Serving Faithfully - Our News

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Local News
2026 chaplains retreat View
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Military Chaplains Gather for 2026 Retreat in Mittagong

Spiritual Renewal on the Frontline.

bishop stuart hall says his inaugural homily in Duntroon Chapel View
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A New Shepherd for the ADF: Bishop Stuart Hall Marks Inaugural Mass at ANZAC Memorial Chapel

With great joy, the Catholic Military Ordinariate of Australia has welcomed its new shepherd!

fr Paul Ghanem and pastoral assocaite Sophie Marta at the R U Ok Day at RAAF Edinburgh South Australia View
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Chaplains Step Up at RAAF Base Edinburgh to Champion Mental Health for R U OK? Day

No One Flies Alone: RAAF Base Edinburgh Steps Up for Mental Health Awareness.

Fr Joel Vergara participating in the Sydney Marathon 30 August 2026 View
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Army Chaplain Conquers TCS Sydney Marathon

Army Chaplain Trades Boots for Runners to Conquer TCS Sydney Marathon on the 30 August 2026.

Fr Brendand QUirk saying the Prayer at the official annual Battle for Australia Commemoration ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne Victoria Australia View
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Pacific Heroes Honoured at Shrine

Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance held the 2026 Battle for Australia Ceremony to honour WWII Pacific campaign veterans.

Ordination of FR Ray Le Fakhry 22 August 2026 View
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Community Celebrates Ordination of Father Ray El Fakhry

Fellow Chaplains of the CMOA attended the ceremony to support their future military colleague.

deacon gary stone former ADF Chaplain View
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The Role of Confidentiality and Trust in Chaplaincy Services

Workplace chaplaincy in frontline organisations, such as the police and military, relies on strict confidentiality to provide a safe space for staff to seek help. 

 

CMOA Army Chaplain Rev Dcn Peter Devenish-Meares View
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Honouring Ultimate Sacrifice and Ongoing Service: The 2026 Op. Rimau & Commando Day Commemorative Service

On 12 July, the Op. Rimau & Commando Day service honoured the fallen of 1944 and pledged ongoing care for serving personnel and their families.

National News
Australian flag draped over a burial mound with a army slouch hat and army boots to the side View
national
Prayers and Deepest Sympathy Following Darwin Training Tragedy

The Catholic Military Ordinariate of Australia community extends its heartfelt prayers and profound condolences to the family, friends, and Darwin Defence community following the tragic death of an

eucharistic congress 2028 Sydney Australia 24 September to 1 October View
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54th International Eucharistic Congress Announced

From 24 September to 1 October 2028, Sydney, Australia will host the 54th International Eucharistic Congress - a global encounter with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. 

Newly appointed Bishop Stuart Hall gives his first address to the catholic community as Bishop of the Military Ordinariate of Australia View
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Episcopal Ordination Address: Bishop Stuart Hall

Bishop Stuart Hall has officially been ordained as Bishop of the Military Ordinariate.

Bishop Elect Stuart Hall View
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Defence Force Names New Catholic Bishop

Former Navy Chaplaincy Director-General Monsignor Stuart Hall has been appointed Catholic Bishop of the Australian Defence Force, bringing decades of military pastoral experience to the role.

Each year since 1940, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has issued a statement for reflection and discussion in the lead-up to Social Justice Sunday (August 30) on a key issue in society. View
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Catholic Church Call to Action: Heal Social Divides

Australian Catholic Bishops Call for "Culture of Encounter" to Heal Deepening Social Divisions.

Saint Mary McKillop View
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Mary McKillop Feast Day

Saint Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint, is remembered each year on 8 August.

St Vinnies worker supporting a veteran on the streets in Australia View
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Action needed now as homelessness crisis deepens across Australia

This National Homelessness Week, 3-9 August, the St Vincent de Paul Society is urging the Australian Government to act on this year's theme, Homelessness Action Now.

Fr Joe Phillips WW@ and Korean War Service painting View
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Monastery to the Timor Sea

Australian Catholic chaplains—affectionately called padres—volunteered to accompany troops during the Korean War (1950–1953).

World News
New Bishops gather in Rome for formation course View
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Vatican Welcomes 147 New Bishops for Annual Formation Course in Rome

Annual Vatican Formation Course for Newly Appointed Bishops with MO new Bishop Stuart Hall in attendance.

Pope Leo XIV talk about AI at St Peter's Basilica View
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People over data: Invest in deep, real-world community

"Don’t allow AI to replace human relationships", Pope says.

Pope Leos 71st birthday 14 September at the Vatican View
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Catholic Communities Worldwide Unite in Prayer for Pope Leo XIV’s 71st Birthday

Parishes across the globe, alongside military chaplaincies, unite in joyful prayer and thanksgiving to celebrate the 71st birthday of Pope Leo XIV, marking a historic year of peace missions, aposto

Pope Leo XIV at the mass of the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary View
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Why Mary’s Assumption Matters for Our Future, According to the Pope

Pope Leo XIV reflected on Mary’s Assumption as a sign of humanity’s destiny of eternal life.

Russia and Ukraine exchanged strikes overnight that killed civilians and injured many others on both sides View
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Pope Leo XIV Pleads for Peace: "Stop the Spiral of Violence"

Pope Leo XIV expresses his concern over the ongoing violence in Sudan, Ukraine, and Russia.

Samuel Michael Pedrazzini View
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At the Alley of Heroes, Cardinal Bychok Salutes Aussie Volunteer Killed in Action

Cardinal Mykola Bychok has paid a powerful wartime tribute to fallen Australian hero Samuel Michael Pedrazzini, praying over his grave at Ukraine’s prestigious "Alley of Heroes" cemetery.

Pope Leo XIV View
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Pope Leo XIV Invites Aussies to Combat City Loneliness in August Prayer Intention

Pope Leo XIV is challenging Aussies to combat the growing epidemic of city loneliness this August by bringing a sense of community and mateship to our sprawling suburban neighbourhoods.

World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly View
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Seeing the World Anew: The Sacred Gift of Intergenerational Connections in Defence Families

Celebrating World Day for Grandparents on 26 July, we honor the vital anchor elders provide distant Defence families through a beautiful, two-way exchange of wisdom and youthful curiosity.

Chaplain Martin Monaghan stand over the altar while saying mass on exercise out at sea
CHAP Martin MOnaghan and CHAP Thomas Zaranksi saying mass in the Philippines while on exercise in 2025
DCN McGoldrick with 7 of the PNG Cadets after mass at Duntroon outside RMC Chapel
European Tour in September 2025
COL Say with Fr Zaranski at ANZAC Mass 2026
VIP in front pew of St Christophers Cathedral
catafalque party 2026 outside St Christophers Cathedral
Fr Brendand QUirk saying the Prayer at the official annual Battle for Australia Commemoration ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne Victoria Australia
Bishop Hall Ordination August 2026
Ordination of FR Ray Le Fakhry 22 August 2026
Pope Leo XIV at the mass of the Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Fr Ernest Kandie joining Norforce as reservist
Martin Monaghan on exercise on board one of the US Navy ships
ANZAC Day 2026 ADFA Cadets at St Christophers catheral Canberra
Clinton McGoldrick and Damian Styles outside ST Christopher's Cathedral ANZAC Day Mass 2026
COL Say with Fr Zaranski at ANZAC Mass 2026
ADFA Cadets with Fr Zaranski 2026 ANZAC Mass
Fr Joel at Simpson Barracks
CHAP Raphael Abboud praying at 2025 ADFA Sports Events November 2025
Deacon Peter Devenish Meares with some USA Chaplains in Australia for the Exercises occurring around Australia 2025
CMOA Bishop Ordination at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne Australia
Bishop Hall Ordination August 2026
Bishop Hall Ordination August 2026
Bishop Hall Ordination August 2026 Chaplains Group Photo
CMOA Bishop family photo
Bishop Stuart Hall inaugural mass 2026 with Archbishop Prowse of Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese
inaugural homily at ANZAC Memorial chapel duntroon ACT
Serving Faithfully Our News - digital image of earth with Australia in the front during the evening with lights

Serving Faithfully Newsletters  

From 2018 to the end of 2023 Serving Faithfully was the newsletter of the Catholic Diocese of the Australian Military Services published quarterly.  

From 2024 onwards Serving Faithfully has morphed into news items published regularly on this website to be a more contemporary means of sharing events and experiences from across the whole Diocese.

As the Catholic Military Diocese is comprised of members of the Australian Defence Force and their families scattered widely across Australia and overseas, wherever they are serving. 

Please contact the Military Ordinariate if you wish to read past published newsletters of Serving Faithfully.

Sacramental News

Cards Title
Baptism
Sacramental News
Isidor Guevarra Baptism at Holy Spirit Chapel RAAF Richmond NSW
Isidor Guevara
Date
03 May 2026
Location
Place: Holy Spirit Chapel, RAAF Base Richmond NSW
With Blessing on you Baptism.
REV DCN Graham Swan RAN taking a family photo after a baptism
Easton Parker Nykolaychuk & Charlotte Courtney Nykolaychuk
Date
05 July 2026
Location
Place: HMAS Watson, Sydney, NSW
On this blessed occasion of your Baptism
Pastoral Photos
Event in Philippine church
Group Photo of four
Group Photo
Group Photo of 12
Big Group Photo
Selfie: Group Photo of 5
Philippine Terraces
Philippine Island
Philippine Terraces_Green
Philippine Street
Philippine Street
Philippine Statue
Performer in costumes
Philippine Building
Philippine Food
Two kids swimming in river
Philippine Hills
Philippine Beach
Philippine Bancas
Philippine Party Bus
Related topics
Peter Devenish Meares blessing a parade of serving members in Army

Events

Details of upcoming events as well as articles and images from previously held events.

 

IMP Lourdes 2010

Synodality

Synodality denotes the particular style that qualifies the life and mission of the Church.