Catholica is a cyber initiative that has grown organically from a small group of lay Catholics who first met about five years ago when the CathNews discussion forum was established. They were individuals characterised by a search for a deeper understanding of their faith but, in many cases, also struggling with significant challenges in their own lives.

They ended up forming a private cyber community and have organised retreats and meals together and continue to meet with one another both in cyberspace and in their own homes. The friendship extends across the oceans of the world and has led to myriad wonderful relationships and shared experiences. The Catholica initiative seeks to share the wonderful experiences we have had with others, particularly those who might be struggling with challenges in their lives who seek a compassionate ear.

None of us pretend to have all the answers and, self-evidently, we don't think the Church does either. We do believe God has a few answers though and as a Church community we can assist one another in hearing what God's answers might be. All of us have struggled at times to understand our faith and how it might assist us in our lives. This cyber initiative seeks to hold out a compassionate hand from fellow-travellers in the great struggles of life. Some of these individuals can be found as commentators, others as contributors to the discussion forum, while others prefer to make less public contributions to our endeavour in the background or anonymously.

Here's some background about Brian Coyne the editor and publisher...

Brian Coyne was coadministrator of the CathNews discussion forum and Relief Editor for CathNews. Originally trained as a physicist, he has spent most of his adult life working in the field of public communications including stints in the 1990s and the early years of this new millenium as Media Officer for the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia, the Archbishop of Perth, and in work for Church agencies and apostolates such as the Archdiocese of Perth Liturgy and RCIA Office, LifeLink, the Knights of the Southern Cross, and the Newman Graduate Society. He is now 58 years of age and virtually engaged in full-time communication endeavours for the Church and its agencies as well as this present initiative which, God willing, will grow to be his principal involvement into the future. Brian lives in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney and is the editor and publisher of Catholica. Brian also writes under the pen name, Tom Scott.
 

34 Martin Place, LINDEN NSW 2778, Australia
tel: +612 4753 1226 | skype name: briancoyne
email: editor@catholica.com.au