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Catholic Church in Australia - NSW and ACT
Membership of the CCAC
Membership of the CCAC
The Catholic Church in New South Wales has been a member of the CCAC from the beginning. Monsignor James Frances “Frank” McCosker PC, OBE, Dip Soc. Stud (1907-1996), was present at the original meeting in December 1958 that resulted in the formation of what is known today at the Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee. (See A Brief History of the Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee).
McCosker had been an Army Chaplain and consequently open to inter-church dialogue but it was in his role as Director of the Catholic Welfare Bureau from the end of the War that motivated him to work with other church leaders who could work with government in the provision of pastoral care to prisoners and those in hospitals, especially psychiatric facilities.
He is remembered annually in the McCosker Oration. His view was that Catholic welfare was to be about
inclusion, rather than exclusion of all people;
critical analysis of Government agendas rather than subservient compliance to them; and
professionalism in welfare rather than well-meaning benevolence and dependent charity.”
His understanding then of the role of the organisation is as relevant today as it was at the time of the founding of the CCAC..
Corporate Structure
Corporate Structure
Catholic Church Worldwide
Catholic Church Worldwide
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is made up of 22 autonomous Churches using eight different Rites.
These Catholic Churches recognise one another as sharing the essentials of the one Catholic, Apostolic Faith and are therefore in full Communion with one another.
As the Second Vatican Council declared, "It has come about through divine providence that, in the course of time, different Churches set up in various places by the apostles and their successors joined together in a multiplicity of organically united groups which, whilst safeguarding the unity of the faith and the unique divine structure of the universal Church, have their own discipline, enjoy their own liturgical usage and inherit a theological and spiritual patrimony. This multiplicity of local Churches, unified in a common effort, shows all the more resplendently the catholicity of the undivided Church." - Lumen Gentium 23.
These communities are united by their communion with the Bishop of Rome, known as the Pope.
Catholic Church in Australia
Catholic Church in Australia
Catholics came to Australia with the First Fleet in 1788. Within the Catholic community here are now 5.5 million Catholics in Australia (25% of the population - 2011 Census)
The Catholic Church in Australia is administered by bishops through a system of dioceses that are generally organised on a geographical basis.
In addition to the Catholics who are members of the geographical dioceses, there are in NSW significant numbers of Catholics who are members of communities with ancient non-European traditions and who live and work in areas covered by the Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee. These are served through non-geographical dioceses.
Catholic Church in NSW
Catholic Church in NSW
In the Catholic Church in New South Wales there are nearly two million Catholics in eleven dioceses. (The Official Directory of the Catholic Church in Australia, 2016-2017).
The dioceses of Catholic Church in New South Wales are
Every Diocese is a communion of individual parishes, each entrusted to the care of an ordained priest.
There are over 1,000 Catholic priests working in geographical areas covered by the Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee’s mandate.
In the life of Dioceses are also men and women, members of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, commonly called nuns and brothers, some of whom minister in correctional and health facilities within New South Wales.
Nuns and Brothers
Nuns and Brothers
There are also men and women, members of institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life, commonly called nuns and brothers, some of whom minister in correctional and health facilities within New South Wales.
Mission
Mission
The mission of Catholic Chaplaincies is to provide holistic spiritual care that exercises both sacramental and social service aspects integral and essential to this ministry. The sacramental ministry of Catholic Chaplaincies seeks to bring the life of Jesus, and his healing and forgiving ministry, to Catholics as understood by the Church’s Tradition and practice. The celebration of the Sacraments of the Eucharist, Penance and Reconciliation, and the Anointing of the Sick are particularly important in the exercise of Catholic Chaplaincy. The social aspect of Catholic Chaplaincies, an integral aspect of Catholic faith, is as ancient as its sacramental life and inseparable from it.
Accountability
Accountability
Catholic Chaplains, Pastoral and Spiritual Care Workers for New South Wales Correctional Centres, Juvenile Justice Centres and Health Services are appointed by and responsible to the Bishop of the relevant diocese or his delegate.
Authorisation of Chaplains
Authorisation of Chaplains
Authorisation of Catholic Civil Chaplains, Pastoral and Spiritual Care Workers takes into account the sacramental and social service aspects of this ministry.
Only those who are ordained as Priests may celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist or administer the Sacraments of Penance and Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. However, the Eucharist may be brought to those in hospitals or correctional services by those recognised as Extraordinary Ministers of Communion.
Contact Details
Contact Details
Member Authority
Member Authority
The Bishops of the Province of Sydney and the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn nominate a bishop who will work with representatives of the Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee. That representative is:
The Most Rev Anthony Randazzo
Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney
Address
Polding Centre
Level 16, 133 Liverpool Street
Sydney. NSW 2000
Phone
(02) 9390 5100
bishop.tony@sydneycathollic.org.au
Member Representatives
Member Representatives
There are four Catholic delegates or representatives of the Bishops of the Province appointed to the Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee by the Bishops of the Province of Sydney
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