The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia has honoured Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew with a commemorative event in Constantinople, marking 35 years since his election. Held in the Şişli district on Thursday, 22 October, the celebration was led by young members of the Sydney Christian Union and included hymns, dances and a specially composed poem. Archbishop Makarios presented the Patriarch with a sixth-century BC oil lamp. Senior Orthodox hierarchs, Greek government ministers and Turkish officials attended.
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Members of the Saint Therapon Association of Australia gathered at Saint George Church in Thornbury to mark the feast day of Saint Therapon, patron saint of their ancestral Cypriot village. The day included a blessing of five loaves, a procession of the saint's icon, a luncheon and the association's annual general meeting. The board honoured former presidents, including the association's first president, Gabriel Stylianidis, who migrated to Australia in 1947. Association president Andreas Mylonas pledged to continue the organisation's activities.
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Plymouth Brethren leader Bruce Hales has appeared before a parliamentary committee examining whether the church mobilised members to campaign in the 2025 federal election. Hales, the church's global head, said he has no authority to direct members and only heard about their campaigning through the media. He said individual members should apologise if they were guilty of intimidating booth workers, but that he had no part in it. The hearing was marked by repeated interruptions and shouting matches between MPs and senators.
Kathryn Krick, a self-described apostle, has held conferences in Melbourne and Sydney that drew thousands. Her mentor, Tanzanian self-described prophet GeorDavie, has been accused of multiple instances of sexual assault and improper advances towards women visiting his headquarters in Tanzania. Krick has rejected the cult label and says her ministry focuses on Jesus Christ and positive life changes. Church watchers have raised alarm over her ministry, and Krick allegedly dismissed accusers and tried to block members from leaving the organisation, claims she has not confirmed.
The name Mary has been a recurring figure in music across centuries, from classical compositions to contemporary genres. Scholars suggest her prominence stems from religious significance, cultural norms, and musical appeal. As a common 19th-century name, Mary provided a safe subject for songs in male-dominated settings. Her religious ties and melodic qualities have cemented her place in lyrics, often symbolising grace and humanity. The character's versatility allows her to represent diverse narratives, from divine figures to troubled individuals.
Children's Week runs from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, celebrating children's talents, achievements and rights. This year's theme is that children have the right to use their own language, celebrate their culture and practise their religion. A special Chinese Storytime at Balwyn Library lets children paint Chinese calligraphy to decorate the Belonging Tree. Activities also run alongside Community Safety Month and Halloween, including a community safety pop-up at Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre and several local Halloween events.
The Telugu Association of Toowoomba held a seven-day Vinayaka Chavithi festival from 14 to 20 September 2026. Organisers said between 70 and 90 community members attended each day. The festival, also known as Ganesh Chaturthi, honours Lord Ganesha. Daily poojas and annadhanam, the shared meal after evening prayers, were central to the programme. Volunteers helped run the event, which the association said was supported by the wider Toowoomba community and local businesses.
The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission is investigating the charity status of the South Korean Christian fringe group Shincheonji, which remains registered in Australia. The group's Melbourne chapter has faced allegations of brainwashing, financial abuse, and isolating members. Shincheonji's leader, Lee Man-hee, is detained in South Korea for allegedly violating the Political Parties Act. The group claims to have churches in over 100 countries and a congregation of more than 300,000 members.
A Guardian Australia column argues that offensive tirades on race and religion should not be normal in Australian politics. It points to a video released by Pauline Hanson for next month's Victorian state election, which includes racist stereotypes and drew little reaction beyond social media. The column recalls that in 2024 the federal court found Hanson breached the Racial Discrimination Act over comments made to Greens senator Mehreen Faruqi. Hanson has said she will ask the high court to overturn that ruling. The writer says the Victorian campaign may preview the next federal election.
George Dight, a builder and farmer, served as a lay reader at St George’s Anglican Church in Trentham. He walked 20km each Sunday to conduct services in Barrys Reef and Newbury. After enlisting in World War I at 43, he suffered gunshot wounds and was repatriated to Australia in 1918. A 'Welcome Home' social was held for Dight and other wounded soldiers in Trentham.
Irish Studies professor Jeff Kildea's new book, Iron Law No More, traces the twentieth-century alliance between Catholics and the Labor Party. According to Kildea's "iron law", a Catholic could only succeed in public life through Labor. He points to shared views on workers' rights, communitarian values, and hostility from Protestant non-Labor parties as key factors. The alliance weakened after the 1955 Labor split, as Catholic numbers in the party declined. Kildea links the change to falling sectarianism, a national outlook replacing an Empire one, and the 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae, which weakened strict obedience to church decrees.
