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Archbishop Fisher to celebrate Sunday Mass for fires and rain

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Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP preaches in St Mary’s Cathedral in 2019. The Archbishop is calling Catholics to join him in praying for an end to the current bushfire crisis and for rain at 10.30am Mass this coming Sunday 12 January in the cathedral. Photo: Giovanni Portelli

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP has invited Catholics to join him this Sunday 12 January in St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney praying for an end to the bushfire crisis and for rain.

The Mass commences at St Mary’s at 10.30am.

Earlier this week Pope Francis assured Australians he was close to them in the midst of the worst bushfire crisis in the nation in modern history and asked the world to pray for the country.

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Pope close to Australians

“I am close to the people of Australia,” he remarked to those attending his first General Audience of the New Year.

The audience took place in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on the morning of 8 January, the Rome-based Zenit news agency reported.

“Among you is a group from Australia,” Francis said.

“I would like to ask everyone to pray to the Lord that He will help this people at this difficult time.”

Since last September, fires have burned more than 5 million hectares across the drought-stricken country.

At least 21 people have died and over 2500 homes have been lost, whilst untold numbers of stock and native animals have perished.

Australia Day collection

The Catholic Church this week announced a national collection to be taken up at Masses on the Australia Day weekend while the Society of St Vincent de Paul will be among a number of agencies assisting those who have lost property and possessions.

The National Catholic Education Commission this week also invited that any families with children enrolled in Catholic schools and who have been affected by the fires or lost property to contact their Catholic school principals to talk about fee relief.

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