During the first meeting of the year, the National Council of Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) elected a new Vice President (VP), Mary-Clare Holland OP, to join the re-elected President, Peter Carroll FMS and ongoing Executive Member, Tom McDonough CP.

As Australia faces the reality of Omicron ripping through our communities with devastating consequences for both public health and the economy, we need the Federal Government to provide free and accessible rapid antigen tests (RATs) for the entire community.

During the first-ever online National Assembly from 22-25 November, Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) elected a new Council to provide leadership, advocacy on contemporary issues and build intercongregational communion amongst its 150 Religious Institute Members over the coming year. Inspired by the theme of the National Assembly, ‘Embracing Mission – Interculturality and Prophetic Leadership’, Council will focus on Catholic leadership in religious life within a Church and society comprised of diverse people, exploring interculturality in the service of mission.

The fourth report from the Catholic Church to the National Office for Child Safety outlines initiatives across dozens of Catholic entities as they continue to strengthen their efforts to keep all people safe in Church settings.

CRA has written to pharmaceutical companies urging them to act for the common good by ensuring that developing nations have fair and expedient access to COVID-19 vaccines. CRA has appealed to vaccine developers to dramatically shift their practices so that vaccines can be urgently distributed to millions of suffering people in developing nations.