Nurturing seeds of faith

This week we celebrate all things St Patrick, our Archdiocese’s very own patron saint. In times of uncertainty—and even in the face of great hostility—Patrick turned his face to the light, putting his trust in God’s goodness and nurturing the seeds of faith wherever he found them.

Last night, in his sixth annual Patrick Oration, Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, in the spirit of St Patrick, calls us also to turn to the light of Christ, so that we might notice and nurture the many seeds of faith and hope that are slowly but surely germinating in our local Church.

This Friday, at the Schools Mass of St Patrick, marking the end of Catholic Education Week, a stunning new icon of St Patrick will be unveiled and blessed at St Patrick’s Cathedral. We speak with iconographer Sue Orchison, who created it, about how beauty—and icons in particular—can be a ‘door to the eternal’.

As part of our Pilgrim Places series—and in honour of St Patrick—we take a look at our beloved ‘Mother Church’, St Patrick's Cathedral. Dean of the Cathedral Mgr Stuart Hall is excited to welcome pilgrims this Jubilee Year, reminding us that the Cathedral is nothing ‘without people, without the congregation. It’s the people that breathe life into it.’

Turning to the Light: Archbishop Comensoli delivers 2025 Patrick Oration
Most Rev Peter A Comensoli delivered the sixth Patrick Oration on Monday 17 March, St Patrick’s Day, at the Hotel Windsor in Melbourne. In his address, Archbishop Comensoli spoke of Christ as a revitalising light and of the enduring power of faith, drawing on both historical and contemporary examples to illustrate how faith acts as a force for transformation. Pointing to promising signs or renewal and hope, he reminds us that ‘there is a power of attraction, and of healing—a beautiful hope—which comes to us as we turn our faces to the light of the risen Son of God.’
Patrick Oration 2025
On Monday 17 March, the feast of St Patrick, the Most Rev Peter A Comensoli, the ninth Archbishop of Melbourne, delivered his sixth annual Patrick Oration at the Hotel Windsor, Melbourne. Read the full transcript or watch it on video.
Continue reading: Patrick Oration 2025
A door to eternity: iconographer Sue Orchison on creating a new icon for St Pat’s
Iconographer Sue Orchison has her works displayed in various churches, schools and institutions but is still pinching herself over her most recent project: creating an icon of St Patrick, the patron saint of the Melbourne Archdiocese and of the Cathedral bearing his name. The icon will be unveiled this week in St Patrick’s Cathedral, where it will be displayed opposite an icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Sue speaks to us about her creative process, and about how an icon can provide ‘a door to eternity’.
Pilgrim Places
St Patrick’s Cathedral: a beacon of faith and hope
St Patrick’s Cathedral has long stood as a beacon of Christian faith and hope in the heart of Melbourne, a place where generations have gathered to worship, pray and seek God’s presence. In this Jubilee Year, the Cathedral takes on a special significance as a Pilgrim Place—a sacred space drawing those who, like St Patrick himself, set out in faith, trusting completely in God, even in uncertain times.
Pilgrims of hope
Further up and further in: pilgrimage as a path to hope
In recent years, Fr Jerome Santamaria has been blessed to travel with two different groups of young people on two different types of pilgrimage: with a group of emerging leaders for World Youth Day in 2023, and last year with a group of senior secondary students on a study trip to Italy and the United Kingdom. He reflects on some of the common threads in these experiences, writing that at the end of these journeys, the young pilgrims ‘knew that they had tasted infinity and now hungered for it ... The experience of pilgrimage opened up a vision of life that one could take home, and take home to share.’
The Archdiocese’s western-most parish celebrates its 150th anniversary
In the far west of the Archdiocese of Melbourne sits Meredith Parish, a vibrant mixture of young families, old farmers, migrants and tree-changers. At its heart is Fr Joseph Panackal, a young and energetic priest who is busy keeping five churches running while organising the parish’s year-long 150th anniversary celebrations. The sesquicentenary officially launched on Sunday 16 March with a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli.
Pope approves next phase of synod, setting path to 2028 assembly
Pope Francis has approved the next phase of the Synod of Bishops on synodality, launching a three-year implementation process that will culminate in an ecclesial assembly at the Vatican in October 2028. In a letter published on 15 March, secretary-general of the synod Cardinal Mario Grech announced that the synod’s new phase will focus on applying its conclusions at all levels of the Church, with dioceses, bishops’ conferences and religious communities working to integrate synodality into daily Church life before the meeting at the Vatican in 2028.
‘Something is happening. Something is shedding a light on the secular wave that has surged over the past century and more ... we may be seeing the swell of faith returning. There is a noticeable, if still fledgling, turning of the tide.’
Archbishop Peter A Comensoli
pointing to hopeful signs of renewal, in his sixth annual Patrick Oration
Come work with us

Applications are currently open for the following positions:

Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

  • Personal Assistant to the Vicar General, East Melbourne
  • HR Officer, East Melbourne

Parish positions

  • Parish Secretary, Catholic Parishes of Yarraville and Kingsville
  • Pastoral Associate (Outreach), St Dominic’s Parish, Camberwell East

Other

  • Part-Time Chef (two roles)—Newman College, Parkville

If you are interested in applying for any of the above positions, further details can be found here.

Upcoming events
Mannix Library Book Sale
Friday 28 March 2025
– Friday 11 April 2025
Calling all bookworms! Mannix Library is back with another book sale, and this time there are some really special items for sale. The book sale has introduced a new book type called ‘folio treasures’. These are larger books that can grace your coffee table, have pride of place on a ...
MACS 2025 Creative Arts Exhibition
Sunday 16 March 2025, 11.00am
– Saturday 22 March 2025, 4.00pm
This year's MACS Creative Arts Exhibition will once again celebrate the extraordinary talent and creativity of students from Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools. Held during Catholic Education Week (16–23 March 2025), this inspiring showcase highlights the artistry, imagination and unique perspectives of young student creatives. This special event reflects the role ...
Mary Glowrey Museum Open Day
Wednesday 19 March 2025
9.00am–3.00pm
Visit the Mary Glowrey Museum in Fitzroy to learn more about the life and legacy of Australian-born medical missionary in India and Servant of God Dr Sr Mary Glowrey JMJ. Mary Glowrey is one of two Australians currently being officially considered for sainthood. She was the first president of the ...
Six30 Holy Hour
Thursday 24 April 2025 6.30pm –7.30pm
Join with young Catholics from across the city for a time of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, music and an opportunity for confession. Please note that Six30 Holy Hour will not take place this Thursday, 17 April due to Holy Thursday services at St Patrick’s Cathedral and that various venues ...
Faith and Culture Sessions: ‘Protecting Life’ with the Sisters of Life
Saturday 22 March 2025
10.00am–12.00pm
The Sisters of Life are a contemplative and apostolic religious community committed to upholding the dignity of every human person. Founded by John Cardinal O’Connor in 1991, they offer both spiritual and practical support to those in need. In this presentation, they’ll speak on fostering a culture of life in ...
An Evening with Philippa Martyr
Saturday 22 March 2025
7.00pm–8.30pm
Come along to St Peter’s Parish Centre for the pre-launch of Philippa Martyr’s new book, Witness: The Future Catholic Church in Australia. In Witness, Phillippa asks—and answers—a lot of questions about the Catholic Church’s future in Australia. Enriched by data sets, interviews and commentary from across the Church, Witness is ...
Taizé Lenten Prayer with Br Merric, St Benedict’s, Burwood
Friday 28 March 2025
7.00pm–9.00pm
Taizé Melbourne and St Benedict’s Burwood invite you to a special evening of Taizé Lenten prayer, led by Br Merric. Br Merric is the first Australian brother of the Taizé community, an ecumenical Christian monastic community in France. This is his second visit to Australia since becoming a Taizé brother ...
United Prayers for Mercy for Australia and the World, with Eight First-Class Relics
Saturday 29 March 2025
2.00pm–5.00pm
The world and humanity have a great need of prayer and the mercy of God. Australia Unites in Prayer invites you to participate in united prayers to intercede for peace in the world and for the needs and protection of our nation, Australia, on Saturday 29 March at the Divine ...
Melbourne Rosary Pilgrimage with the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecelia—New Date!
Saturday 17 May 2025
10.00am–3.00pm
NEW DATE! Please note that the date of this year's pilgrimage has been moved to Saturday 17 May to accommodate more pilgrims. Join the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecelia on their annual Catholic Historic Melbourne Marian Pilgrimage. The day will begin with Mass at St Mary Star of the Sea ...
Melbourne Catholic Professionals Luncheon: Jonathan and Karen Doyle
Wednesday 2 April 2025
12.00pm–2.00pm
Join us at the RACV City Club for the first Melbourne Catholic Professionals (MCP) event for 2025, where Jonathan and Karen Doyle will join us as guest speakers. Jonathan and Karen are globally recognised leaders in faith-based education, relationships and personal development. As founders of Choicez Media, they have inspired ...
Celebrity Organ Recital, Featuring Johann Vexo
Friday 4 April 2025
6.00pm–7.15pm
Following a highly successful concert event in 2023, globally acclaimed organist Johann Vexo (former organist at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Paris) returns to St Patrick’s Cathedral for another dazzling program. Vexo has performed extensively throughout Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire and has recorded several CDs ...
Beyond the Vows: A One-Day Marriage Retreat
Saturday 12 April 2025
9.45am–5.00pm
Your marriage doesn’t need to be in crisis to deserve attention. Set aside a day to reaffirm your vows, deepen in intimacy and draw nearer to God. Beyond the Vows is a one-day Catholic marriage retreat designed to help couples navigate life and draw closer together. Sponsored by the Vocations ...

To learn more about upcoming events and opportunities, visit the Melbourne Catholic events page.

This newsletter is published by the Communications Office
of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

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