This week's collection of stories includes the recently celebrated Requiem Mass for Bert Newton at St Patrick's Cathedral. As one of Australia's legendary entertainers, Bert was remembered as a humble man of faith, whose generosity and talents brought warmth and laughter to all those around him and onscreen.

Also this week, Archbishop Peter A Comensoli has written to all members of the Catholic community in the Archdiocese expressing grave concerns about the State Government's proposed new legislation, the Equal Opportunity (Religious Exceptions) Amendment Bill 2021, and is encouraging the community to join him in speaking out against this 'serious overreach' by the Government. We also look at the latest with the Archdiocese's Take the Way of the Gospel initiative and how it forms part of Pope Francis’ call for ‘a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything’. Plus, during this month of remembrance, Melbourne Catholic Joe Doolan explores the amazing story of hundreds of soldiers who, during the Great War, attributed their safety and recovery to God's providence through the direct intercession of Sister Thérèse Martin (later St Thérèse of Lisieux). In doing so, Joe poses the question for today's generation: Which holy lives or courageous acts will lead us to the steadfast love of God and gentle love of neighbour?

Finally, there are a number of events coming up in the following weeks including training sessions for parish leaders in the lead up to the Synod on Synodality, as well as the online book launch of Greg Craven's Shadow of the Cross with former prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott, to be moderated by Jacinta Collins.

All this and more below.