Friends and family recently mourned the passing of Kevin Desmond (Des) O’Sullivan, a man whose endless qualities as mentor, teacher and leader were praised by those fortunate enough to have known him.

More than 200 people attended the annual Mass for deceased members of the Catenian Association of WA held on 4 October 2015 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth. 

Fertility specialist and founder of FertilityCare and NaProTechnology (Natural Procreative Technology) in Perth, Dr Amanda Lamont, is preparing to open a new practice in January 2016 – much to the delight of couples experiencing sub-fertility problems.

The seminar series, entitled Exploring Laudato Si’ Our Common Ground for Our Common Home, was last weekend launched at the Redemptorist Monastery Church in North Perth – the fruit of an unprecedented collaboration between the Centre for Faith Enrichment, the Redemptorist Community of Oceania, the Justice, Ecology and Development Office, Catholic Earthcare Australia, Caritas Australia and Catholic Mission.  

The St Charles’ Seminary community last month took part in a multi-faith candlelit vigil on the eve of the UN International Day of Peace. The vigil was held with the aim of praying for refugees and asylum seekers – particularly in light of recent events.

Monsignor Bryan Long, uncle of Mgr Kevin Long from St Charles Seminary, passed to the Father during the early hours of Monday, 12 October 2015 at Bentley Aged Care, Bendigo, after a remarkable life lived in the service of the Catholic Church.

MercyCare is celebrating Children’s Week for a special reason later this month, having recently launched a new fund to support children in care. The new First Time Ever Fund is a special fund which will enable children in MercyCare’s Fostering Services and Family Group Homes to thrive.

The Emmanuel Centre has this year celebrated Mental Health Week with a day of Reflection and Mass on Saturday, 10 October at St Francis Xavier Church in Windsor St, East Perth. Coinciding with World Mental Health Day, this years theme is ‘Mental Health begins with me!’.

Reflecting on the impact she is hoping to make, Dr Maria Harries, recently spoke to the eRecord from Rome about her experience as a participating Catholic laywoman within one of the most significant ecclesial events of the year.

Three seminarians took a step closer to ordination recently following the visit of Geraldton Bishop Justin Bianchini to St Charles’ Seminary to install them as lectors.

In an interview with Catholic News Services last week, Dr Maria Harries said a significant number of people no longer go to church "because of the abuse and we have to work out ways to deal with that".

Carmen & Fitzi with Sister Kerry - Holy Water

‘Stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong‘ from St Paul’s letter to the Corinthians was the theme for the annual Stronger Teens Camp co-ordinated by Perth’s Catholic Youth Ministry held earlier this month at Fairbridge Village in Pinjarra.

St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School in Hocking has last month celebrated its official opening, with students performing an impressive repertoire of songs for guests.Foundation Principal Carmel O’Shaughnessy said watching the new students sing at the opening event was an inspirational moment.

The musical talent of Welsh composer Karl Jenkins took on a new theme in memory of refugees and asylum seekers who have lost their lives in the search for freedom as part of a concert at St Mary’s Cathedral last Sunday, 11 October.

Students, family, staff and special guests of the newly opened St Francis’ School Maddington have been celebrating its success since classes began in March this year. The school is the latest Catholic Education Western Australia CARE (Curriculum and Re-engagement) educational facility and combines a variety of practical learning areas.

Adult faith formation in the Archdiocese of Perth has a new name, just in time for the new term. Formerly known as the Maranatha Centre, the Archdiocesan agency for adult faith development will now be known as the Centre for Faith Enrichment (CFE).

The various cultures in which the Gospel is proclaimed - and in which it finds a home - are a powerful sign of the rich creativity and fruitfulness of the Spirit of God, said Archbishop Timothy Costelloe last week, in celebration of the inaugural Multicultural Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral.

As a not-for-profit organisation working in the disability sector and as identified as an area of priority in the 2013-2016 Strategic Plan,, creating a flexible work environment has been seen as critical for Identitywa to attract and retain high quality staff.

The training of some 30 lay men and women in the area of child protection has last month brought the number of Safeguarding Officers for the Archdiocese of Perth to more than 50. The men and women from all walks of life are being trained in all facets of child protection for the role as Safeguarding Officers in their parishes.

Staff and students at Mandurah Catholic College have recently held a 'Wheel-A-Thon' fundraising event, raising an impressive $4,000 dollars for charity organisation, Wheelchairs for Kids, which involved staff and students in their homeroom groups navigating a course through the college grounds in wheelchairs.

eRecord Editor and Senior Communications Officer Jamie O’Brien last week had the pleasure of taking a photo of five of Western Australia's bishops. Seated from left are Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, Archbishop of Perth; Bishop Don Sproxton, Auxiliary Bishop of Perth with Bishops from Bunbury, Broome and Geraldton Diocese.

More than 175 priests, deacons and seminarians from across the Archdiocese last month gathered at Aquinas College for the annual clergy Mass and Dinner. The clergy were joined by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, Bishop Justin Bianchini from Geraldton and Bishop Christopher Saunders from Broome.

Memories of the 2009 grand re-opening of St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth recently resurfaced among enthusiasts of Cathedral music as two pipe organs were visited by their restorer, John Hargraves, who had an opportunity to assess and tune the two pipe organs within the Cathedral while recalling their restoration.

London bombings survivor Gill Hicks’ remarkable story of resilience was the focus of the 2015 MercyCare Oration held on Thursday, 24 September at the Hyatt Regency’s grand ballroom. The oration also coincided with the launch of a special new fund to support children who are cared for through MercyCare’s Services.