CWF Wrapped for 2022
Ephpheta Centre
It’s a wrap at the Ephpheta Centre for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing! In 2023 the Ephpheta Centre will continue to provide fellowship and community events for the Catholic Deaf Community.
Throughout 2022 the Centre ran regular mini Deaf Cafe events around Sydney, while staff facilitated craft activities, community day trips, and Auslan playgroup.
In August, the Centre celebrated the 2022 Ephpheta Sunday with the Catholic Church around the world. Since 1979, this has been the Centre’s most anticipated event of the year. After the Ephpheta Centre Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption, Homebush, a mighty celebration was held at the Wentworth Hotel to celebrate deaf culture, faith, language, and community.
In 2023, the Ephpheta Centre will be continuing to hold Mass, zoom rosaries and other prayer groups, support sessions, one-on-one appointments, deaf cafes, craft groups, Auslan playgroups, and more.
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
After another busy year instructing over 28,000 students in Sydney public primary and high schools, the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine’s dedicated Catechists are taking a much-needed break over Christmas.
Over half of Catholic children in Sydney are in public primary and high schools. The joy, hope and peace of the Gospel and Catholic formation is brought to them by an incredible team of volunteer catechists, some of these being themselves senior students. Up to 300 senior students are involved in a student catechist program across the Archdiocese.
In April of this year, 47 long-serving catechists celebrated their milestones of service at the Annual Archdiocesan Catechist Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral. We extend our immense gratitude for their hard work and dedication for the pursuit of truth in the formation of the next generation of Catholics.
CatholicCare
2022 has been yet another busy year for CatholicCare, which has continued its good work to realise its vision of a society in which all feel valued and supported. Through the dedicated work of their trained staff, CatholicCare contributes to Sydney’s vulnerable in many ways such as mental health support, disability support, parenting, refugee support, and aged care services as a registered My Aged Care provider to help people remain living in their homes with comfort and confidence.
Among their other social welfare programs, this year CatholicCare has been assisting those struggling with fertility issues through a natural fertility technique, the Sympto-Thermal Method. These natural methods attempt to address family fertility issues through a holistic approach, empowering both parents to locate issues at their source.
Catholic Chaplaincies
From Orientation Week to Life Week and everything in between, our dedicated team of chaplains and chaplaincy support have been providing spiritual, educational and pastoral support and guidance across universities in NSW.
At the University of Technology (UTS) and University of Sydney (USyd), the Chaplaincy daily runs a public Rosary and Angelus, Daily Mass, Bible study and Lectio Divina, as well as weekly coffee catch-ups and organised lectures and social events.
Chaplaincy also welcomes back Theology on Tap after a several year hiatus, and, in conjunction with Sydney Catholic Youth, has supported a fresh initiative called Fidelis, a quarterly night of prayer, catechesis and Q&A with some of Sydney’s finest speakers.
Aboriginal Catholic Ministries
The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) undertakes responsibility for the pastoral care of Indigenous Catholics and supports them in their faith. They offer a range of community-based programs designed to support social, pastoral, and individual wellbeing. Additionally, they work to involve Aboriginal Catholics in the wider community and national and international events.
Aboriginal Catholics in Sydney gather at the La Perouse Reconciliation Church, a hub for them to celebrate their faith. The Church holds Mass on the first Sunday of the Month and provides a chance for community and socialisation. An office operates three days a week, Monday to Wednesday. Sacramental programs for the children of the community and the acknowledgement of days of significance are important aspects of the community.
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