Newsletter | National Centre for Pastoral Research

PASTORAL RESEARCH ONLINE

Welcome to the archives of Pastoral Research Online, the quarterly newsletter of the National Centre for Pastoral Research. Here you will find data-driven insights into the Australian Catholic Census, Mass attendance trends, and the evolving landscape of Catholic life in Australia.

The first edition of our newsletter was published in April 2013. Future editions are added quarterly.

Read the latest edition:

Pastoral Research Online – Issue 72 (March 2026)

This issue marks the Centre’s 30th anniversary and three decades of placing social research at the service of the Church in Australia. In this edition, we highlight preparations for the 6th National Count of Attendance, share the latest Vatican statistics on sacramental life, and introduce the final layer of the Australian Catholic Mapping Online project, which focuses on Catholics in need of care and carers. Readers will also find updates on synod implementation across Australia, insights from recent international research on religious diversity and news from the NCPR team.

PREVIOUS ISSUES

2024-2025

Pastoral Research Online – Issue 71 (December 2025) Focus: 2026 Census Religion Question Update, Clergy Health and Wellbeing Highlights, Jubilee of Synodal Teams Reflection.

Pastoral Research Online – Issue 70 (October 2025) Focus: Australian Catholic Demographics 18-34 years, 2021 Mass Attendance rates for Young Adults, ACMO Webinar and Update, Synod Study Groups, ANZATS Conference 2025.

Pastoral Research Online – Issue 69 (July 2025) Focus: Catholic Demographic trends over 30 years, ACMO Highlights – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Birthplace & Language, Synodality Implementation.

Pastoral Research Online – Issue 68 (March 2025) Focus: 2026 Census Update, Australian Sacrament Trends 1991-2021, 2025 Project Updates.

Pastoral Research Online – Issue 67 (December 2024) Focus: Australian Catholic Mapping Online (ACMO) Portal, 2021 Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) Scores, Synod Update: Experiences of the Second Assembly, 2024 in Review, ACR Journal Article, Tribute to David Shinnick OAM KSS.

Pastoral Research Online – Issue 66 (September 2024) Focus: Median Weekly Catholic Family Income Trends: 2001 to 2021, Synod Update: Journey to the Second Assembly, Current Project Updates, NCPR Website Update.

Pastoral Research Online – Issue 65 (June 2024) Focus: 2021 Disability Report, Engaging with your Parish Social Profile, 2021 National Count of Attendance Report, Synod Update: 2024 Australian Summary Report and Diocesan Testimonies, 2023 Australian Clergy and Religious Statistics, Pastoral Ministry of Sport.

Pastoral Research Online – Issue 64 (March 2024) Focus: 2021 Parish Social Profiles, 2021 Catholics born in non-English speaking countries, 2021 Top Five Parishes in Australia, Synod Update: Synthesis Report, Second Assembly Consultations, NCPR Website: New Resources.

2021-2023

2016-2020

2013 – 2015