A wide embrace

The Church is a family with a wide embrace. God warmly welcomes each of us, and we, in turn, are called to welcome and embrace each other, extending our arms ever outward.

In this week’s news, the people of God in Melbourne and Ukraine are celebrating the exciting news that the Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Sts Peter and Paul, Bishop Mykola Bychok CSsR, is among the 21 new cardinals, from all parts of the globe, recently named by Pope Francis.

As delegates representing the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics continue to walk together at the second assembly of the Synod of Bishops, we look back at the first week of this historic month-long gathering in Rome.

And more than 300 young people from across the Archdiocese recently came together for the inaugural Migrant Youth Festival, an opportunity to celebrate the diverse gifts of Melbourne’s migrant communities and to be reminded that we are never alone on the journey of faith.

Pope names Melbourne’s Bishop Mykola Bychok as one of 21 new cardinals
In a historic announcement, Pope Francis has nominated Melbourne’s Bishop Mykola Bychok, Head of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Sts Peter and Paul, as one of 21 new cardinals to be created at a consistory in Rome on 8 December 2024. Bishop Bychok’s elevation to the College of Cardinals is not only a moment of great joy for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia and Oceania, but also marks an important milestone for the broader Australian Church. Warmly congratulating Bishop Bychok—who at 44 is the youngest of the new cardinals-delegate—Archbishop Peter A Comensoli noted how closely he 'lives after the heart of the Good Shepherd, working tirelessly among the lives of the faithful entrusted to his care’.
Young people called to be pilgrims of hope at inaugural Migrant Youth Festival
On Sunday 29 September, the 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, more than 300 young people from 20 different migrant and ethnic communities across the Archdiocese gathered together for the inaugural Migrant Youth Festival. Incorporating opportunities for prayer and worship, inspiring keynote addresses, a conversation with the Archbishop, good food and cultural performances from a variety of groups, the festival celebrated the diverse gifts of Melbourne’s migrant communities. The day reminded participants that they are not alone on the journey of faith and that ‘God, the God of Jesus Christ, is a pilgrim God’.
‘Allowing the Holy Spirit to speak’: the first week of synod’s second assembly
The month-long Second Assembly of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops began on 2 October, following a two-day retreat at the Vatican, and will run until 27 October. Fourteen Australian Catholics are among the participants at the assembly, which brings together 368 bishops, priests, religious and lay people from around the world, along with 90 non-voting members. We take a look at some of the highlights of the first week.
Australian Catholics play key role in the Synod of Bishops’ Second Assembly
As the Synod of Bishops’ second assembly continues in Rome, 14 Australian participants are making important contributions to shaping the future of the Church, particularly in the context of synodality—a process of listening, discernment and communal journeying. The month-long second assembly of the Synod of Bishops aims to deepen the Church’s understanding of how to live synodality in every aspect of Church life.
Most Rev Mykola Bychok CSsR, Eparch of Melbourne for Ukrainian Catholics, proclaimed a Cardinal of the Catholic Church
On Sunday, 6 October, after the traditional recitation of the ‘Angelus’ in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis proclaimed His Grace Mykola Bychok CSsR, Bishop of the Eparchy of Saints Peter and Paul of Melbourne for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania, a Cardinal-designate of the Catholic Church, one of 21 new cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Cardinal-designate Mykola described the appointment as ‘a great surprise’ and as ‘a privilege granted by Pope Francis to the entire Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Catholic Church in Australia’.
Year of Prayer comes alive at Resurrection Parish
Every Thursday night during school terms, in the busy outer south-eastern suburb of Keysborough, parishioners gather at Resurrection Parish to spend an hour by candlelight in quiet prayer and meditation before the Blessed Sacrament. The prayer night, which started in 2023, has become an integral part of parish life and an initiative Parish Priest Fr Brian Collins says has become even more significant during the Year of Prayer. As well as being a significant year for the Church globally, 2024 is a particularly important one for the parish as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. The year-long celebrations culminated last month with the launch of a parish history and an opportunity to bring this deeply multicultural community together at an ‘international kitchen’.
As conflict escalates in Middle East, Pope asks Mary to intercede
As fighting in the Middle East intensified and spread, Pope Francis turned to Mary, begging her to ‘intercede for our world in danger’. With members of the Synod of Bishops, pilgrims, ambassadors accredited to the Vatican and Catholics from the Diocese of Rome, the Pope led the recitation of the Rosary for Peace on 6 October at Rome’s Basilica of St Mary Major. The prayer service took place on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the deadly Hamas attack on Israel and Israel’s retaliation in Gaza.
‘Keeping our eyes on Christ’: how to be a synodal Church
During a Mass on 1 October at the retreat for members of the Second Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Archbishop of Perth, delivered a homily reminding participants of the importance of keeping Jesus at the centre of the synodal process. ’As we grapple with the question of how to be a synodal Church in mission,’ he said, ’we will need to keep our eyes on Christ ... It is him we follow, no one else.’
Young carers are ‘legends’: National Carers Week
Next week, 13–19 October, is National Carers Week, a time to recognise, celebrate and raise awareness of the three million Australians who provide care to a family member or friend, including young carers like Flynn Walker (11), who helps his mum Haeli care for his little brother Aston (8). ‘My caring role looking after my brother is hard,’ Flynn says. ‘But I love my brother and the time we spend together.’
Australians support South East Asia after Typhoon Yagi devastation
One of the strongest storms to hit South East Asia in recent decades, Typhoon Yagi, has brought widespread devastation from severe flooding and landslides, especially to Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos. In response, Jesuit Mission Australia has activated its Emergency Action Fund to assist their local project partners’ enormous relief efforts for flood-affected areas.
‘This appointment is a great privilege—not a privilege granted to me personally, but a privilege granted by Pope Francis to the entire Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and the Catholic Church in Australia.’
Cardinal-designate Mykola Bychol CSsR
on learning that Pope Francis has named him as one of 21 new cardinals
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Applications are currently open for the following positions:

Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

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Parish positions

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

Upcoming events
Holiness for All: St Thérèse of Lisieux exhibition
Tuesday 1 October 2024
– Thursday 31 October 2024
Hosted at St Patrick's Cathedral, the Discalced Carmelites warmly invite you to an exhibition on the life of St Thérèse of Lisieux, a remarkable young women who, despite passing at the age of 24, left us with her 'little way’ to holiness. All are welcome! Learn more about this great ...
Six30 Holy Hour at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Thursday 7 November 2024 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. For more information, email udisciple@cam.org.au or call 9926 5677.
Service of Compline with Reconciliation, Newman College
Thursday 10 October 2024
8.30pm–9.30pm
Compline is a peaceful evening ritual, with hymns sung by the Newman College Choir. Newman College is a co-educational Catholic residential college at the University of Melbourne. Compline offers a serene way to wind down the mind, body and spirit before sleep. With soothing prayers, calming music and moments of ...
Christopher Trikilis recital, Our Lady of Victories Basilica, Camberwell
Friday 11 October 2024
7.00pm–9.00pm
Join acclaimed organist Christopher Trikilis—Director of Music at Brisbane’s Cathedral of St Stephen—at Camberwell’s iconic Our Lady of Victories Basilica as he honours the Blessed Virgin Mary with a twilight organ concert. Having performed extensively across Australia and overseas, Christopher will bring the basilica’s grand 1920 TW Magahy organ to ...
‘Song of this Land’, St Patrick’s Cathedral
Sunday 13 October 2024
2.30pm–4.30pm
St Patrick’s Cathedral warmly invites you to celebrate the unfolding of the Holy Spirit's work in our Archdiocese through worship, prayer, music and community with the ‘Song of this Land’ concert. This free concert will embrace rich musical traditions, showcasing the stories and cultures of our multicultural city, while honouring ...
God and Beer: ‘A passion for sacred art’ with Tommy Canning
Monday 14 October 2024
6.30pm–9.00pm
The Knights of the Southern Cross warmly invite you to their next God and Beer event with special guest Tommy Canning. Thanks to John Canavan and the Divine Mercy apostolate, Tommy is visiting from Scotland to spread the message of Divine Mercy. He has spent a lifetime creating beautiful, scared ...
Short course on Catholic Marriage, ACU Centre for Liturgy
Tuesday 15 October 2024, 7.00pm
– Tuesday 12 November 2024, 8.30pm
The ACU centre for Liturgy is offering a short course titled 'A Faithful Promise: Catholic Marriage—Covenant and Calling'. Presented by Prof Clare Johnson, Director of the ACU Centre for Liturgy, this course will explore the Catholic sacrament of Marriage as a lifelong partnership between a baptised man and woman. This ...
Melbourne Catholic Professionals luncheon: Sr Mary Sarah Galbraith OP
Thursday 17 October 2024
12.00pm–2.00pm
Sr Mary Sarah Galbraith OP will be our guest speaker at the next Melbourne Catholic Professionals Luncheon on 17 October. Sr Mary Sarah is the local Superior of the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia and Principal at St Bernard’s Primary School in Bacchus Marsh. She has more than 30 years ...
A mission with Fr Richard Leonard SJ
Friday 18 October 2024, 7.00am
– Saturday 19 October 2024, 5.00pm
‘What does it all mean? Living a contemporary Catholic life of faith, hope and love.’ St John's Catholic Church warmly invites you to their event with special guest Fr Richard Leonard SJ. Fr Richard is a Jesuit priest with degrees in arts and education, a master’s in theology and ...
Mass for marriage anniversaries
Sunday 20 October 2024
11.00am–12.00pm
Couples and their families are invited to join us as we celebrate our annual Anniversary Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Registrations for couples have now closed, but all are welcome to attend. For any queries, please contact the Proclaim team on 9926 5761 or at proclaim@cam.org.au.
What Confirmation adds to Baptism presented by Rev Dr Joseph Vnuk OP
Tuesday 22 October 2024
7.00pm–8.30pm
Instead of asking how the Holy Spirit is given in Confirmation, we could ask how the Son is given in Confirmation. A comparison of how Jesus is proclaimed as ‘Son’ at his baptism and his transfiguration helps us to see what Confirmation might add to Baptism. Engaging Your Faith is ...
Violence in the Scriptures presented by Rev Trevor Tibbertsma
Wednesday 23 October 2024
7.00pm–8.30pm
We all know how certain parts of the Bible seem cruel and may even appear to condone violence. This short presentation will give a brief overview of some different ways to respond to this often unsettling aspect of these ancient texts which now make up the Christian Bible. Engaging Your ...
’Friendship with God’ in John and its first-century Greek, Roman and Jewish context, presented by Br Dr Paul Creevey FMS
Thursday 24 October 2024
7.00pm–8.30pm
In the Fourth Gospel, a central theological focus is the relationship between Jesus of Nazareth and God, whom Jesus continually refers to as ‘Father’. Accordingly, in order to understand the historical and theological roots of friendship/love in the Fourth Gospel, one needs to understand the background to the notion of ...
Encounter evening: Caroline Springs
Friday 25 October 2024
6.00pm–9.00pm
This unforgettable evening is tailor-made for high-school students, offering a unique opportunity to encounter Jesus with prayer, fellowship, food and, of course, a whole lot of fun. Invite a friend along to our Encounter evening! It’s an invitation to share the joy, the love and the transformative power of faith ...
menALIVE parish weekend—Laverton
Saturday 26 October 2024, 8.00am
– Sunday 27 October 2024, 1.30pm
The Catholic parish of Altona, Point Cook and Laverton is hosting a menALIVE Men’s Weekend. This two day event will take place over the weekend of 26 and 27 October and will provide an opportunity for the men in these parishes and neighbouring ones to explore what makes them feel ...
Alpha National Catholic Conference
Friday 8 November 2024, 9.00am
– Saturday 9 November 2024, 5.00pm
Alpha Australia invites you to ‘Every Generation’, a two-day national Catholic Conference that seeks to equip and empower Church leaders to explore Alpha as a catalyst for intergenerational renewal. All Alpha leaders, Alpha teams, parish and diocesan leaders, educators and youth leaders are invited to experience a time of inspiration ...
Jubilee of Families Pilgrimage 2025
Tuesday 20 May 2025
– Wednesday 4 June 2025
Bookings are now open for the Archdiocese of Melbourne's 2025 Jubilee of Families pilgrimage. The pilgrimage, which coincides with the Jubilee of Families, Grandparents and the Elderly, is open to all parishioners. This graced and hope-filled journey will take in the towns and cities of Italy, the homes of great ...
Jubilee of Youth Pilgrimage 2025
Monday 21 July 2025
– Tuesday 5 August 2025
We are pleased to announce that bookings are now open for the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s Jubilee of Youth Pilgrimage 2025. This pilgrimage is open to Catholics aged between 18 and 30 years. Harvest Journeys is the pilgrimage provider, and Fr Jude Johnson will accompany the pilgrims as their chaplain. This ...

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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