Faith in Our Future: Advancing our Pastoral Plan
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Pastoral Planning at St Bernadette's Castle Hill Parish, 2012.
Photography: Alphonsus Fok & Grace Lu |
From Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP
We are currently preparing our Pastoral Plan, Faith in Our Future. This is a process full of Christian hope for the future of the Church in Western Sydney.
Our Pastoral Planning Team, together with our clergy and diocesan agencies, has been hard at work, drawing on your wisdom and shaping recommendations. The more advice that we can gather and sift, the better our Pastoral Plan will be.
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Download Advancing our Diocesan Pastoral Plan – May-June 2013
Have your say
You are invited to provide feedback on the parish-based goals outlined within the attached document above, as part of the ongoing development of the Pastoral Plan.
Learn more at the Faith in Our Future Blog or go to the Feedback Form webpage at the Faith in Our Future site.
‘Does God speak?’
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| Our galaxy is one of perhaps 200 billion or more in the universe. |
From the Catholic Outlook May 2013 Letter of Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP
In the February 2013 issue of Catholic Outlook I asked ‘Does God exist?’ and I suggested that faith and reason agree: God does exist! But would God bother speaking to me?
After all, I am only one of nearly 7 billion people currently living on earth. We human beings share this globe with perhaps 8.7 million other species. Our planet is only one of several in a solar system that is only one of 200 billion plus in the Milky Way Galaxy. Our galaxy is one of perhaps 200 billion or more in the universe.
Even if there is a God – or gods – why would we imagine He or She or It or They would want to talk to us?
Read Bishop Anthony’s Letter in full at the Catholic Outlook site
A calling from God fulfilling happiness
Vicar for Religious in the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta Sister Ailsa Mackinnon RSM and the Missionary Sisters of BV Mary, Queen of the World in Granville have featured in a SBS story on the future of the sisterhood and the Church in Australia.
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Mary MacKillop still a presence in Veronica’s life
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| The new St Mary of the Cross Chapel, St Patrick’s Cathedral Parramatta, blessed on 17 March. Photo: Alfred Boudib, Visualeyes Photography |
From Virginia Knight’s interview with Veronica Hopson, whose complete recovery from acute myeloblastic leukaemia was accepted as Mary MacKillop’s first miracle.
This quiet, unassuming woman with an air of tranquillity about her is still struggling to come to terms with the idea that the world might be interested in her journey.
For many years Veronica avoided the spotlight so it would shine brightly where she believes it should be focussed, on Mary MacKillop and her path to canonisation as Australia’s first recognised saint.
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TJHC launches new website
A new website designed to provide information on the way the Catholic Church will approach its engagement with the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse has been launched by the Truth Justice and Healing Council.
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Related:
TJHC welcomes Pope’s statement on Church sexual abuse
Truth Justice and Healing Council holds first meeting
Members of Truth Justice and Healing Council announced
Royal Commission: Terms of reference and Commissioners
Report by the Hon Antony Whitlam QC
Latest News
23/05/2013
Catholic Outlook May 2013: On Saturday 1 June we will be off and running as the spectacular St Patrick’s Cathedral Race Day makes its reappearance in the diocesan social calendar.
17/05/2013
A new website designed to provide information on the way the Catholic Church will approach its engagement with the Royal Commission into institutional responses to child sexual abuse has been launched.
15/05/2013
The Archdiocese of Sydney’s social network site Xt3.com has launched an interactive countdown calendar to help pilgrims prepare for World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro.
More news...Latest Updates
22/05/2013
Wednesday 29 May & Wednesday 5 June: Difficulties, opportunities, fruitfulness: a mini course conducted by Fr Laurie Mooney OSA.
22/05/2013
Saturday 1 June: The Race Day is the first major social event for Project Ten – a program of fundraising that will continue to fund a program of major works in St Patrick’s Cathedral precinct.
22/05/2013
Wednesday 29 May & Wednesday 5 June: Difficulties, opportunities, fruitfulness: a mini course conducted by Fr Laurie Mooney OSA.