Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B, and Good Shepherd Sunday Readings: Acts 4:8-12; Psalm 117(118):1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28-29; 1 John 3:1-2; John 10:11-18 21 April 2024   On this fourth Sunday of Easter, we hear the gospel of the good shepherd. It is an appropriate occasion to mark the World Day of Prayer for Vocations – praying that each of us might know what it is we are called to be and do, here and now, and in the future. For some of us, that will be a career choice, a lifestyle choice or relationship choice with long term ramifications. For others who have long made ..read more

  From “Pacem in terris” to the March 2024 Moscow document on “a holy war defending the unified spiritual space of Holy Russia.” There are certain documents that cast a dark, cosmic shadow. We have become used to seeing this in texts issued by various institutions linked to science (global warming), medicine (the pandemic), and the economy (poverty rates). But established Church authorities have tried in various and different ways over the past century to be messengers of hope. The leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church, however, recently released a document on the future of our wor ..read more

  We have already seen six months of war in Gaza. Now, it seems that Israel is beginning its last phase of conquest, after ordering a million and a half people to take refuge in Rafah, a border town with Egypt. Soon, there may be almost no one left in the rest of Gaza. There have been several wars in Gaza, but this time there are thousands of human victims, and ruins like never before, and peace does not seem to be near. More than suffering, more than the loss of men and women, children and babies, humanity is lost. Under Israeli military occupation, Gaza—and all of Palestine—has suffere ..read more

  With the flame of the Easter candle extinguished for the year, I slip in to the ordinary times of the Liturgical calendar, feeling renewed, bolstered by the ritual reminders of Jesus’ love and sacrifice; comforted and held by the clear sense of Church community that we experienced through the solemn ceremonies of Holy Week, and the triumphant soaring of the heart on Easter Sunday. And yet a niggle persists, zapping some life out of an otherwise wonderful Season, as I am reminded that the perspective of faith presented to us is essentially all male… I often restrict my activity on Holy ..read more

  18 April 2024 The NSW Ecumenical Council, representing 21 different Christian Churches, is calling for peace and calm in the aftermath of the horrific stabbing incidents in Sydney, that have left the city anxious and on edge. Over the weekend, prayers have been offered for those who were killed at Bondi Junction and for those recovering in hospital. Church goers are praying for those who are mourning the loss of loved ones that they may be consoled. We thank God for the courage of the police, first responders and those who assisted at the scene. We also encourage governments state and ..read more

  Tuesday 16 April 2024 Today we convened a meeting of faith leaders representing religious communities across Western Sydney. All of the following communities endorsed and supported the statement below that calls for calm, to follow police instructions, and for peace. Places of worship are places of peace and prayer. The people who gather there should never feel threatened or unsafe, no matter what religion they follow. As faith leaders representing the diverse religious communities of New South Wales, we stand united against all forms of hate and violence. Our prayers are with the vict ..read more

  Sometimes there’s nothing as helpful as a good metaphor. In his book, The God Instinct, Tom Stella shares this story: A number of men who made their living as porters were hired one day to carry a huge load of supplies for a group on safari. Their loads were unusually heavy and the trek through the jungle was rough. Several days into the journey they stopped, unshouldered their loads, and refused to go on. No pleas, bribes, or threats, worked in terms of persuading them to go on. Asked why they couldn’t continue, they answered: “We can’t go on; we have to wait for our souls t ..read more

  In a wide-ranging interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, Indonesia, looks forward to Pope Francis’ arrival in September, discusses his small Catholic flock on the largest Muslim country, coexistence among religions, and the witness of Asian Christians. This September, marking his 45th Apostolic Journey abroad, Pope Francis will set off on a whirlwind four-nation journey across Asia and Oceania. Pope Francis will first visit Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, where Catholics number over 8 million, or 3.1 percent of the popul ..read more

  Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraiser Project Compassion has been a success this year thanks to the dedication and support of over 1,700 schools and 1,200 parishes across the country. Kirsty Robertson, CEO of Caritas Australia said, “We are always amazed by the way schools and parishes come together to raise funds for Project Compassion – whether its donning aprons to cook up some traditional Shrove Tuesday pancakes or hitting the pavement for Caritas Ks. “These activities are very in keeping with the spirit of Lent, as they allow us to reflect on the experiences of our brothers ..read more

  The Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney will host a Vigil Mass and prayer service this Saturday evening 20 April for victims of, and those impacted by, the stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction last weekend. Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney Most Rev. Bishop Richard Umbers will conduct the special services, open to the entire community, inviting all to come together to pray for the six people who died and dozen injured in the attack. “In times of tragedy it is important that our community comes together to pray and show our support for the victims, families, friends and all people g ..read more