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MEDIA RELEASE
August 30th 2010
BISHOP PATRICK DOUGHERTY 1931-2010
The Most Reverend Patrick Dougherty, Emeritus Bishop of Bathurst, died this evening at St Catherine’s Nursing Home. He had been suffering from lung cancer for several months. Bishop Dougherty led the Catholic Diocese of Bathurst from 1983 to 2008.

Funeral Arrangements:
Vigil Prayers - St Michaels & St Johns Cathedral - Tuesday 7th September - 7.30pm
Funeral - St Michaels & St Johns Cathedral
Wednesday 8th September- 11.00 am

click here to read Media Release in full

URGENT CARITAS APPEAL

Caritas Australia is calling for donations to provide desperately needed emergency relief to the 20 million people affected by flooding in pakistan.

You can donate by phoning 1800 024 413 or at www.caritas.org.au

TEN THINGS EVERYONE NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT ISLAM

Professor John L. Esposito is one of the leading experts in Islam in the English-speaking world. He is the editor of encyclopaedias on Islam and the author of over 40 books. After the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, he was called on by the media, government and other audiences seeking explanation of those events. He collated the questions his audiences constantly asked him and in 2002 published his considered answers in What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam. This small 29 page booklet is an extract from that book and presents his answers to the ten most burning questions on everyone’s mind. His answers are clear, direct, balanced and informative.

Who needs this book?.....Every teacher, social worker,
parish worker, priest, religious leader, community organiser, health worker….Literally, as the title says, everyone!!

Only $4.00 + postage ~ ORDER FORM

Mary MacKillop Shrine Unveiled

A shrine to honour Mary MacKillop was unveiled recently in St Joseph’s Convent Chapel at Perthville.

Read more

Srs Mary Comer and June Cleary

Sunday 12th September is Child Protection Sunday.

This year's theme is 'Working together to create a safe environment'.

The focus of this day is the prevention of abuse of children.

Safeguarding children calls for the involvement of the whole community.

This year, our Church and Catholic School communities have been invited to stand in solidarity with the wider Australian community - including child pretection agencies, other churches and State and Federal Police - in raising awareness of, and fighting against, child abuse.

e-Conference ~ Jesus the Christ

You are invited to be involved in the upcoming Jesus the Christ eConference
on September 16 - presented by Gerald O'Collins, SJ

The Diocese will be facilitating the e-Conference at two venues - Dubbo and Orange

More Information here ~ Programme ~ Biographies of Presenters

The Parishioners of St. Edward's, Canowindra, invite you,
your family and friends to a special

Mass to commemorate the Canonisation of
Bl. Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

In the Concert Garden at Windowrie Estate Canowindra on
Thursday 14th October 2010 at 4.00pm (gates open 3.00pm).

Mass will be concelebrated by Bishop Michael mcKenna, Fr Joe Dooley
and other priests.

Click here for more information.

St. Vincent's Private Hospital Closing Ceremony ~ 19th August 2010

Read Bishop McKenna's remarks from the Closing Ceremony

CATHOLIC STUDIES GRADUATION 2010

“On this Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, I have three prayers for our new graduates in Catholic Studies. …that our teachers of religious education would come to see their mission in the same way” (as Peter and Paul) “…that they would discover for themselves, and communicate to their students, the joy of belonging in this great and beautiful tent” (the Church and) “…that our teachers would live the faith they teach and pass it on not just in words but by who they are.”
+ Michael McKenna
Bishop of Bathurst

Click here for Graduation Info and Photos

Applications are now being received for the
2011 Young Catholic Women's Interfaith Fellowship!

This unique program offers an opportunity for Young Catholic women from across Australia to receive top level academic formation in the area of Interfaith relations.

This program is a live-in course which will take place between January and May of 2011. It is open to young women between the ages of 25 and 35.

Applications will be received until Friday 8th October, 2010.

For more information, please contact fellowship coordinator Sr Ruth Durick OSU on (02) 6201 9864 Mobile:0408 357 811 - fellowship.opw@catholic.org.au - or have a look at the OPW website - http://www.opw.catholic.org.au/

Young Catholic Women's Interfaith Fellowship APPLICATIONS OPEN

Bishop McKenna issues First Pastoral Letter to the Diocese

Bishop Michael McKenna has issued his first Pastoral Letter to the people of the Diocese.

Becoming Christian Together is the fruit of Bishop McKenna's reflections on some of the issues discussed during the recent series of Regional Meetings held across the Diocese.

Read Media Release ~ Read "Becoming Christian Together" ~

View 'Becoming Christian Together' as a PowerPoint presentation ('page down' to change pages)

New Priest for the Diocese of Bathurst

Friday 23rd July 2010
was a day of great joy and celebration in the Diocese
as Gregory Paul Bellamy was Ordained to the Priesthood.

Read Bishop McKenna's Homily,
Fr Greg's address and
see photos of the Fr Greg's Ordination and Mass of Thanksgiving.

RECENT DIOCESAN APPOINTMENTS

Bishop McKenna announced several new appointments across the
Diocese on 24th June 2010, including the appointment of Rev Pat O'Regan as
Dean of the Cathedral and Rev Mark McGuigan (currently PP Dunedoo-Coolah) as
Chancellor and Priest Assisting in the Cathedral Parish.

READ THE MOST RECENT DIOCESAN APPOINTMENTS HERE

Rev Monsignor John Frawley will retire as Parish Priest of Gulgong.
Msgr. Frawley will remain in Gulgong as pastor emeritus until transitional
arrangements are finalised.

The Bishop has appointed Rev Garry McKeown, in addition to his post as Parish Priest of Mudgee, as Parish Priest of Gulgong and Parish Priest of Kandos.

The Bishop has appointed Rev Gregory Bellamy as Assistant Priest in the Parishes of Mudgee, Gulgong and Kandos.