St Francis Xavier's Parish Narrabri

15/04/2026

An architect has been selected for a new cathedral in Sydney set to serve a diocese of around 250,000 Catholics.
MORE: https://bit.ly/4sEbFoC

11/04/2026

With prayerful gratitude I welcome the announcement that the Holy Father has appointed Most Reverend René Ramirez RCJ as Bishop of the Diocese of Sandhurst.

Bishop René has already given generous and dedicated service to the Church in Australia, and most recently to the Archdiocese of Melbourne as Auxiliary Bishop for our northern region. While his time with us as a bishop has been brief, it has been marked by a deep pastoral charity, a missionary spirit, and a gift for fostering renewal in parish and community life. He has been an invaluable presence among us.

Born in Gapan in the Philippines and ordained a priest in 1998, Bishop René has brought to his ministry a rich experience shaped by formation, leadership, and service across the Philippines, Rome, and Australia. His work in formation, communications, and parish leadership, along with his commitment to nurturing vocations and building vibrant faith communities, has been evident throughout his priestly and episcopal ministry .

It is with a sense of real sadness that we prepare to farewell Bishop René from Melbourne. In a short time, he has become a much-loved shepherd, offering wise leadership, joyful witness, and attentive care to clergy and faithful alike. His contribution to our Archdiocese, including his role in preparing for our forthcoming Synod, has been significant and deeply appreciated.

At the same time, we rejoice with the people of the Diocese of Sandhurst. They are receiving a bishop of great faith, pastoral experience, and missionary zeal. Bishop René already knows the Sandhurst diocese well through his recent service in Shepparton South, Nagambie, and Rushworth, and I am confident he will continue to serve them with generosity and love.

I assure Bishop René of my prayers and the prayers of the people of Melbourne as he prepares to take up this new responsibility. May the Lord who has begun this good work in him bring it to fulfilment, and may the Holy Spirit guide him as he shepherds the people entrusted to his care.

We entrust Bishop René and the Diocese of Sandhurst to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church.

01/04/2026

Congratulations and my prayers to Auxiliary Bishop Danny Meagher at the Archdiocese of Sydney following Pope Leo XIV’s announcement tonight he is to be the new Bishop of Rockhampton.

Most Rev Danny Meagher replaces Bishop Michael McCarthy who is retiring.

The people of Rockhampton will have a good, faithful and caring shepherd in Bishop Danny.

31/03/2026

26/03/2026

25/03/2026

25/03/2026

It is with deep gratitude to Pope Leo XIV, I announce I have been appointed by His Holiness as Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, with the personal title of Archbishop.

I'm profoundly grateful to Pope Leo for the confidence and trust he has placed in me.

During my time as bishop of the Diocese of Broken Bay, the clergy and faithful have been a true joy in my episcopal ministry. I remain forever grateful to God, who entrusted me with the care of His flock.

I will remain in Broken Bay for the next three months as Apostolic Administrator before moving to Rome to begin my new ministry of service.

Please pray for me as I undertake this new challenge and please be assured of my prayers for you.

11/03/2026

Do you know why the Cross is covered in Lent?

During Lent, especially during the Holy Week, many Catholics notice something different in church.
The crosses are covered.
Images are hidden.
Statues are veiled.

Nothing looks wrong,

but everything feels quiet.

This is not decoration.

It is not tradition for beauty.

It is teaching without words.

The Church covers the cross to create holy longing.
When something precious is hidden,
you feel its absence more.
You miss it.
You desire it.
You wait for it.
That is the point.

The cross is the center of our faith.
It is where Jesus showed His greatest love.
It is where salvation was won.
It is where mercy was poured out.

So when the cross is covered,
the Church is teaching us something simple:-
This is not the time for celebration yet.
This is the time for reflection.
This is the time for repentance.
This is the time for waiting.

Lent is a season of the desert.
A season of silence.
A season of repentance.
A season of turning back to God.

Covering the cross reminds us that; We are still on the journey.
We are still preparing.
We are still repenting.
We are still learning to dị̀e to sin.

It also teaches us what sin does.
Sin hides God’s presence.
Sin darkens our vision.
Sin blocks our closeness to Him.
Sin covers our spiritual sight.

So the covered cross becomes a mirror:- This is what life looks like when God is hidden. This is what the soul feels like without grace.

Then comes Good Friday.

The covering is removed.

The cross is revealed.

Christ is lifted up.

Love is made visible again.

And it becomes powerful, because we felt the absence first.

The cross was never gone.

It was only hidden, so we could learn to desire it again.

So the Church covers the cross in Lent to teach us that sometimes God allows silence, not to abandon us, but to awaken our hunger for Him.
Sometimes He hides what is holy, not to take it away, but to make us value it more.

Lent is not loss.

It is preparation.

And the covered cross is a quiet message:-
“Wait...
Repent...
Return...
The glory is coming.”

Now you know.

© Catholic Dailies
Be Prayerful. Be Inspired.

28/02/2026