The vast majority of responses have been received from rural communities, in particular those where the  distance from larger city centres has meant that the community is only able to celebrate Mass once a month, or in some cases a few times per year.

The 28 July 2008, marked the 25th anniversary of Australia’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). 

The Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and Tanya Plibersek, Minister for Housing and Status of Women, have welcomed this anniversary as a due reminder that every effort should be made to ensure the equal participation of women in all aspects of Australian society.

Sister Helen Nolen, a Sister of Mercy of the Ballarat East Congregation, was honoured this week by Rotary Mosman (NSW) with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellowship Award for her outstanding contribution to the community, particularly to the people of Fohorem in Timor Leste.

In the remote and mountainous area of Fohorem in Timor Leste’s south-west, near the West Timor border, young women have fewer opportunities to access education, thus limiting their ability to gain employment. 

Martha, aged 24, and Leopoldina, aged 22 are forging a path that will soon be followed by other young women in Fohorem. Both recently attended a ten-week course in Baucau and have returned to share their skills with peers from surrounding villages through the newly formed women’s group Feto Fitun Fohorem.

No doubt some people will be reading this newsletter following an exhausting week of attending talks, events and participation in the 23rd World Youth Day held in Sydney last week.  Catholics and non-Catholics alike were certainly swept up in the euphoria which surrounded these celebrations showcasing Sydney, Australia  The media coverage of the Pope and events connected with World Youth Day was extraordinary.  The moving images of the Stations of the Cross finishing with the reenactment of Jesus’ death on the cross, overlooking Sydney Harbour, were a remarkable sight.  The universality of the church represented by the waving national flags at the masses was also impressive. and our Church. 

World Youth Day was billed as an opportunity for young people from around the world to celebrate and learn about their faith.  It was to be a pilgrimage to meet and experience the love of God.  So how did this experience shape up for those attending?  How was the Australian Church presented to the rest of the world?  How was women’s participation in the Church promoted?  Where do we go from here? 

Please send your stories, anecdotes and thoughts on hosting pilgrims or attending any events from Days in the Diocese or World Youth Day to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   It would be great to share stories from all parts of Australia.

Two reports are now available:
Report No 1, July 2008 is the final report from the Indigenous Forum held at the end of May 2008.
Report No 2 is from the June 19 meeting of the UN Security Council declaring Rape as a weapon of war to be illegal. The resolution created a clear mandate for the Security Council to intervene where levels of sexual violence merit it.

In the next few days, thousands of people throughout Australia will welcome World Youth Day Pilgrims into their homes.  Beds will be made, fridges will be filled and doors will be opened!  This is an opportunity to showcase Australia and to provide hospitality to visitors to our shores.  The Rule of St Benedict 53.1 states:

On Sundays when there is no priest, there is a lay-led Liturgy of the Word and Holy Communion. In between Masses, Sr Carmel - who spends about two weeks of every month on the island – does everything she can to meet the pastoral and sacramental needs of the Catholic community. But her ministry has its boundaries, and although she can also baptise and preside over funeral liturgies she cannot say Mass, hear confessions or anoint the sick.