MESSAGE FROM ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY COSTELLOE SDB

BUSHFIRE CRISES

Tuesday 14 January, 2020

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Dear friends and colleagues,

I would like to share with each of you the statement on the Bushfire crisis issued by Archbishop Coleridge, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ACBC), on behalf of the Catholic bishops of Australia. I also wish to share with you the link to a special ACBC website which contains documents you might find useful in relation to the statement from Archbishop Coleridge. The website is as follows: www.catholic.org.au/bushfires

You will see in Archbishop Coleridge’s statement that the Australian bishops have decided to conduct a nation-wide campaign to raise funds to assist the bushfire recovery efforts. Every diocese, and every parish, is being asked to take up a special collection at all Masses over the Australia Day weekend.  All the details regarding this proposal, and the other steps being taken by the Church at the national level in response to this crisis, can be found in Archbishop Coleridge’s statement.  As you will see there, it is proposed that all funds raised by this appeal should be forwarded to the St Vincent de Paul Bushfire Appeal.  To learn more about the St Vincent de Paul Bushfire Appeal please Click Here

I will celebrate the 11.00am Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on Australia Day 26 January as a special Mass for the victims and survivors of the bushfires, for those who have been, and still are, caught up in fighting the fires and in supporting the fire-fighters, and for all who have been affected in any way by this disaster.

I would encourage each of you to maintain your prayerful support for all who have been impacted by the bushfires, and to consider how you may contribute to lending your support St Vincent de Paul Bushfire Appeal.

Click Here to read the statement from Archbishop Mark Coleridge.

With my grateful thanks, my prayers and my best wishes as the new year unfolds.

Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB DD
Archbishop of Perth