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Seeking the sacred

The human yearning for meaning and purpose—the deep, hopeful hunger we have for God—is expressed in many ways: in the media and stories we seek out, in the art and architecture we create, in the communities we build and care we give, in the prayers we offer up, and in the journeys we make.

This week, we are excited to announce that a venue has been secured for the Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2025 as Melbourne prepares to welcome thousands of young pilgrims from around the country in November to participate in a three-day festival that promises to feed the deepest spiritual hunger.

We hear from three exciting Catholic communicators who shared their insights and tips on how to fan the flames of faith at the recent Jubilee of Communications in Rome.

Associate Professor Natasha Michael shares some highlights of a recent Catholic leaders’ pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, a unique opportunity for 29 ‘pilgrims of hope’ to share a profound journey and ‘seek the sacred’ together.

And as we prepare for Ash Wednesday tomorrow, Pope Francis’ Lenten message invites us to ‘journey together in hope’, reminding us that ‘Lent is a time to confront both personal and collective struggles with faith and compassion.’

Venue secured for 2025 Australian Catholic Youth Festival

The Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne is pleased to announce the securing of the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre (MCEC) as the venue for the 2025 Australian Catholic Youth Festival. The centre ‘is one of the largest of its kind in Australia, attracting millions of visitors each year. It holds a variety of spaces that we look forward to utilising during the festival as we welcome thousands of pilgrims to Melbourne this November,’ Archbishop Peter A Comensoli said.

Continue reading: Venue secured for 2025 Australian Catholic Youth Festival

Hooks, rabbit holes and prayerscapes: finding ways to lead people to Jesus

The role of Christian communicators, Pope Francis believes, is one of accompaniment and friendship. ‘Christian communication,’ he said in this year’s World Communications Day message, ‘should be steeped in gentleness and closeness, like the talk of companions on the road.’ It's this sense of accompaniment and invitation that is driving social media influencers and content creators from Hallow and EWTN to explore ways that they can fan the flame of faith and create spaces where people can encounter the person of Jesus Christ.

Continue reading: Hooks, rabbit holes and prayerscapes: finding ways to lead people to Jesus

Pilgrims of hope

Seeking the sacred: Catholic leaders on pilgrimage

Last month, 29 ‘pilgrims of hope’, representing the leadership of various ministries and works of the Archdiocese, set out on a Jubilee pilgrimage led by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, Fr Jerald Mariadas and Fr Dean Mathieson. Among them was Associate Professor Natasha Michael, who reflects on the journey they shared together, caring ‘for each other through the days, comparing steps, sharing meals, laughs, rapid rosaries and reluctant sing-alongs on the bus’.

Continue reading: Seeking the sacred: Catholic leaders on pilgrimage

Compare your life to a migrant’s, Pope says in his message for Lent

As Lent draws closer, Pope Francis has urged Christians to examine their consciences by comparing their daily lives to the hardships faced by migrants, calling it a way to grow in empathy and discover God’s call to compassion. ‘It would be a good Lenten exercise for us to compare our daily life with that of some migrant or foreigner, to learn how to sympathise with their experiences and in this way discover what God is asking of us so that we can better advance on our journey to the house of the Father,’ the Pope wrote in his message for Lent 2025.

Continue reading: Compare your life to a migrant’s, Pope says in his message for Lent

Project Compassion 2025: uniting against poverty

Catholic aid agency Caritas Australia has launched its annual Lenten fundraiser, Project Compassion, with a call to open our hearts to others in need. Archbishop Peter A Comensoli encouraged the hundreds of school students who came together today at the launch at Emmaus College in Vermont to ‘reach out in love and acceptance, recognising that every single person has dignity, value and worth.’

Continue reading: Project Compassion 2025: uniting against poverty

Pope suffers respiratory crises after writing about ‘blessing’ hidden in frailty

Pope Francis suffered ‘two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency’ on 3 March but remained alert, the Vatican said, giving cause for concern after two days in which his condition was described as ‘stable’. The day before suffering the crises and receiving medical treatment, the Pope wrote of ‘the “blessing” that is hidden within frailty’, saying that ‘it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord.’

Continue reading: Pope suffers respiratory crises after writing about ‘blessing’ hidden in frailty

Giving back, one bargain at a time: the volunteers who power Catholic op shops

As we approach the Jubilee of Volunteering later this week, we take a look at the way Melbourne's thriving op shop culture provides people not just with affordable, stylish and sustainable clothes and homewares, but with much needed services and—especially for the thousands of volunteers who keep these enterprises running—a sense of community and purpose. For some, working in an op shop is a powerful opportunity to experience and live out Catholic values of compassion, justice and dignity.

Continue reading: Giving back, one bargain at a time: the volunteers who power Catholic op shops

Catholicism’s French soul: exhibition brings wonders of Notre-Dame de Paris to Melbourne

Melbourne is a long way from Paris, but locals can experience the wonders of the newly reopened Notre-Dame Cathedral at a captivating exhibition at the Immigration Museum. Through the wonders of interactive technology, visitors can immerse themselves in the glorious architecture and eventful history of the famous cathedral.

Continue reading: Catholicism’s French soul: exhibition brings wonders of Notre-Dame de Paris to Melbourne

Statement from Archbishop Peter A Comensoli on proposed VAD law reforms

Archbishop Peter A Comensoli has responded to the Victorian Government’s announcement of reforms to euthanasia and assisted suicide laws, calling them ‘deeply distressing, with the protection and care of vulnerable and dying people further marginalised’. He calls on the government to ‘instead provide proper support for palliative care throughout the state to ensure that all Victorians who require it can access appropriate care close to home and family so that they can die with real dignity’.

Continue reading: Statement from Archbishop Peter A Comensoli on proposed VAD law reforms

ACRATH tells MPs, slavery is present in your electorate

Victorian politicians were given a wake-up call at a recent Speaker’s Breakfast when told modern slavery is almost certainly happening in every electorate in Victoria. The Speaker’s Breakfast at Parliament House was organised by Legislative Assembly Speaker Maree Edwards MP as part of a series of breakfasts highlighting key community issues and the organisations actively addressing them.

Continue reading: ACRATH tells MPs, slavery is present in your electorate

Pope appoints new Bishop of Armidale

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has welcomed the appointment by Pope Francis of a new Bishop of Armidale. The Rev Dr Peter Murphy is currently the parish administrator of St Michael’s Cathedral, Wagga Wagga, and Vicar General of the Diocese of Wagga Wagga. ‘His involvement in the vocations ministry, his experience in fostering the faith of young people and his compassionate leadership in the areas of family and marriage will be of great value to the diocese and wider Church,’ said Australian Catholic Bishops Conference President Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB.

Continue reading: Pope appoints new Bishop of Armidale

‘Engaging in dialogue that is focused on the heart of the Church and tells real stories is as effective today as it was for the apostles ... Behind every piece of Christian content is a very specific narrative—and invitation to join the body of Christ.’

Monse Alvarado, president and chief operating officer of EWTN News

on communicating the Good News of Christ in an inviting and effective way

Come work with us

Applications are currently open for the following positions:

Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Archdiocesan Personal Assistant, Box Hill North

Parish positions

Pastoral Worker, Mission Parishes of St Mary’s Thornbury, St Joseph’s Northcote, Holy Spirit Thornbury East and St Anthony’s Alphington, Fairfield
Finance Officer, St Monica’s Moonee Ponds and St Vincent de Paul Parish Strathmore, Moonee Ponds
Parish Secretary, Catholic Parishes of Yarraville and Kingsvile
Stewardship Coordinator, Brunswick Moreland Catholic Community, Brunswick
Pastoral Associate (Outreach), St Dominic’s Parish, Camberwell East

Other

Community Engagement Officer, CDF, East Melbourne

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

Upcoming events

Ash Wednesday at St Patrick’s Cathedral

Wednesday 5 March 2025
7.00am–6.00pm

Join us at St Patrick’s Cathedral on 5 March to mark the beginning of Lent at one of three Ash Wednesday Masses: 7am 1pm 6pm For more information, email Communications or call the Cathedral on 9662 2233. ‘Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’