The Catholic Leader Keeping Faith with You

WITH Friday Islamic prayers to be recited in Hagia Sophia for the first time in 85 years, Christian leaders around the world have expressed deep regret at Turkey’s decision to change the status of the famous place of worship. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Mark Coleridge and the head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, Archbishop Makarios expressed ... Read More »

THE Cathedral Coffee Lounge had temporarily shut its doors in March because of COVID-19, but last Thursday, “with a sad heart”, it was decided that the doors would stay shut for good. It had battled a slowdown in foot traffic for years but, like many local joints, it was no match for lockdowns and quarantines. Catholic Women’s League Brisbane archdiocese ... Read More »

WAGGA Wagga’s sixth bishop might be an answer to the diocese’s prayers but Bishop Mark Edwards is certain the appointment was a “mysterious choice of God’s”. Bishop Edwards, who was installed as the sixth bishop of Wagga Wagga on July 22, said it was “mysterious to me” why he was chosen to lead the rural New South Wales diocese. “I ... Read More »

HARD lockdowns imposed across metropolitan Melbourne have prompted Brisbane Catholics to prayer as the number of active COVID-19 cases surpassed 1800 people in Victoria. Bracken Ridge parish priest Fr Gerry Hefferen wrote and shared a prayer to Jesus on Facebook on July 10. “We pray to you, Jesus for each of the parish communities and the gifts of hope, patience ... Read More »

HER grandmother, a cattle property and a bishop all played key roles in Sr Liz Wiemers’ life-changing journey to the heart of Australia. “My greatest mentor in life was my grandmother, and she used to say, ‘Never be the person who walks by on the other side of the road …’,” Sr Liz said as she explained why the Sisters ... Read More »

CHRISTIANS are familiar with St Paul’s Letters – to people like the Romans, the Corinthians, Ephesians, Galatians – a huge part of the New Testament, but what about the Letter to Terry? We can read through the Letters of St Paul as many times as we like but we won’t find the one to “Terry”. Even so, there’s a Terry ... Read More »

AFTER being housebound in Brisbane for months, Catholic father of six, Carlo Piloto, has used the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions across Queensland as a chance to get back in touch with nature and God’s creation. Despite the winter chill, his young family have discovered the delights of beach camping, venturing north and pitching a tent on Teewah Beach in Cooloola ... Read More »

CONCERN and frustration with delayed and failed responses to abuse scandals in Poland culminated in a desperate appeal to Pope Francis to help “rebuild our church.” More than 600 Polish lay Catholics pooled together enough money to buy an ad in an Italian newspaper at the end of June in a last-ditch effort to make sure the Pope would hear ... Read More »

SEA Sunday, celebrated on July 12, takes on an extraordinary significance this year because of the isolation experienced by seafarers unable to come ashore due to the worldwide pandemic. In Brisbane, as in ports everywhere, ships coming in to dock, carrying most of the world’s trade, have been restricted in allowing crews to step down the gang way and come ... Read More »