OCEANIA/AUSTRALIA - Catholic Bishops of Australia plan to open New National Office for Evangelisation to mark the 30th anniversary of encyclical Evangelii Nuntiandi

Sydney (Fides Service) - To mark the 30th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Evangelii Nuntiandi the Catholic Bishops of Australia announced they will consider setting up a National Office of Evangelisation, like the English and Welsh Bishops’ CASE which has a large range of resources to help potential and returning Catholics.
The anniversary of Evangelii Nuntiandi was marked with conferences, seminars and meeting organised under the auspices of the Australian Bishops’ Conference in collaboration with theological institutes and religious orders. Cardinal Murphy O’Connor Archbishop of Westminster, London, UK, said in a message for the occasion: “How can we liberate the energy hidden in the Good News, which is able to have a power effect on people’s conscience?”
Other issues decided by the Australian Bishops during their recent November Plenary included; a National World Youth Day Committee to plan World Youth Day event in Sydney in July 2008; a Pastoral Document on the Church and the Media; new face for Commission for Clergy Life and Ministry; Indigenous gathering at Alice Springs to mark the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1986; Guidelines for the Permanent Diaconate approved for a period of five years; approved Common marriage Policy document to foster uniform approach to pre-marriage education in Australia. (Agenzia Fides 7/12/2005 righe 26 parole 264)