Archbishop Julian Porteous was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Sydney in 1974. He has had extensive experience in parish ministry as well as involvement in renewal movements in the Church. Over the nearly 50 years of his priestly ministry he has been committed to promoting the need for evangelisation and spiritual renewal to be at the heart of the mission of the Church. He was appointed Rector of the Seminary of Good Shepherd, Sydney, in 2000. In 2003 he became Auxiliary Bishop in Sydney and appointed by Pope Francis as Archbishop of Hobart in 2013 where he currently serves. He is the author of a number of books on pastoral and spiritual topics.
His episcopal motto is Gratia et Veritas, which translates as Grace and Truth. In John 1:17 Jesus is described as coming with grace and truth. Grace can be understood as the gift of salvation achieved for us through his death and resurrection. Grace also refers to the gift of the Holy Spirit poured into the hearts of believers to help them respond to his call. Truth refers to both the person and teaching of Jesus, which provides the fullness of revelation about God and human life. We find this truth in the ‘deposit of faith’, in three sources, Sacred Scripture, the Tradition of the Church and her Magisterium.
This blog site has as its inspiration the grace and truth revealed and made active in Jesus Christ. It offers reflections on the culture and on the life of the Church, and is aimed at assisting its readers to embrace the fullness of grace and truth offered through Jesus Christ.