Building on solid foundations

Archbishop Julian’s thought-provoking new book aims to stimulate discussion about the future of the Catholic Church in Australia. Foundations: Preparing the Church in Australia for the Plenary Council and beyond, is available now.

Archbishop Julian explained that he was prompted to write the book earlier this year while reflecting on the Plenary Council process.

“I was very interested to see what was emerging as the key issues … because this Plenary Council is a moment for the Church to stop and assess where it’s at, to look at the current environment, the challenges that the Church faces, and then to really plan a way forward,” Archbishop Julian said.

“It’s an important event for the Church and it’s going to have a big impact on the Church. Out of that came my own awareness of what I believe were the important issues and what we need to do for the future. I thought I’d put them down in book form in the time leading up to the Plenary Council.”

The book examines the role of the Church at a time of significant social and cultural change.

Central to the book is the belief that ‘right now we need to lay some solid foundations upon which the Church can build in times to come’.

“Hopefully this book will get [people] thinking and reflecting and maybe help them clarify what they believe to be important for the future of the Church in Australia,” His Grace added.

Archbishop Julian said the new book is aimed at a Catholic audience, but would also be of interest to a broad spectrum of readers.

With members, advisers and observers drawn from around Australia, the First Assembly of the Plenary Council will take place online in October 2021 and the Second Assembly will take place in Sydney in July 2022.

Archbishop Julian is the author of a number of books on pastoral and spiritual subjects. Foundations: Preparing the Church in Australia for the Plenary Council and beyond is for sale through the Cathedral Bookshop in Hobart; Connor Court Publishing; and online bookstores.