The Catholic Leader Keeping Faith with You

FATHERS Josh Whitehead and Brendan Gormley became Brisbane archdiocese’s newest shepherds at their ordination to priesthood at St Stephen’s Cathedral on Friday, May 31. Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge celebrated the ordination, which was attended by dozens of priests from across the archdiocese, including Auxiliary Bishop Ken Howell and Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Tony Randazzo, former Holy Spirit Seminary rector.  Fr Whitehead ... Read More »

“ROSA, take off your shoes; you are going to meet holy ground …” – it’s something Canossian Sister Rosa Vazzano tells herself almost every day. Each time, it helps prepare her to meet one of the many migrant and refugee families in Woodridge, south of Brisbane. The 75-year-old cross-cultural pastoral worker in St Paul’s Parish is one the Church’s friends ... Read More »

AUTHOR and podcaster Matt Fradd has a few fundamental interests – philosophy and apologetics – but also helping people overcome pornography. “Two weird things – but there you go,” Mr Fradd said with a laugh before the Real Talk Australia Annual Dinner at the Hotel Grand Chancellor on May 23. Travelling with his wife Cameron and four children, Mr Fradd ... Read More »

FORMER well-known Ingham identity, solicitor, barrister and former shire chairman John Joseph “Jack” Williams (pictured) died on May 6 at 93 years of age in Townsville General Hospital. Jack’s Requiem Mass was held at St Patrick’s Church in Ingham on May 15. Jack was born the third child of William Francis Williams and Adelaide Penelope Williams (nee Kingsbury) in Townsville ... Read More »

I REMEMBER having a conversation with an intensive care doctor who told how when a patient was admitted to intensive care the family would frequently say “we want you to do all that you can for …”   The doctor doubted that they understood what “do all that you can” might mean, and that “doing all that you can” might ... Read More »

A BRISBANE indigenous Catholic leader has hailed the appointment of Ken Wyatt as indigenous Australians’ minister as a significant moment for reconciliation in this country. “I think that this is a great milestone and our young people need to see some leadership at the highest level,” Murri Ministry co-ordinator Ravina Waldren said. “They need to see that through reconciliation we ... Read More »

WHEN Shamiran Merkhaal and her family fled Iraq because of persecution of their Christian faith, she could barely speak English.  Ten years later, Ms Merkhaal now teaches disadvantaged students in Melbourne’s western suburbs. “I’ve been teaching for 11 months. It’s still new. I still have my bad days and my good days,” Ms Merkhaal said.  “I never thought I’d be ... Read More »

TELLING the story of how he found Jesus in his small country town, renowned author and podcaster Matt Fradd left the Real Talk Australia annual dinner in fits of laughter at Brisbane’s Hotel Grand Chancellor on May 23.  Sponsors, clergy, seminarians, Catholic professionals and faithful flocked to support Real Talk – a Catholic organisation that engages young people on God’s ... Read More »

KUMBIA might not have the lights of New York City or the fame of London, but the people there enjoy something far more important – a community of faithful who “love each other and like to spend time with each other”. And in Kumbia they’ve been doing just that at Our Lady of Peace Church for a century. Pastor Fr Chukwudi ... Read More »