Bathurst Diocese newsletter Summer 2026

Posted on February 12, 2026 
Filed under Bathurst Diocese, for your prayers

The Newsletter of the Diocese of Bathurst is now available on their website.

It includes this letter from Bishop Mark Calder:

“Dear friends,

For many Australians, summer is a season of gathering – time with family, perhaps a few days away by the coast, a change of pace from the year just past. And yet, we know that this year summer has been anything but restful for so many across our nation.

Some communities have been living with the fear and disruption of bushfires; others have endured the devastation of flooding. The long work of recovery has begun.

Closer to home, across our own Diocese—and particularly in the west—summer has brought a different but no less heavy burden. The lack of rain is becoming acute. Dams are drying, stock numbers are being reduced, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead weighs heavily on farmers and their families. For many, summer has been a time of anxiety, watching the skies and refreshing the weather apps, hoping for relief.

As God’s people, we are invited to bring all of this before him. Please pray that, in his mercy, God would send good, soaking, refreshing rain in the right measure. Pray too for those facing the slow grind of drought—that they would be given strength, patience and grace to keep trusting God through circumstances that often feel overwhelming.

Across our Diocese, I trust that we will commit ourselves this new year to loving and serving one another in practical and generous ways. As we draw near to God together, may we keep turning up for one another—encouraging, supporting and spurring each other on in love and good works—so that we may continue Sharing Jesus for Life.

With every blessing,

Mark

Bishop Mark Calder.”

The newsletter includes important prayer requests, notably to –

“pray for the bishop’s election board as they prepare to begin in earnest on 19 March”.

At 1:00pm on Saturday 19th September, there will be a Service at All Saints Cathedral in Bathurst for the end of Bishop Mark’s episcopacy.

Please pray for Mark in the coming months before his retirement, and pray that the Lord may lead the Bishop’s Election Board to the right man to continue the work of building up the Churches in the Diocese of Bathurst.

A additional reminder for prayer:

“Pray for our parishes without clergy – that the Lord raise up clergy to love and serve our people:

1. Bourke / Brewarrina
2. Coonamble
3. Warren
4. Cumnock
5. Trundle
6. Condobolin
7. Coonabarabran
8. Wellington
9. West Wyalong
Including these with resident lay ministers for whom we are very thankful:
10. Nyngan
11. Coolah–Dunedoo.”

– Download the Summer 2026 Newsletter here (direct link to PDF) or via this page.