The George Cardinal Pell Memorial Dinner
Aid to the Church in Need invites you to commemorate His Eminence, the late George Cardinal Pell, and his enduring legacy and contribution to the Church in Australia.
This third annual address will be given by Tess Livingstone, author of the new biography, 'George Cardinal Pell: Pax Invictis' (“Peace to the Unconquered”).
About the speaker
Tess Livingstone is a veteran Australian journalist who has written on politics, economics, strategic policy, and the culture wars. She has written editorials for The Australian and The Weekend Australian since 2007 and was formerly Chief-of-Staff, Op-Ed editor, and education editor for The Courier Mail.
Her definitive biography, George Cardinal Pell: Pax Invictis, traces Pell’s life from his childhood in Australia to his role as the Vatican treasurer; through his trials, unjust imprisonment, and exoneration to his untimely passing away on January 10, 2023.
History of the Memorial
The George Cardinal Pell Memorial is an annual event held by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)which honours the memory and legacy of Cardinal Pell, while supporting suffering and persecuted Christians.
During the Solemn Pontifical Funeral Mass of Cardinal Pell, held at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney on 2 February 2023, former Prime Minister, Mr Tony Abbott, offered some words of eulogy which concluded,
“In these times when it is more needful than ever to fight the good fight, to stay the course, and to keep the faith, it is surely now for the Australian Church to trumpet the cause of its greatest champion. There should be Pell study courses, Pell spirituality courses, Pell lectures, Pell high schools and Pell university colleges.”
It was these words that inspired the idea of The George Cardinal Pell Memorial: a modest effort from ACN to honour and spread the work, legacy, and faithfulness of the Cardinal. The first event was held in Melbourne on 21 May 2023 (the 36th anniversary of his episcopal consecration in 1987). The inaugural address was given by the Cardinal’s brother, Mr David Pell, who was introduced by Mr Abbott.
Cardinal Pell and ACN
In the late 1980s, when ACN was seeking to set up a formalised presence in Australia and appoint its first National Director, one of the key people contacted for advice was the newly consecrated, Bishop George Pell.
The Secretary-General of ACN International was Antonia Willemsen - the niece of ACN’s founder, Fr Werenfried Van Straaten - and in 1989 she travelled to Australia to seek strategic advice from a small group of Catholics including Mr Bob Santamaria and Bishop Pell. As a result of that visit, ACN was formally established in Australia, leading to what has become the prayerful and financial offerings of tens of thousands of faithful Catholics in support of the suffering Church.
Cardinal Pell became himself a personal supporter and benefactor of ACN. During his time on trial and in wrongful imprisonment, many benefactors of ACN were offering Masses for the Cardinal through ACN. As soon as his convictions were quashed in 2020, ACN invited him to be present at an event in his honour. Delayed due to Covid, the event was held in late 2022, bringing together His Eminence and ACN’s benefactors. This would be one of his last major events, as he was called home to the Lord very soon afterwards.
We thank God for the gift of George Cardinal Pell to the Church in Australia and pray for his eternal repose.
With over two million people forced to flee their villages, this West African nation has become one of the fastest-growing displacement crises in the world. Christians have been particularly targeted, forced to either renounce their faith or face death. With nowhere to go and little to survive on, many are depending on the generosity of host families to survive.
In response, Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is addressing this escalating crisis with three projects:
- Emergency aid for 1,400 families
- Rebuild St Paul's Parish
- Trauma Recovery Training for 360 Pastoral Workers