Sydney, Australia, May 20, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Australia's bishops have taken up Pope John Paul's call to tackle secularism in Australian society and to encourage the observance of the Sunday mass. The bishops made this commitment at their plenary meeting, which focused on broad renewal and education with regard to the Eucharist.
In an interview with Vatican Radio at the close of the May plenary session, Australian bishops’ conference president Archbishop Francis Carroll said the meeting had been infused with the spirit of the bishops' recent Ad Limina visit to Rome.
"We had very much in mind the Holy Father's speaking particularly to the observance of the Lord's Day and so, generally speaking, it was against that background, I suppose, of trying to combat the secularism in Australian society that many of our discussions were held," Archbishop Carroll said.
The bishops have decided to issue a pastoral letter on the Eucharist. A date for its release has not been mentioned.
The bishops had also discussed the Vatican's recent Instruction on the Observance of the Eucharist.