Pastoral Letter on Sexual Abuse

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Over recent months the extent of sexual abuse of children and young people by Catholic clergy has shocked communities across the world, including communities in Australia. More recently, our Diocese of...

My Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

I wish to share with you a matter of importance for our Diocese.

As you are aware, for some years now there has been discussion about the need to build a new cathedral for the Diocese as St Francis Xavier Cathedral does not have the...

Readings: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Initially what a contrast – the Immaculate Mary; adultery and murder committed by King David; the sinful woman scandalising the Pharisee – yet is it?
The same God who loved Mary into bearing the Saviour through the power of the...

Two men, both seriously ill occupied the same hospital room. One was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all of his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on...

Catholic Bishops from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and other countries in the Pacific – the Mariana Islands, Guam,...

This morning Kelvin Sharkey appeared in the Wollongong District Court to be sentenced, following his pleading guilty to three offences relating to the sexual abuse of a minor between the years 1969 and 1975.

In relation to each of two offences, Kelvin Sharkey received a sentence of...

In Australia, it seems true to say that we enjoy a tolerance that values difference and diversity. We believe popularly in giving everyone a "fair go!" Like you, I try to read and hear the news critically so I'll know what's going on and make my own assessment about what I hear and see. However,...

Bishop Peter Ingham on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of NSW on the trial of an Ethics Course during Special Religious Education (SRE) time during Term 2, 2010.

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You have already been welcomed to our gathering – I...

The Bishop of Wollongong, the Most Reverend Peter Ingham DD, has announced that the name of the new Catholic Primary School to be formed from the amalgamation of Saint Francis Xavier's...

When Jesus died and rose again he became the true and perfect temple (John 2:21) of the New Covenant, replacing the old. "Destroy this temple and in three days, I will rebuild it" (John 2:20). Jesus Christ gathers together a people to be his own through Baptism, through proclaiming the Word of...

The Bishop of Wollongong, the Most Reverend Peter Ingham DD, has announced that the name of the proposed new Catholic High School, planned to open in Camden in 2011, will be "St Benedict's Catholic College." St Benedict's College will be a Diocesan Catholic Co-educational High School recognising...

Paschal Precept
Each of the faithful is obliged to receive Holy Communion at least once a year. This is to be done between Ash Wednesday (17 February) and Trinity Sunday (30 May) unless for a good reason it is done at another time during the year. All the faithful are...

Bishop Peter Ingham’s Lenten Pastoral Letter 2010

My dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, in our Diocese of Wollongong,

Today, 14 February, as you are no doubt aware, the world is celebrating Valentine’s Day. It has been well publicised and...

Every person in the world is hungry for something, be it food, justice, peace, reconciliation, companionships, understanding, love – the list can go on.
At the Pope's Second Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa in October 2009, I felt privileged to be asked by the Pope to...

The word "ethics" comes from the Greek word "ethos" meaning "custom" or "conduct". It is equivalent in meaning to the word "morality" which finds its base in the Latin word "mos" meaning "custom" or "behaviour". Hence, ethics is regarded as a very practical science because it is about knowing...

On my way to Rome for the Synod of Bishops for Africa last October, because this is the Year of the Priest, I made a personal pilgrimage to Ars in France to visit the shrine of the saintly parish priest, St John Mary Vianney, the Curé of Ars, who died 150 years ago. I offered Mass at his tomb...

The popular song “The 12 Days of Christmas” is an imaginative, creative, even playful melody. The 12 days run from Christmas Day to the visit of the Magi at Epiphany traditionally celebrated on 6 January.

It originated in 16^th century England where...