The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has established a working party to consult on the practice of "Sunday celebrations in the absence of a priest." The bishops made the decision at their Plenary meeting held at Mary Mackillop Place, North Sydney earlier this month according to an ACBC statement says.
The working party will engage in wide consultation on the issue, with particular reference to those communities where the practice exists.
The working party of Bishops will have a membership drawn from the Bishops Commissions for Liturgy, Pastoral Life, Church Ministry and Doctrine and Morals. The working party will be implemented by the Permanent Committee.
Reconnect
The Australian Catholic bishops also backed a new strategy that seeks to "reconnect" lapsed Catholics to the Church.
The strategy will include a pastoral letter to parishes, urging them to become places of welcome, as well as a six week program entitled 'Reconnect' to help equip parishes and individuals to reach out and invite people back to the practice of their faith.
There is also a similar program aimed at young people who may be seeking to connect with parish life in the wake of World Youth Day, the bishops say.
A national advertising campaign from the Bishops, inviting Catholics to reconnect with the Church community will also form an important part of the strategy.Welcoming, Enabling, and Integrating Overseas Priests
The bishops will also release a new resource which will be available for dioceses to provide a framework for the reception of overseas priests into the local community.
Entitled, "Welcoming, Enabling, and Integrating Overseas Priests", the document was received by the Bishops to be used as a template for each Province to implement.
It begins with a statement acknowledging the "giftedness that overseas priests are able to bring to the Church in Australia."
The document provides a template under which priests arriving from overseas would undergo an initial six month period of welcome and transition, during which the priest experiences the Australian culture, Church life, the diocese and its structures and receives mentoring. After this period, provinces would conduct a four to five day live-in Conference once or twice a year to assist more formally those overseas priests who have been in Australia for at least six months.
Under the template, "each diocese accepts responsibility for a dignified process of welcome, acceptance, and orientation of priests from overseas, who have much to offer the Australian Church."
Bishops to examine affluence and poverty in 2008 Social Justice Sunday StatementThe Bishops also approved the Social Justice Sunday Statement for 2008, on the theme: "A Rich Young Nation: The challenge of affluence and poverty in Australia."
In their the statement, the Bishops reflect on the fact that Australia is a rich country in so many ways, but there are many who live in spiritual poverty and many who have been bypassed by the economic growth and prosperity and who live in material poverty.
"The challenge that Jesus presented to the rich young man (Mark 10:17-22) is the same we face in Australia today: will we use our great wealth for the benefit of all and particularly for those who have been denied the benefits of prosperity?", the statement asks.
Work towards new Missal proceedsThe Australian Catholic Bishops Conference voted to approve the completed draft texts for the Roman Missal entitled: Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Intentions (January 2008) Ritual Masses (January 2008) and Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children (January 2008).
This follows the approval at the November 2007 Plenary Meeting of the completed draft of the new translation of the Roman Missal.
It is now anticipated that the completed Missal, with Australian adaptations, could be sent to Rome for recognition by the Holy See in 2009.
The Missal Implementation Team for Australia continues its work on making preparations for the new translation of the Missal.
A comprehensive multi-media resource is in the early stages of preparation. It is hoped that there will be an international resource able to be adapted for the needs of Australia.
Bishops to enlist new Youth Ministry project officer for Post WYD2008
The Bishops approved funding for a Youth Leaders Gathering in November 2008 for current and emerging youth leaders to help charter the way forward for the pastoral care of young people in Australia after WYD2008.
The Bishops also approved the appointment of a Youth Ministry Co-ordinator Project Officer whose focus will be on helping Youth Ministers and others to tap into the enthusiasm engendered by World Youth Day.
The appointment will be for a three year term from 2009 to 2011 and the successful applicant will work with the Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life.ACBC to sponsor delegates to World Meeting of Families in Mexico City
The ACBC will sponsor a married couple to attend the World Meeting of Families in Mexico City in January 2009.
The Bishops approved the funding for one couple to attend the Meeting or for two couples to attend, with the cost being shared by the originating Diocese.
The Conference also resolved that Dioceses should select married couples from their diocesan and parish family pastoral activities to join a pilgrimage of Australian Catholic families to the 2009 World Meeting.
Appointments/electionsMrs Therese Temby was appointed to the position of Chair of the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC).
Bishop Peter Ingham and Bishop Peter Connors were nominated and accepted positions on the Management Board of the Trust established by the Archdiocese of Sydney to assist poorer dioceses.
The ACBC General-Secretary, Fr Brian Lucas, was appointed as a media spokesman for certain matters, working with the Conference Communications Officer, Debra Vermeer. Mrs Kerry Bourke was accepted as the OMR&RCA Limited Nominee on the Board of the Natural Family Planning Program from 1 July 2008 following the retirement of Mr Patrick Kennealy.
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