National Briefs
Fr John Anderson prepares to conduct a funeral in a private home. PHOTO: Supplied
- SYDNEY’S Fr John Anderson says many people living in Peru’s largest jungle city continue to fall desperately sick due to COVID-19. He ministers as parish priest of Santa Rosa de Lima Parish in Iquitos, and says the remote city has endured “chaos” for months. Administrator of the Vicariate of Iquitos Fr Miguel Fuertes has issued an urgent appeal for donations to provide an oxygen generator.
The Catholic Weekly - THE Sydney-based former Archbishop of Mosul says the visit of Pope Francis to Iraq has been “extraordinary” in bringing a powerful moment of peace to the country and the world. Archbishop Amel Shamon Nona leads the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of St Thomas the Apostle of Australia and New Zealand. His flock in Sydney numbers 11,000 families, compared with the 10-15 Christian families he estimates now live and worship in the northern Iraq city.
The Catholic Weekly - HUNDREDS of Papua New Guineans in Brisbane gathered at St Stephen’s Cathedral to remember the life of Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare. Sir Michael, “The father of the nation” was PNG’s first prime minister after independence from Australia in 1975 and served for 17 years over three terms. He was 84. During the Mass, Sepik man David Tekwie detailed Sir Michael’s achievements as prime minister, minister of foreign affairs, leader of the Opposition, and governor of East Sepik province.
The Catholic Leader - A QUEENSLAND Catholic school principal says he will undertake an audit of how sexual education is delivered, and has urged other Catholic schools to take a similar approach. “That’s a mandate for any good Catholic school. We should all be very clear that the formation of our young men and women is the reason we are open,” Dan McMahon, principal of co-ed Shalom Catholic College in Bundaberg, said. The Queensland government has announced a review of education addressing issues of sexual consent.
The Catholic Leader