The Church in Western Australia

Auxiliary Bishop of Perth Don Sproxton shared an encounter with a dying man during a homily for Church personnel at St Mary’s Cathedral on August 7, 2026.

Bishop Sproxton told the congregation about visiting a man named Pino at Fiona Stanley Hospital. Pino, who had lived in various parts of Australia and worked on a mission in Baldivis, expressed to the bishop that he was aware he would die soon. While Pino admitted to feeling scared the previous evening, he told the bishop that he trusts in God and believes Jesus will fulfill his promises.

The bishop noted that Pino credited the Lord with renewing his faith after a period of being lukewarm as a young man. Pino also expressed gratitude for the gifts of his wife and family, citing these as examples of how Jesus has acted strongly and provided for him throughout his life.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Centre for Faith Enrichment (CFE) during a Mass held on Saturday, September 12, at the Chapel of St Michael the Archangel in Leederville, Perth.

During his homily, Archbishop Costelloe said the CFE was established in 1976 to share the Catholic faith with the people of God. He noted that the center continues to develop under the spirit of synodality promoted by Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV.

The Archbishop observed that modern society often lacks a foundation in Christian values and that many people no longer find interest in the depths of the faith. He stated that the task of the Catholic community is to propose the light of Jesus Christ to society through words and actions without imposing it.

Loving for Life WA has launched a new children's storybook, The Secret Tom Didn’t Keep, to help children recognize healthy relationships and respect personal boundaries. The book is designed for children aged six to ten and aims to teach them how to speak up when something is wrong, identify trusted adults, and recognize unsafe online content.

The organization released the book following National Child Protection Week, which took place from September 6 to 12. This project serves as a resource for families, schools, and parishes to support child wellbeing.

The book addresses growing concerns regarding children's exposure to inappropriate online material. According to a 2025 report by the Australian eSafety Commission titled Digital Use and Risk: Online Platform Engagement Among Children aged 10 to 15, 71 percent of surveyed Australian children had encountered harmful online content. The report also found that 52 percent had experienced cyberbullying and 14 percent had encountered online grooming-type behavior.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe commissioned the members of the new Diocesan Pastoral Council during a Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral in Perth on July 5, 2026.

The council members spent the day prior to the ceremony reflecting on their upcoming responsibilities to establish a solid foundation for their work. Archbishop Costelloe described the members as collaborators who will help lead the archdiocese in following God's will.

During his homily, the Archbishop noted that the primary challenge for the Church remains returning the Church to Christ and returning Christ to the Church. He referenced a message he shared fifteen years ago upon his installation as Archbishop of Perth, stating that this mission continues to define the path for the local Church.

The University of Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle offers an education designed to support the academic, professional, and personal growth of its students. The university provides a campus that combines historic architecture with modern learning environments, including specialist laboratories, simulation spaces, and contemporary teaching facilities.

To assist students from enrollment through graduation, the university provides academic learning support to help develop research skills and study habits. Career services are also available to help students build employability skills and connect with industry opportunities. The campus is located within walking distance of Fremantle's waterfront, shops, and cafes.

The University of Notre Dame Australia will lead a four-year research project to examine how generative artificial intelligence affects spiritual practice and belief formation in Australia. Associate Professor Victoria Lorrimar, director of the university's Centre for Technology and Human Futures, received an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship of $1,148,446 to lead the study.

The project, titled AI-Mediated Spirituality in Australia: Protecting Wellbeing, Reducing Risk, will investigate how people use AI for personal growth, wellbeing, and spiritual guidance. Acting Vice Chancellor Professor Aron Murphy stated that the fellowship supports research intended to inform public understanding, policy, and practice as artificial intelligence becomes part of daily life.

Catholic Health Australia (CHA) warned that a government decision to reduce real-terms funding for aged care providers puts the quality of care for older Australians at risk. The organization is calling on the government to revisit the decision and increase funding to reflect actual costs.

Alex Lynch, CHA Director of Aged Care, stated that the decision to increase the Australian National Aged Care Classification price by only 2.55 percent starting October 1 falls below inflation. Lynch said this underfunding jeopardizes access to sustainable care and is particularly concerning for Catholic providers in regional Australia, where costs are rising faster than in cities.

According to Lynch, many providers are already operating at a loss. He said the funding cut will force providers to scale back support services, delay or cancel plans for new services, and stop investment in capital works and new beds. Lynch also noted that the cut undermines the new Aged Care Act by leaving providers unable to cover the administrative, governance, and compliance costs required to implement it.

The Vatican told the United Nations that women must exercise leadership to become guardians of life and creators of peace. The Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the UN issued this statement on 2 September during the UN High-Level Forum on implementing the Program of Action on a Culture of Peace at the UN headquarters in New York.

The forum focused on how women's leadership helps achieve global peace. A concept note from the office of UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock stated that a culture of peace requires justice, gender equality, and inclusive decision-making rather than just the absence of violence. The note also emphasized the need for women to have safe, equal, and meaningful participation in political and peace processes.

The Holy See mission warned that a culture of power is currently normalizing war and altering international relationships. The mission stated that the need for a sustainable culture of peace is urgent because the global community is becoming increasingly fragmented.