“Christianity and the Common Good”: The Thomas More Centre Conference in Melbourne
On 14 February 2026, His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne, and Fr. Simon Ckuj, Protosyncellus of the Melbourne Eparchy, participated in a conference organised by the Thomas More Centre.
The event, held in the Patriarch Josyf Hall at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, aimed to present the richness of the concept of the Common Good in a fresh and accessible way, as a central principle of Christian social service and the social teaching of the Catholic Church. The conference brought together participants of different ages and professional backgrounds, including parishioners, active Christians, donors, and all those interested in social engagement, particularly supporters and members of the Thomas More Centre.
His Eminence addressed the participants with a welcome speech. He thanked the organisers for their work in forming Christian culture and emphasised the importance of prayer as the foundation of true social renewal. Cardinal Bychok noted that before speaking about social strategies or political decisions, it is necessary to turn to prayer, as it shapes the just heart of the human person.
“Prayer is not an optional ornament to Christian life. It is the lifeblood of our identity. It is the place where the human person discovers who he truly is a creature loved by God, called to communion, and entrusted with responsibility for others,” stressed Bishop Mykola, adding that it is through the liturgy that Christians learn unity, forgiveness, mutual responsibility, and service.
In his address, the Cardinal also recalled the trials faced by the Ukrainian people and urged participants to remember Ukraine in their prayers, emphasising that a society that prays becomes capable of compassion, justice, and peace.
“Thank you for your presence today. May the Holy Spirit guide your discussions, and may the Lord bless all your efforts for the Common Good. I now ask that you join me in praying a decade of the Holy Rosary as we ask our Heavenly Mother to strengthen us in our lives of service to the common good,” said Bishop Mykola.
Following the prayer, Fr. Simon Ckuj delivered a presentation on the theme “Prayer and Liturgy as the Foundation of the Common Good”. In his speech, he explored the theological understanding of the Common Good as a reflection of God’s plan for humanity—a plan of communion. Referring to the social teaching of the Church, including Gaudium et Spes, Centesimus Annus, and Caritas in Veritate, he emphasised that the Common Good is not an abstract idea but flows from the dignity of the human person, created in the image of God.
“If the Common Good is rooted in the truth about the human person, then prayer and liturgy are not optional. They are essential. They shape the heart, purify the conscience, and open us to the grace that makes communion possible,” emphasised Fr Simon.
At the end of the day the conference participants gathered in the Cathedral to pray Vespers in the Byzantine Rite, which the conference organisers wished to include as part of the programme.
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