The Centurion. Photo: Supplied. This is the edited text of the homily given by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP for Mass of the sixth Sunday of Easter at the shrine of St Mary MacKillop, North Sydney, 5 May 2024. The idea of the ‘golden ticket’ was first popularised in Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and its subsequent film adaptations. A poor paperboy named Charlie Bucket has his life turned upside down when he finds a golden ticket in a chocolate bar, inviting him to visit Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. He tours the chocolate palace with four other children: th ..read more

Pope Francis received a group of 50 pilgrims for the 750th anniversary of the foundation of the city of Amsterdam. The choir of the Basilica of the capital of the Netherlands was also present. “Amsterdam is a city inhabited by people of many nationalities, called to live together as brothers and sisters,” he said. “Churches, in particular, are places where people from all social and cultural backgrounds gather.” Pope Francis then met with the President of Switzerland, who was visiting the Vatican for the second time. This encounter traditionally takes place a few days before new Swiss guard r ..read more

Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2024 Following on from Sydney’s successful Camino of St Joseph, more than 300 men came together on 1 May to celebrate the feast of St Joseph the Worker and the end of their 33-day consecration to the saint with Eucharistic adoration, confession, Mass and a BBQ. Giovanni Figini, a parishioner from St Ambrose in Concord West, was among the men who attended the feast day Mass at St Peter Chanel in Berala. He said it was the perfect opportunity to continue developing the spiritual fruits from the 22km overnight camino walk on 26 April and month of prayer a ..read more

https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bgiuramentoguardiasvizzeraeng.mp4   34 new Swiss guard recruits entered the San Damaso Courtyard on 6 May, beginning the traditional swearing-in ceremony. With their left hand on the flag of the military corps and three fingers raised, symbolising the Holy Trinity, each one swore to faithfully serve Pope Francis and his successors. They stated that, if necessary, they would protect them with their own lives. The Swiss Guard chaplain read the oath formula which states that each guard must serve the reigning pope “faithfully ..read more

Sketch of Fr Mike Schmitz. Photo: Supplied With his Apple pencil and iPad, one Sydney artist is turning divine inspiration into priestly portraits. Charbel Bousamra, 32, is drawing on his faith to produce quirky caricatures of local and international religious figures on his Instagram page @boullustrate. His light-hearted sketches include Bankstown’s Fr William Chow and Broken Bay vocations director Fr Sam French among others, delighting followers and the priests themselves. The parishioner at St Raymond’s Maronite Church in Auburn has honed his skills since graduating from Qantm College (now ..read more

Bishop of Sale Greg Bennet is the new Vice-President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. Photo: ACBC Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP has retired as vice-president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference at the conclusion of the maximum three consecutive two-year terms in the role. Bishop of Sale Greg Bennet now takes up the role following elections at a plenary meeting of bishops in Sydney last week where the conference also acknowledged Archbishop Fisher’s service and leadership. “I am humbled by my brother bishops who have elected me to this position of service to the conferenc ..read more

https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/bmusicaaimuseieng.mp4 Music will fill the halls of the Vatican Museums from 3 May to 25 October. The Museums will offer eleven concerts held between 6pm and 8pm for those who have purchased a regular ticket to visit the exhibitions. The stage for these performances will be Brazo Nuovo and the Gallery of Statues of the Pio Clementino Museum. Musicians will come from Italian conservatories and international academies of higher education, in collaboration with the Italian National Committee for Music. They will travel from various Itali ..read more

Couples discussing their journey on Alpha’s The Marriage Course. Photo: Patrick Lee At a Mass and dinner on 3 May, 15 couples received a blessing and celebrated the completion of a seven-week marriage ‘bootcamp’. Designed to re-energise their relationship, The Marriage Course has helped more than 1.5 million couples around the world find their marriage mojo. Those gathering at Ryde Gladesville Catholic Parish ranged from couples married for 40 years to those about to welcome their first child. Celebrating Mass was assistant parish priest, Fr Dan Drum. “Tonight is a beautiful celebration. It’s ..read more

https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/budienzaconfapeng.mp4 Pope Francis extended his heartfelt thanks to thousands of Italians who work in professional training at the National Confederation of Professional Training. The institute is guided by Catholic values and promotes work that puts people first. The pope applauded this and encouraged them to continue their empathetic work. “Do not lose sight of anyone, be attentive to young people. Take care of those who have not had opportunities or who come from disadvantaged social situations.” Looking ahead to the future of the ..read more

Pope Francis met with clergy from the Anglican Communion for their 2024 Primates Meeting. He highlighted the work of the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, which has focused on overcoming hurdles on the ecumenical journey. “The Lord calls each of us to be builders of unity, and although we are not yet one, our imperfect communion should not prevent us from walking together,” he said. The two churches faced a few centuries of rough relations and conflict. But this international commission represented a rebirth of the dialogue between the two churches ..read more