This weekend we celebrate the 175th anniversary of the establishment of the Catholic Diocese of Melbourne! It truly is a momentous occasion in the life of our local Church; a profound opportunity to reflect upon the extraordinary graces God has blessed us with.

It's a little known fact that the Catholic Diocese of Melbourne shares its birthday with the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne, and so to mark this 175th year, a specially-commissioned "Melbourne Mass setting" will be launched at both cathedrals this Sunday, 26 June. The Mass setting features new music composed by members of the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Irish, Croatian, Tongan, Vietnamese and Filipino communities of Melbourne, who will be on hand to perform at the 11am Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral. All are welcome to attend and stay on for the special family festival afterward, coinciding with the conclusion of the World Meeting of Families.

Continuing our Moments of Grace series, this week we take a look at the story of the Vienna Mozart Boys’ Choir, who became stranded in Australia just as the Second World War broke out in Europe. Unable to journey home, the boys ended up staying in Melbourne, thanks to the hospitality of Archbishop Daniel Mannix and local Melbourne families. The boys became the founding members of the St Patrick’s Cathedral Choir, which has continued, in one form or another, to this day!

Since this week is Refugee Week, we also hear the harrowing story of Maria Vong, a member of the Cambodian Catholic community here in Melbourne, who survived, with her family, the purges of Pol Pot and escaped to find a new life in Australia. It is a story of grace amidst persecution, and an opportunity to hear the stories of those who have escaped violence, as Pope Francis encourages us to.

Also, did you know that one of the early Christians lives here in Melbourne? Even though the first century of the Church is so remote from the present moment, the bones of St Flavia, virgin and martyr, sit quietly among us. And finally, this week we marked the feast day of both St Thomas More and St John Fisher. We revisit the famous 1966 film, A Man for all Seasons, to see what this story might offer the modern world. The answer: quite a bit.
 
Special Mass setting to mark 175th anniversary of Melbourne Diocese
This year marks the 175th anniversary of this event, and to mark the occasion, a specially commissioned Mass setting will be launched on Sunday 26 June, celebrating the city’s storied history. Entitled One Family in Christ, the setting embraces Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, Irish, Croatian, Tongan, Vietnamese and Filipino communities and their music, which will be performed this Sunday at St Patrick's Cathedral.
 
 
‘If you ever get stuck’: Archbishop Mannix and the hospitable impulse
In September 1939, 20 young Austrian choristers found themselves stranded in Perth at the outbreak of war. But a hospitable impulse on the part of Melbourne's Archbishop Daniel Mannix would become a moment of grace that would reverberate in the lives of the boys, and the music of St Patrick’s Cathedral, for years to come.
 
 
Light in the jungle: a refugee’s story
As we celebrate Refugee Week, we hear the remarkable story of Maria Vong—her daring escape across the Cambodian–Thai border at the age of 15, her life in a refugee camp, and her family's faith and courage as they have forged a new life for themselves in Melbourne.
 
 
St Flavia: The early Christian who lives in Melbourne
In a quiet spot in Carlton dwell the bones of a first-century Christian: St Flavia. Brought to Melbourne under Bishop James Alpius Goold, she resides here as a quiet witness to the faith—perhaps a saint for our own times.
 
 
‘A Man for all Seasons’ for the modern world
The 1966 film ‘A Man for all Seasons’ captures brilliantly the way in which grace keeps saints upright in a world bending itself out of shape. As we celebrate St Thomas More’s feast day, it might be worth giving it a watch.
 
 
‘All this music has come from being with the communities … being with them and hearing their voice’
 
 
Dr Philip Matthias, Director of Music at St Patrick's Cathedral
On the specially-commissioned Mass setting for Melbourne's 175th anniversary
 
Upcoming Events
 
Feast of Sacred Heart Mass and End of Semester Social
Friday 24 June 2022
5.00pm–9.00pm
Join other university students from across Melbourne to celebrate the end of the semester, give thanks to God and enjoy a night off! The evening begins with 5pm Mass for the Feast of the Sacred Heart, followed by dinner, dancing and fun from 6pm! For any queries, email the uDisciple ...
 
 
Celebrating 175 Years of the Diocese of Melbourne
Sunday 26 June 2022
11.00am–12.00pm
This year marks 175 years since the erection of the Diocese of Melbourne! Come and celebrate at a special Diocesan Mass with Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, with specially commissioned music from our local Indigenous brothers and sisters and the various migrant communities who have made the local Church of Melbourne ...
 
 
uDisciple 1000 Steps Hike
Tuesday 28 June 2022
11.00am–2.00pm
Join the uDisciple Team and students from across Melbourne on a hike up the Dandenong Ranges. For any queries, email the uDisciple Team at udisciple@cam.org.au or call (03) 9926 5677.
 
 
2022 NAIDOC Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral
Sunday 3 July 2022
11.00am–12.00pm
NAIDOC Week is held across Australia in the first week of July each year, to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Join us at St Patrick's Cathedral for this special Mass to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. NAIDOC Week ...
 
 
The Outsider Pope: Where is Francis Leading Our Church?
Monday 11 July 2022
5.00pm–6.30pm
This latest Helder Camara lecture will feature The Tablet’s Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb. Founded in 1840, the weekly journal is a hugely influential voice amongst the 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide. Joining in 2009 from the Daily Telegraph, Christopher Lamb also appears regularly on TV news around the world. In his ...
 
 
Anniversary Mass for Couples at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Sunday 17 July 2022
11.00am–12.00pm
Are you celebrating 25, 40, 50, or 60–70 years of marriage this year? Or did you celebrate one of those milestones in the last two years of lockdown? You and your family are invited to join us for the Anniversary Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Couples who register will receive ...
 
 
Udisciple Focus Fridays
Friday 29 July 2022
9.00am–3.00pm
University students across Melbourne are invited to join the uDisciple Team for a time of study, fraternity and prayer. Schedule 9:30am - Mass 10:00am - Coffee and Catch-up 10:15am - Study Block I 12:00md - Angelus and Rosary 12:20pm - Lunch Break (Lunch provided) 1:00pm – 3:00pm - Study Block ...
 
 
Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre open days
Saturday 6 August 2022
10.00am–4.00pm
Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre (MMHC) East Melbourne a place of inspiration and vitality, manifests and promotes the spirit and charism of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and the Sisters of Saint Joseph. MMHC provides, through education, hospitality and charitable works, opportunities for all to experience and be challenged by ...
 
 
Jesus in the Eucharist
Sunday 14 August 2022
1.45pm–5.00pm
Explore the centrality of the Eucharist at this afternoon event organised by Holy Eucharist & St Mary's Parish in Malvern East. Be inspired and guided in prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. Timetable 1:45 pm - Arrive, 2:00 pm - The Eucharist in the Context of the Mass with ...
 
 
NCEC Conference: The Future is Listening (Save the Date)
Sunday 4 September 2022, 10.00am
– Wednesday 7 September 2022, 5.00pm
The 2022 National Catholic Education Conference is taking place this September, and a limited number of Super Early Bird registrations are now available. The National Catholic Education Commission hosts a conference every four or five years in a major Australian city. Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) is proud to host ...
 
P.S. Before you go . . .
 
‘Looking through their eyes’: 3 quotes from Pope Francis for Refugee Week
Refugees has been a strong theme in Pope Francis' pontificate. For Refugee Week, we look at three times Francis encouraged us to think and act differently and compassionately about refugees.
 

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