FR Pat Cassidy’s days of milking cows are long gone, but the farm boy in him was remembered when he returned to his home town of Nanango recently for a special celebration of his priesthood. Fr Cassidy, who is parish priest at Gympie, is celebrating his 50th anniversary of ordination. He was ordained by Brisbane Archbishop Patrick O’Donnell on July ... Read More »

TOWNSVILLE leaders have come together to officially launch the Bishop Michael Putney Fellowship. In 2014, the Tropical Brain and Mind Foundation was formed and launched locally in response to the growing statistics of mental health, mental illness and suicide rates in North Queensland. The foundation aimed to raise funds to engage research into this area, in particular some of the ... Read More »

RUGBY league star Matthew Scott has joined forces with social services organisation Centacare North Queensland to tackle the region’s gambling crisis. Working in the community as its official Gambling Help ambassador, Mr Scott was out and about in Townsville and Mount Isa to raise awareness of responsible gambling as part of Responsible Gambling Awareness Week held nationally from July 24-30. ... Read More »

MEMBERS of the St Joseph’s Primary School community in Blackall celebrated the school’s 100th anniversary with a host of events on July 21-22. The Sisters of St Joseph started the school in 1917 when Blackall was still part of the Archdiocese of Brisbane. It became part of Rockhampton diocese in 1930. “The charism of the Josephites is very much a ... Read More »

ROCKHAMPTON priest Fr Chris Schick died, surrounded by his family at Yeppoon, on July 30 after a short battle with cancer. He was 59 years old. More than 1000 mourners gathered at his funeral at St Joseph’s Cathedral at Rockhampton on August 3 to pray and thank Fr Schick for his gifts to his communities. The crowd was so large ... Read More »

A ROCKET built by a group of students at St Mary’s Catholic College, Casino, has lifted the school to national success. The college is the national champion after winning the Australian Youth Rocketry Challenge at the finals held near Jimboomba, in south-east Queensland, on July 22. Principal Aaron Beach said St Mary’s beat 16 other finalists including previous winners Anglican ... Read More »

CATHOLIC agencies and ministries in Toowoomba have joined a campaign to help migrants and refugees in the area keep warm during winter. Catholic Care Social Services, Toowoomba Refugee and Migrant Support and Mercy Community Services partnered with Multicultural Development Australia (MDA Ltd) Toowoomba for the “Toowoomba Coat Rack” campaign. Winter can be a tough season for many people who are ... Read More »

BRUCE and Annette Currie’s central Queensland cattle property Speculation is parched and drought-stricken, and cattle numbers have dwindled to about one-third but their greatest battle is with the mining industry. At the best of times their life as graziers is hard and isolated – two hours drive along the Capricorn Highway to the nearest church in Barcaldine. Like many dedicated ... Read More »

THREE women religious from regional Queensland who entered the convent of the Mercy Sisters 50 years ago reunited to mark their golden jubilees. Mercy Sisters Carmel Ruddick, Cheryl Camp and Mary Lowcock were three of eight women who entered the Sisters of Mercy in early 1965. They came together to mark 50 years since they made their first professions on ... Read More »