About the Confraternity

The Australian Confraternity of Catholic Clergy (ACCC) is a private, voluntary and fraternal association of Catholic bishops, priests and deacons of the dioceses of Australia. The ACCC is constituted in conformity with the Code of Canon Law:

Secular clergy have the right of association with others
for the achievement of purposes befitting the clerical state.

— Can. 287 § 1.

Our fraternity helps members build up  each other in the grace of their vocation. It hopefully increases the wider flourishment of authentic living and exercise of vocations among bishops, priests and deacons, and attracts younger men to consider a vocation to the Sacred Ministry. The Confraternity has active branches in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, and ACCC members also reside in the ACT, Queensland, Tasmania and New Zealand. The ACCC has five objectives:

  1. To give glory and honour to the Most Blessed Trinity.
  2. To assist the eternal salvation and holiness of members.
  3. To foster unity among Catholic priests and deacons with the bishops in loyalty to the Supreme Magisterium.
  4. To encourage faithfulness to priestly life and ministry.
  5. To assist bishops, priests and deacons in the fulfilment of their ministry of teaching, sanctifying and governing.

While primarily an association for Catholic bishops, priests, and deacons, the Confraternity also recognises that support from lay faithful, religious brothers and sisters, and seminarians is essential to the Confraternity’s vitality. Membership is also open to lay and religious faithful who support the clerical association in its objectives. 

We hope you will consider applying for, or renewing, membership with the Confraternity today!  We are also supported by the wider network of the Friends of the ACCC who have taken the pledge to pray for priests daily.

Patron saints

our-lady-southern-crossThe patroness of the ACCC is Our Lady Help of Christians. Our other heavenly patrons are:

  • Ss Peter and Paul;
  • St John Fisher;
  • St Thomas More;
  • St Jean-Marie Vianney;
  • St Charles Borromeo;
  • St Pius X; and
  • St Mary of the Cross