Cardinal Mykola Bychok Participated in Annual Red Mass in Melbourne
On Tuesday, 27 January 2026, His Eminence Mykola Cardinal Bychok, Eparch of Melbourne, took part in the solemn Mass marking the beginning of the legal year. The service, known as the Red Mass, was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral and brought together members of Melbourne’s legal community.
The Red Mass is a traditional annual Mass during which participants pray together for the gifts of wisdom, justice, and prudence for judges, lawyers, and all who serve in the legal profession. Its name comes from the red vestments worn by the clergy, symbolising the tongues of fire at Pentecost.
The tradition of the Red Mass dates back to medieval Europe and is associated with the Roman Rota, the tribunal of the Holy See. In Australia, this practice was introduced in the early twentieth century, and in Melbourne, Red Mass celebrations at St Patrick’s Cathedral have been recorded since 1938.
The solemn Red Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Peter Comensoli, together with the clergy of the Cathedral. Cardinal Mykola had the opportunity to address those present with a homily.
In his address, Cardinal Mykola emphasised the importance of moral responsibility and humanity in the daily work of legal professionals: “Every day you encounter people whose lives are fragile, whose hopes are dim, whose stories are marked by suffering or failure. The law gives structure and order, but it is your humanity that gives it life. Justice, in the biblical sense, is never harsh or indifferent. It is firm, but it is also compassionate. It seeks what is right while remembering the human person standing before it.”
Continuing his homily, the bishop highlighted the role of justice and compassion in strengthening social trust: “Your work contributes directly to the social cohesion we so desperately need. When justice is fair, transparent, and compassionate, it strengthens the trust that allows a diverse society to flourish. When truth is honoured, when rights are respected, when wrongs are addressed with integrity, the common good is served. And when those entrusted with legal authority act with humility, wisdom, and moral courage, they become a stabilising force in a world that often feels uncertain.”
Following the Mass, participants of the Red Mass gathered in the Cathedral hall for fellowship and shared refreshments.
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