Bishop Michael responds to research on Catholic faith

Bishop Michael Kennedy of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle said new research regarding why Australian Catholics do not regularly attend Sunday Mass provides an opportunity to improve how the Church welcomes people.

The findings come from the Absent from the Table report, which was commissioned by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. According to Bishop Kennedy, the research shows that many participants maintain their faith through prayer, community contributions, and Catholic education even if they no longer attend church services regularly.

Bishop Kennedy noted that while the connection to God remains for many, the results challenge the Church to look beyond why people are absent and instead consider what they are seeking and how to help them feel a sense of belonging. He stated that people in the diocese connect with the Church through various channels, including parishes, Catholic schools, St Nicholas Early Education centres, and CatholicCare Social Services.