Leaders from Western Australia’s Catholic acute, aged and disability healthcare sector have last month engaged in a special dialogue with Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB to discuss the impending impact of the Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation.

Redemptorist Mater seminarian Grzegorz Rapcewicz has spent 10 years discerning his vocation and is now set to be ordained to the Diaconate, en route to priesthood, on 12 August at St Mary’s Cathedral.

Employees of the 26 agencies from across the Archdiocese of Perth gathered as a people of Christ on 15 July at St Mary’s Cathedral, to reflect on their roles to the community and pray for God’s continuous guidance in the important work they do.

The Catholic community gathered to end the 2021 NAIDOC Week with a Mass at the Embleton parish, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, on 11 July. At the conclusion of Mass, ACM Pastoral Worker for over 12 years, Badimia Yamatji man Reg Carnamah, was presented with his 2021 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) Adult Service to Community Award for his dedication and commitment to serving the people of Western Australia, through his various roles in the Archdiocese of Perth.

David Anthony Barnao, Principal of David Barnao & Co (now Barnao Property), has last week been gifted an Apostolic Blessing for his decades of resolute services to the Church and wider community.

The Year of Saint Joseph will be a crucial motivator for participants of the 2021 Australian Catholic Men’s Gathering, which will be launched nationally online from 31 July.

The Archdiocese of Perth honoured three of its’ long-serving staff, who officially retired on 30 June and 2 July respectively. Archdiocese Clergy Liaison Officer Brian Bonser, Manager: Compliance and Suppliers Warren Lethridge and Personal Assistant to Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton Caroline Fouche reflect on their journey and provide advice for future staff.

As the delayed First Assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia draws near this October, the Members from the Archdiocese of Perth have gathered together to build rapport and continue their discernment on their journey towards a pivotal time for the Church of Australia. Gathering last month at the Redemptorist Monastery in North Perth, the Members participated in a workshop led by Fr Edmond Nixon CSsR.

The Perth Catholic community attended a two-hour seminar at Newman Siena Centre on 24 June, exploring a theme of the Plenary Council, “Discovering A Christ-centred Church that is Open to Conversion, Renewal and Reform.” The event led by Catholic Education Western Australia Director of Religious Education Dr Chris Cotter, was organised by the Archdiocese of Perth Centre for Faith Enrichment, as a space for the community to continue the process of prayer, discernment, and dialogue.

A review of the National Redress Scheme, commissioned by the Federal Government, was released by Social Services Minister Anne Ruston last month. Blue Knot Foundation, the National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma, has publicly welcomed the response to the Final Report, Second Year Review of the National Redress Scheme (the Final Report), prepared by Independent Reviewer Robyn Kruk AO.

Voluntary Assisted Dying Legislation enacted in Western Australia on Thursday 1 July will change the way the Catholic acute, aged and disability care sector functions forever.  The legislation, passed by the McGowan government on 10 December 2019, allows Western Australians who are terminally ill the right to end their life at a time of their choosing.

Acknowledging the rich history of the Greenmount Parish on the occasion of its 60^th anniversary, Perth Auxiliary Bishop Sproxton spoke about the importance of good leadership, which the parish was fortunate to receive from all its’ leaders.

Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton visited Wanneroo Parish on Sunday 20 June to celebrate the installation Mass of Fr Peter Porteous OSM, together with Assistant Priest Fr Leonard Guiang OSM.

Ahead of the first Plenary Council Assembly this October, Plenary Council President Archbishop Costelloe spoke about the need for the Australian Church to “develop concrete proposals to create a more missionary, Christ-centred Church in Australia.”

Mary’s Mount Primary school celebrated their 100^th birthday with a Mass and various activities throughout the year. The school opened in 1921 as a boy’s college by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition.

Mother Emily was the first Superior with Sisters Patrick and Carmel to help her. Today it is difficult to picture Mary’s Mount humble beginnings of three Sisters, five boarders and 12 day pupils.

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has this week released an in-depth Pastoral Letter in relation to Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD).

The Pastoral Letter comes as VAD legislation, passed by the Western Australian State Parliament 18 months ago, will be enacted from Thursday 1 July.

The legislation will mean that a person, under certain specified conditions can access medication which is designed to end their life.

Two volunteers from Perth’s Catholic community have this week been announced among the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Danny Murphy AM was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in the General Division for his significant service to urban development and to the community, and volunteer lawyer advocate Dr Betsy Buchanan OAM was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division for service to the community through social welfare organisations.

Centacare board member Peter Le has last month been award a 2021 Lawyers of the Year accolade for his profound contribution to the profession and the community.

A five-session enquiry for students which explores the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and what can be done about the ongoing consequences has been launched by the Young Christian Students.

Lindsay Dalrymple Evans, who died on 4 May 2021, was a musician, music tutor, composer, poet, bellringer, drummer, percussionist, guitarist, vocalist, and South Perth pioneer.

Catholic primary school students had the opportunity to interact with Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, who encouraged the young people to find ways to be a joyful, hope-filled, servant community of God, at the launch of LifeLink Day for primary schools, held at Newman College on 2 June.

In what was his third Dedication Mass in as many as six weeks, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has called on the parish community of GinGin Chittering to be a healer of people’s wounds and warmer of people’s hearts.

The Benedictine community of New Norcia have recently welcomed the launch of two resources which provide the Catholic community with a rare insight into the rich history of Australia’s only monastic town.

We are both building and being built into a spiritual house for God, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has said at the Dedication Mass for the new Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea Jurien Bay, on Saturday 29 May.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB celebrated CEWA’s 50th anniversary Mass on 24 May at St Mary’s Cathedral as dioceses nationwide marked the bicentenary anniversary of Catholic education’s inception in Australia.