Hope Has a New Name: Leo XIV – Fresh Faith, Bold Future
There’s a sense of renewed energy flowing through Catholic communities around the world, and here in Australia, we’re feeling it too – from the school halls of Brisbane to the school classrooms of Perth. Why? Because the world has a new Pope – Leo XIV – and his election marks a hopeful, vibrant moment for […]
Waiting for White: A Moment of Black Smoke in Saint Peter’s Square
The square was quiet in a way only a place holding thousands could be – solemn, reverent, hushed with collective anticipation. I stood among pilgrims, tourists, clergy, and the curious, shoulder to shoulder in the cobbled embrace of Saint Peter’s Square, all eyes fixed on the narrow chimney jutting from the Sistine Chapel roof. We were waiting […]
Reflections from Assisi in the Year of Jubilee
In the heart of Italy, nestled among the rolling hills of Umbria, lies Assisi – a town synonymous with peace, spirituality, and the life of Saint Francis. To be in Assisi during the Year of Jubilee is to stand at the crossroads of history, faith, and the deep longing for peace. This year, in particular, […]
A Pilgrim’s Pause: Visiting the Tomb of Pope Francis
As I stepped into the quiet beauty of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, I was struck by a gentle sense of reverence. It wasn’t the kind of awe that comes from grandeur – it was something deeper. A peaceful presence, born of prayer, of humility, of lives lived for love. And in that sacred […]
A Vote for Hope: Walking Forward Together as Pilgrims
This weekend, Australia votes. Polling booths will fill with parents juggling prams, teenagers casting their first ballots, elders with decades of civic participation under their belts. Democracy, for all its complexity and flaws, is still something deeply hopeful. At its core, it’s a shared belief that we can shape the world around us – that […]
Hope Behind Locked Doors: A Jubilee Moment
This Year of Jubilee calls us to be Pilgrims of Hope – people who choose to believe that even in the hardest places, light can still break through. On Holy Thursday, in what would be one of his final public acts, Pope Francis visited a prison in Rome – quietly, humbly without much media fanfare. […]
Pilgrims of Hope: Honouring Pope Francis through the Mission of Catholic Education
With the passing of Pope Francis, the Church has lost a humble, courageous shepherd – one who walked close to the poor, spoke boldly for justice, and reminded us all of the power of mercy. His legacy is not just found in papal documents of Vatican addresses, but in the countless hearts he stirred into […]
Rising with Hope: Easter and the Spirit of Jubilee
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.” – Luke 24: 5 Easter isn’t just an event – it’s an invitation. An invitation to rise again with purpose, with joy, and aboveall, with hope. As Term 2 begins, many of us return a little tired, a […]
Pilgrims of Hope: Walking the Holy Week Road Together
Holy Week. It’s not just something that happened 2,000 years ago. It’s now. It’s here. And we’re partof it. As we move through this Year of Jubilee, we’re reminded that we’re not just bystanders in the story offaith – we’re Pilgrims of Hope, walking the journey with Jesus, and walking it together. Holy Weekgives us […]
Pilgrims of Hope: A Lenten Journey for Today
Lent often brings to mind old traditions – giving up chocolate, fish on Fridays, the slow countdown to Easter. But this year, in the Jubilee Year, we’re called to something more. We’re called to be Pilgrims of Hope. That’s not just a nice phrase. It’s a challenge. A pilgrim is someone who moves forward, not […]