Information Bulletin 85

November 2007

This Information Bulletin is also available to download as a PDF: 200711.pdf

Dear Brothers in Ministry

{xtypo_rounded2}No doubt you will remember the national Census of August last year. Most will remember the Mass count in May this year; quite a number, the National Church Life Survey, while perhaps a smaller number will be aware of the research on why people have stopped attending Mass, conducted by the Australian Bishops' Pastoral Projects Office under the direction of Mr Bob Dixon . Recently in Hobart I heard Bob Dixon pull together the results of the four projects, providing in-teresting data on the shape of the Catholic Church here and into the future. He's worth listening to.{/xtypo_rounded2}

The seven ‘church-based' reasons and the three ‘participant-based' reasons given in the research pro-ject on why people have stopped attending Mass are listed inside. The research methodology used was ‘qualitative' in nature, based on a small number of detailed interviews. In essence, the results correspond with reasons given in other research projects of recent years, but providing more depth. There is, surely, a sense of urgency for us in dealing with these issues.

I promised up-to-date information on parishes with more than 10,000 Catholics when the new census data became available. The new list of 71 (up from 47 in 2001) is printed on the back. The larger numbers do not necessarily reflect higher attendance! And if the numbers are higher, can we thank perhaps amalgam-ations, or migrants and their children? You will, no doubt, draw your own conclusions.

Best wishes for the end of year events.

Frank Devoy, Director

{slide=Parishes over 10k Catholics}

PARISHES WITH IN EXCESS OF 10,000 CATHOLICS BY NEW CENSUS DATA: 2006

Catholic Population | Parish-Diocese

  1. 28061 Burleigh Heads - Brisbane
  2. 20054 Narre Warren - Sale
  3. 19312 Maroochydore - Brisbane
  4. 17939 Camden - Wollongong
  5. 17566 Caloundra - Brisbane
  6. 17224 Sth Tuggeranong - Canberra-Goulburn
  7. 17213 Salisbury - Adelaide
  8. 16967 Surfers Paradise - Brisbane
  9. 16946 Southport - Brisbane
  10. 16042 Caboolture - Brisbane
  11. 15705 Werribee - Melbourne
  12. 15388 Gladstone Park - Melbourne
  13. 15127 Bonnyrigg - Sydney
  14. 14971 Mill Park - Melbourne
  15. 14955 Laverton - Melbourne
  16. 14805 Croydon - Melbourne
  17. 14699 Nowra - Wollongong
  18. 14652 Craigieburn - Melbourne
  19. 14501 Browns Plains - Brisbane
  20. 14183 Castle Hill - Parramatta
  21. 14081 Keilor Downs-Kealba - Melbourne
  22. 14025 Bundaburg - Rockhampton
  23. 13703 Epping - Melbourne
  24. 13471 Sunnybank - Brisbane
  25. 13334 Mt Pritchard - Sydney
  26. 13314 St Albans West - Melbourne
  27. 13195 Smithfield - Sydney
  28. 12907 Orange - Bathurst
  29. 12221 Shellharbour City - Wollongong
  30. 12180 Queanbeyan - Canberra/Goulburn
  31. 12117 St Albans (p/t Syd'ham) Melbourne
  32. 12090 Grovely - Brisbane
  33. 12046 Sunbury - Melbourne
  34. 12034 Para Hills/Modbury - Adelaide
  35. 11915 Redcliffe - Brisbane
  36. 11908 Port Macquarie - Lismore
  37. 11896 Toukley - Broken Bay
  38. 11895 North Harbour - Broken Bay
  39. 11878 Plumpton - Parramatta
  40. 11717 Oxenford - Brisbane
  41. 11405 Berwick - Sale
  42. 11382 St Clair - Parramatta
  43. 11283 Menai - Sydney
  44. 11131 Goodna - Brisbane
  45. 11068 Tea Tree Gully - Adelaide
  46. 11060 Liverpool - Sydney
  47. 10924 Inala - Brisbane
  48. 10857 St Marys - Parramatta
  49. 10814 Ocean Reef - Perth
  50. 10753 Kenmore - Brisbane
  51. 10664 Petrie - Brisbane
  52. 10661 Beenleigh - Brisbane
  53. 10644 Tweed Heads - Lismore
  54. 10599 The Entrance - Broken Bay
  55. 10576 Gladstone - Rockhampton
  56. 10567 Coffs Harbour - Lismore
  57. 10451 Bossley Park - Sydney
  58. 10421 Lakes - Broken Bay
  59. 10416 Greystanes - Parramatta
  60. 10359 Rowville - Melbourne
  61. 10359 Launceston - Hobart
  62. 10308 East Lake Macquarie - Newcastle
  63. 10250 Woy Woy - Broken Bay
  64. 10195 Dubbo St Brigid's - Bathurst
  65. 10171 Yangebup - Perth
  66. 10162 Bellerive-Lindisfarne - Hobart
  67. 10158 Elizabeth - Adelaide
  68. 10098 Mackay North - Rockhampton
  69. 10077 Cranbourne - Sale
  70. 10016 Lane Cove - Sydney
  71. 10016 Wyong - Broken Bay
  72. 9996 Burpengary-Brisbane
  73. 9977 Hervey Bay-Brisbane
  74. 9922 Wodonga - Sandhurst
  75. 9894 Rosemeadow - Wollongong
  76. 9880 Girrawheen - Perth
  77. 9850 Morphet -Adelaide
  78. 9805 Quakers Hill - Parramatta
  79. 9805 Springvale-Melbourne
{/slide} {slide=Sources of Data}

1. For information on Reasons why Catholics stop going to Mass see: "Catholics who have stopped going to Mass: Final Report February 2007." This can be obtained from Pastoral Projects Office, Australian Catholic University , Locked Bag 4115, Fitzroy 3065; also available on their website: www.ppo.catholic.org.au

2. Data on Change in Mass attendance can be obtained from Mr Bob Dixon at the above address.

3. Data on Attendance comparison for Australian-born and Overseas-born, see address by Bishop Joseph Grech, delivered to Migrant Chaplains and their Assoc-iates at their Second National Conference, North Sydney, 29th October 2007; due to be posted on website: www.acmro.catholic.org.au

{/slide}
  • Created: 01 November 2007
  • Modified: 29 April 2009