Catholic leaders in Australia are calling for renewed prayer, education, and solidarity following a deadly antisemitic attack during a Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach, an act that Church leaders say strikes at the heart of both the Jewish community and society as a whole.
The shooting, which occurred on the evening of December 14 at Bondi Beach in Sydney, claimed the lives of at least 16 people, including a young child, and left many others injured. What was intended to be a celebration of faith and community for the Jewish festival of Hanukkah instead became a scene of devastation and fear.
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In the immediate aftermath, Catholic clergy serving the Bondi Beach area described shock and deep concern for parishioners and residents, particularly young people. Speaking to Vatican News, Father Anthony Robbie, parish priest of St. Ann’s and St. Patrick’s Churches at Bondi Beach, said his first reaction to the violence was “one of shock and distress,” according to Vatican News.
Father Robbie noted that the area has “a predominantly young adult population,” adding that “many of them were on the beach at the time,” including parishioners who narrowly escaped danger, according to Vatican News. He also acknowledged that for many residents, the tragedy reopened wounds from a deadly stabbing attack that occurred nearby earlier this year, fueling fears that such violence could become routine.
In response, local Catholic churches have become places of refuge and prayer. According to Vatican News, the churches in Bondi have remained open throughout the day, welcoming people seeking consolation. A memorial Mass held for victims and survivors drew a large crowd, and Father Robbie recalled that many remained afterward “for a long time afterwards in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament.”
Father Robbie has appealed to Catholics worldwide to join in prayer, saying, “We’re just asking for everybody’s prayers for the consolation and comfort of the people who are still a bit jittery and frightened and apprehensive of the situation out here,” according to Vatican News.
Beyond pastoral care, Church leadership has spoken forcefully against the hatred that led to the attack. Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher issued a public statement condemning the violence and calling for meaningful change. He described the attack as a “brazen and callous disregard for human life” and labeled antisemitism an “unspeakable evil that must be repudiated by every Australian,” according to Vatican News.
Archbishop Fisher emphasized that hatred directed at Jews threatens the fabric of society, stating that any such attack is “an affront to our way of life as Australians” and “must be condemned unequivocally,” according to Vatican News. He also warned that a climate of increasing antisemitism has fostered intimidation and radicalization, saying there has been a “normalisation of incendiary language” that “must stop.”
For the Archbishop, the tragedy carries both personal and theological weight. He shared that his great-grandmother was Jewish, but stressed that the issue transcends personal history. Christians, he said, “are children of the Jews,” adding that “an attack on the Jews is an attack on all of us,” according to Vatican News.
Despite the darkness of the moment, Archbishop Fisher pointed to signs of hope, praising “the extraordinary bravery from police, ambulance officers and lifesavers,” as well as the generosity shown by bystanders, according to Vatican News. He assured the Jewish community of continued prayers and support, stating, “We love our Jewish neighbours and friends, and we must do all we can to keep them safe.”
Looking ahead, Archbishop Fisher pledged concrete action, promising that “the Catholic community will redouble its efforts to combat antisemitism through education and preaching,” according to Vatican News. He also reflected on the shared themes of Hanukkah and Christmas—faith, family, and light—offering prayers that God will “grant wisdom to our leaders and pour healing and hope upon our community at this time.”
As Catholic communities mourn alongside their Jewish neighbors, Church leaders continue to urge prayer, vigilance, and renewed commitment to peace rooted in faith and human dignity.
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