The Catholic Weekly 10 July 2022

THE PRESIDENT of the Australian Plenary Coun- cil, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB of Perth, opened the second as- sembly on 4 July with an exhortation to the Catho- lic faithful to “carry with us a deep consciousness of who we are”. To be a “Christ-centred Church” Catholics must take up the challenge of discipleship and discern- ment for the future, he said, while acknowledging and healing the failures of the past. “It is his Way which we must follow, his Truth which we must proclaim, and his Life which we must embrace and live to the full,” Archbishop Costelloe said. “We know that we have not always been the faithful disciples the Lord is calling us to be. “This week we will ac- knowledge again, in sorrow and in shame, the damage our failures have caused in the lives of many people.” The second assem- bly brings to a close a four-year process involv- ing 277 members from around the country, plus support staff, volunteers, theological advisors and thousands of Catholics who made submissions. At the time of printing, the Plenary Council had vot- ed in favour of apologies to Indigenous Australians and support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart. CONTINUED P2 As Assembly commences, members come to grips with process, reflect on the way forward ¾ Adam Wesselinoff SUNDAY 10 July, 2022 CatholicWeekly The www.catholicweekly.com.au THE CHURCH. ALL OF IT $2 It is his Way which we must follow, his Truth which we must proclaim, and his Life which we must embrace and live to the full.” Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB of Perth Clare Communications Co PTY LTD See our website for more information on our services Plenary members gather for the Second Assembly of the historic Council in the St Mary’s Cathedral College Hall on 5 July 2022. PHOTO: GIOVANNI PORTELLI Bishops file forward for the opening Mass of the SecondAssem- bly celebrated in North Sydney last weekend. GIOVANNI PORTELLI Seeking the future