By Professor Damian John Gleeson The traditional narrative of Australian Catholic history has credited Fr John Joseph Therry (1789-1864) with being the “founder of the Catholic Church in Australia.” Arriving from Cork, Ireland, with his nominal superior, Fr Philip Conolly in May 1820, Fr Therry was confronted with an unchurched Catholic population of about 5,000 The post New research sheds light on Fr Therry appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

It’s a rare occasion when the word “unprecedented” can be used for a church whose history extends over two millennia. Yet something unprecedented happened in the Polish village of Markowa on 10 September, when an entire family, including their unborn child, was beatified. It seems not quite right to refer to the new blesseds by The post George Weigel: Saintly examples of Christian heroism appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

In a triumphant return to the carnival atmosphere of grassroots sports, Sydney Catholic Schools hosted a thrilling carnival for the secondary schools in hockey on 11 September. The event featured spirited contests among junior, intermediate, and senior boys and girls teams, providing a platform for budding athletes to showcase their skills and passion for the The post SCS Hockey Gala Day returns providing a thrilling carnival for secondary schools appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

My married children do not practise their faith and, in spite of the encouragement of my wife and me, they have not had their children baptised. Can I baptise my grandchildren myself sometime without telling their parents? I have been asked this question multiple times over the years. It is a reflection of the sad The post Q and A with Fr John Flader: Grandparents and baptism appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

While millions of young people gathered around the pope in the streets of Lisbon, Portugal for World Youth Day, a similar gathering took place in the streets of Lebanon, where thousands of Catholic youth unable to be in Portugal came together for their own celebrations. The event was organised by 300 volunteers from all different The post Melto D’Moronoyo: Patriarch Aussie visit will unite Maronite Eparchy appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

Even in the midst of life’s challenges, I find consolation in Jesus’ assurance that he came so that we might have “life to the full” (Jn 10:10), and that he will remain with us always, “even to the end of time” (Mt 28:20). From time to time, life’s experiences can truly test our faith in The post Anthony Cleary: Despite suffering, we do enjoy life to the full appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

Unless Christians back up their testimony with their manner of life, they won’t be believed, the president of Verbum Dei has said on a recent pastoral visit to Australia. The post Verbum Dei president says life is our true testimony appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

By Catherine phillips and Anna Harrison Young women today are being told that anything goes, there is no objective truth, do whatever makes you “happy.” We’re told, in essence, that we’re our own Gods. With confusion around identity in such a fluid and conflicting world, is it any wonder why young Catholic women are adhering The post Why young women want a more ‘conservative’ faith appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

The Voice to Parliament referendum is not only the most divisive in the country’s history but based on a false conception that its Indigenous peoples on the whole are its most marginalised, said Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price in a recent interview with Murray Norman of Better Balanced Futures, a group The post Disadvantage based on need, not race, says Price appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

In the 150-year-old crypt of St Mary’s Cathedral, 250 men gather in silence to do the unthinkable: they’re “switching off” on a Saturday morning. “I’ve left the kids with mum, and I’ve come here hoping to find other men who are trying to strengthen their faith,” says Anthony Roncevic, a 47-year-old father from Casula. Mr The post Secret men’s business begins with the heart appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

Juli Joyce and Greg Smith met at a meeting of the Dismas Club at the then-St Joseph’s Orphanage at Lane Cove in May 1972. Juli was the club’s president and welcomed Greg and his friend, Michael, when they arrived at the meeting. Not long after that Juli and Greg started going out together. Early in The post Love and loyalty are the secret to a life-long marriage, say Greg and Juli Smith appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

This is the edited text of the homily given by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP at the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, 18 June 2023 Alexander III (356-323 BC) was tutored by Aristotle and mentored by his father Philip II, before assuming the throne of Macedon aged only 20. The post Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP: The Mark of a true King appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.