullness and “sense of order,” said Bishop Tony Percy following his episcopal ordination as Australia’s newest bishop.  Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP consecrated the former priest of Canberra-Goulburn and former rector of the Good Shepherd Seminary to be the new auxiliary bishop […]

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 […]

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 […]

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP meets with Pope Francis after a meeting of the Congregation for Oriental Churches in 2022. Photo: Vatican Media Francis, Pope of the peripheries The Church in Sydney and Australia joins with people throughout the world in mourning the passing of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. As priest, bishop and pope, he […]

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP with portrait of Pope Francis. GIOVANNI PORTELLI 2025 Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP says Pope Francis’ passing on Easter Monday is an invitation to reflect on Easter and its meaning.   He said this was a moment to question if the faithful “really believe” in life after death and if Pope Francis will […]

Pope Francis greets family members during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican May 4, 2022. Pope Francis, formally Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died April 21, 2025, at age 88. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) A non-European? A member of a religious order? From the Southern hemisphere? Following the surprise resignation of Pope […]

Pope Francis greets some elderly people as he arrives at the headquarters of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Sept. 1, 2023. Photo: CNS/Vatican Media Updated 22/04/25 As dawn broke in Sydney, flags on government buildings were at half-mast as Catholics woke up to a world without their Pope. Less than two weeks out from […]

Our Lady of Fatima procession 2023. Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2023 Since it began in 2023, the annual Our Lady of Fatima procession at St Mary’s Cathedral has become one of the most beautiful expressions of Catholic faith in Sydney. On 10 May, this candlelit gathering will once again bring thousands together in a powerful […]

Sydney Bishop-Elect Tony Percy Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 Sydney Bishop-Elect Tony Percy hopes his ordination to the episcopate will be a special occasion for the church and confirmation for all present of the nearness of God to his people. Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP will be the principal celebrant at the ordination Mass […]

Jesus Christ is alive! Sydney’s Catholics embraced the Sacred Triduum with love and devotion, commemorating the Lord’s arrest and crucifixion for our sake, his death and resurrection. Beginning on Holy Thursday, people gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral and parishes across the city for a Seven Churches pilgrimage. Many made the journey to the Shrine of […]

Archbishop Amel Nona and Bishop Richard Umbers with Seven Churches Visitation pilgrims at St Thomas the Apostle Chaldean Cathedral, Bossley Park on 17 April 2025. Photo: Giovanni Portelli The beginning of the Paschal Triduum saw thousands of Sydney’s faithful participate in Holy Thursday night’s Seven Churches Visitation on 17 April, seizing the opportunity to pray […]

Stations of the Cross in Rookwood. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025 Family educators of the Auburn/Lakemba network recently facilitated the fourth annual Stations of the Cross. Held in the Way of the Cross Chapel in Rookwood, the Stations were observed at the peaceful Rookwood Cemetery with the devotion being led by Fr Maurice […]

On 19 April, hundreds of RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) catechumens and candidates will reach the pinnacle of their journey and become fully initiated into the Catholic faith in parishes across the archdiocese at the Easter Vigil.  Catechumens who have not been baptised will receive the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, confirmation, and the […]

St Brigid’s Church. Photo: Supplied. By Fr Peter McMurrich SM This year St Brigid’s Church in Millers Point celebrates 190 years since its foundation. Located at 14 Kent Street, Millers Point, it is Australia’s oldest surviving place of Catholic worship. In 1834 the colonial government provided the site and completed a simple single-storey building using […]

Sr Anetta Szczykutowicz PDDM and Sr Elizabeth Delaney SGS. Photo: Giovanni Portelli. The Archdiocese of Sydney has held its annual Mass for Consecrated Life, celebrating those who have decided to dedicate their lives to the church as a religious brother or sister.  Many religious congregations were represented at the Mass, with members of the Dominicans, […]

Rebecca and Campbell Evans on their wedding day. Photo: Supplied. In the whirlwind of planning the “perfect fairy tale wedding”, Rebecca Evans, like many “brides to be,” found herself prioritising the logistics and details of “the big day” over the actual sacrament of marriage.  “It’s easy to get caught up in the to-do list,” she […]

Constant rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of 700 women who filled St Mary’s Cathedral College Hall for the annual women’s Lenten retreat on 29 March.  The new record attendance was evidence of a growing movement of Sydney Catholic women who are “hungry” for our Lord and want to travel together in life and […]

Fidelis Kickstarter 2025. Photo: Sydney Catholic Team/Supplied. One of the fastest growing Catholic youth movements in Sydney, Fidelis, celebrated its first event of 2025 with 250 young adults in attendance. Bringing “real energy and enthusiasm” to the event, the young adults enjoyed Mass celebrated by Fr Bijoy Joseph and Eucharistic adoration held in St Joachim’s […]

Fresh dumplings being made. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. The church hall at St Kevin’s, Eastwood, was filled with the aroma of freshly steamed dumplings, as young adults from the Chinese Catholic Community Incorporated (CCCI) lovingly prepared traditional recipes for their elders and special guests this past Sunday. The delicious offerings, though, were more than just a […]

First year seminarians. Photo: Alphonsus Fok. A group of first year seminarians from Good Shepherd Seminary in Homebush have gained much deeper insights into Judaism and Jewish history after spending a morning at Sydney’s Jewish Museum which they hope will help to better prepare them for their priestly ministry in an increasingly multi-faith society.  The […]

Ron Caves in St Patrick’s, Summer Hill. “They want the organ, if he’s not there, they want to know why,” says his wife Shirley Caves. Photo: Tara Kennedy. Ron Caves’ musical talent has been utilised across the globe since the 1970s when he dealt with major musical acts and acquisitions for one of the world’s […]

On 20 March, nearly 200 clergy gathered at the Le Montage function centre in Sydney for a clergy conference where Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP and Bishop Daniel Meagher presented the vision for the upcoming Synod of Sydney, set to take place from 30 April to 3 May, 2026. Inspired by Pope Francis’ call for a […]

Thousands gather outside NSW Parliament House on 19 March 2025 to protest against an extreme bill to allow the NSW Health Minister to force hospitals to provide abortions and remove conscientious objection rights from health care practitioners. Photo: Alphonsus Fok Debate on the Greens bill to broaden the state’s already extreme abortion laws began in […]

Passiontide Carols 2022. Photo: Supplied. On Thursday evening 10 April, the University Chaplaincy will host an evening of Passiontide carols at the John Paul II Centre at 150 City Road, Darlington.   The initiative of Sydney organist Christian Catsanos dates back to 2007, in response to his concern that while evenings of Christmas Carols were […]

Dane Sutton and Otis Jessop, at the Under-17 Short Course Coolangatta Gold. Photo: Sydney Catholic Schools. By Declan Donahue St Aloysius College Cronulla has enjoyed remarkable success in swimming and water sports over the past six months, establishing itself as a powerhouse in aquatic competitions. According to College Principal Stephen Mahoney, several key factors have […]

Fr Bob pictured with fellow brother priests. Photo: Supplied. Even in retirement 77-year-old Fr Bob Hayes embodies the spirit of true priesthood.   Known affectionately as “Father Bob the Builder,” Fr Hayes did not just build churches; he built community.   As a father to many parishes throughout his dedicated life, he has answered the call of […]