Catholic Identity

 PRAYER

Happy Easter!

Presiding over the Easter Sunday Mass in Saint Peter's Square with over fifty thousand faithful gathered, Pope Leo XIV explained how all creation today is "resplendent with new light" and we rejoice as "a song of praise rises from the earth ... Christ is risen from the dead, and with him, we too rise to new life!"

The Easter proclamation "embraces the mystery of our lives and the destiny of history," the Pope explained. And even into the depths of death when we can feel overhwelmed, Easter opens us up "to a hope that never fails, to a light that never fades, to a fullness of joy that nothing can take away" as "death has been conquered forever" and no longer has power over us.

Joyous News- A new Bishop for Sandhurst.

The Diocese of Sandhurst congratulates Bishop René Ramirez RCJ, who Pope Leo XIV has appointed the Ninth Bishop of Sandhurst. 

We are thrilled to welcome Bishop René back to our Diocese. He was Parish Priest of Shepparton South and Nagambie, and later, supervising priest at Rushworth, before he was ordained an Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne in February 2025.

Bishop Ramirez, who hails from Gapan, Philippines, has been a priest since June 1998.

He will succeed Shane Mackinlay, who was made Archbishop of Brisbane in September 2025.

This evening, Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev. Dr Brian Boyle (Fr Brian Boyle) notified the People of God in the Diocese of Sandhurst of the "joyous news". 

Welcome Father Andrew Fewings.

We welcome Father Andrew Fewings to the St Mary’s Parish and St Francis’ Primary School. Father Andrew join us with a great deal of experience having served on numerous diocesan commissions and councils, including Liturgy, Ecumenism, Interfaith, and the Council of Priests, as well as education boards.

2026 National Count of Attendance

Each parish has been asked to participate in the 2026 National Count of Attendance, conducted by the National Centre for Pastoral Research on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. 

The Count will take place over four consecutive weekends in May 2026 (2–3, 9–10, 16–17 and 23–24 May). All people present are to be counted.

Mass counts will be completed as follows - 

Attendance numbers only

1. Weekend 1 – count of all persons.
2. Weekend 2 – count of all persons.
3. Weekend 3 – count of males and females
4. Weekend 4 – count by five age groups

Demographic information collection