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Debra Vermeer
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Articles By This Author
![](https://cathnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Pope-Francis-washes-feet-Vatican-News-400x233.jpg)
Go back to the heart this Holy Week: Pope
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 6 April 2023
Pope Francis has offered advice for how to have a fruitful Holy Week, urging people to focus on the essentials and look to the cross as the source of hope, as he prepares to wash the feet of 12 young people at a juvenile centre. Source: CNA.
![](https://cathnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Hobart-catechists-461-400x233.jpg)
Tasmania blazes trail with institution of catechists
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 6 April 2023
Nineteen catechists from parishes around Tasmania were formally instituted at St Mary’s Cathedral in Hobart recently, one of the first groups to be instituted in Australia. Source: Archdiocese of Hobart.
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Be a Good Egg in fight against slavery and child labour
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 6 April 2023
A justice-based chocolate revolution has been sweeping through schools, parishes and communities in Australia in the days leading up to Easter, with people buying slavery-free certified Easter eggs to avoid chocolate that may have been produced using child labour. Source: ACRATH
![](https://cathnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Allelujah-IMDB-810-400x400.jpg)
Comedy and drama odd bedfellows in hospital
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 6 April 2023
Allelujah is a British film based on the play of the same name by Alan Bennett and it boasts a Britbox cast of acting luminaries in an ensemble work of heart. Source: Jesuit Media.
![](https://cathnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Pope-Francis-Angelus-Address-April52023-CNA-400x233.jpg)
Pope revises penal law of Eastern Catholic Churches
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 6 April 2023
In a new Apostolic Letter issued motu proprio, Pope Francis has revised the penal law of the Eastern Churches, harmonising some aspects of the Eastern discipline with that of the Latin Church, while preserving the distinctive features of Eastern law. Source: Vatican News.
![](https://cathnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Easter-cross-sunrise-Bigstock-461-400x233.jpg)
CathNews will return after Easter break
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 6 April 2023
CathNews will not be published on Good Friday or Easter Monday. It will return on Easter Tuesday.
![](https://cathnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Religious-freedom-810-Bigstock-400x400.jpg)
Australia ‘falling behind’ on religious freedom
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 5 April 2023
Australia is trailing much of the world in protecting religious freedoms, with current provisions open to contest because they haven’t been enshrined in law, according to an independent study. Source: The Australian
![](https://cathnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1111gamb-online-gambling-Bigstock-400x233.jpg)
Half a million Australians ask bank to ban them from gambling
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 5 April 2023
More than half a million Australians have asked their bank to temporarily ban them from gambling, a parliamentary inquiry has been told. Source: SBS News.
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Lay Salvatorians celebrate Vatican recognition
- By Debra Vermeer
- . 5 April 2023
Australia’s Lay Salvatorian community is celebrating its recent recognition by the Vatican as an international association of the faithful. Source: The
Bridge