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Welcome to Peter Arndt

Bishop Vincent Long van Nguyen welcomes the newly appointed Director of the ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace, Mr Peter Arndt who commences in the role on 10 October 2022. Peter Arndt has been the Executive Officer of the Catholic Justice & Peace Commission in the Archdiocese of Brisbane and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in working in parish, diocesan and international settings. Peter will continue to work in Brisbane and travel to Canberra when needed.

Picture of Damien Gardiner

New disability projects officer starts at Bishops Conference

Damien Gardiner has been appointed as the new Disability Projects officer of the ACBC. Mr Gardiner’s role will be to carry forward efforts to promote the full participation of people with a disability in the life of the Church. Bishop Tim Norton SVD, the Bishop Delegate for Disabilities Issues welcomed him, “Through his professional experience and through his personal faith commitment and practice, Damien is a wonderful addition to the Bishops Conference.”

A water colour image shows a line of diverse people silhouetted standing on the shore of a lake with the sunsetting in front of them. A line of a skyline is in orange across the sky.

Migrant and Refugee Sunday

The 108th World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be held this Sunday, 25 September around the world. The theme for this year is “Building the future with migrants and refugees.” A kit has been developed by the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office which features stories from the community as well as prayers and prayer services for schools and parishes, posters, and reflections for use.

White text "National Week of Prayer and Action 25-30 September 2022" is on a light blue background. The CAPSA emblem is below with a symbol next to it. It is a white circle with two hands lifting a heart within it.

CAPSA – National Week of Prayer and Action

The Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum (CAPSA) is holding a National Week of Prayer and Action beginning on 25 September, World Day of Migrants and Refugees and ending on 30 September. On Tuesday 27 September, CAPSA are running an online webinar at 6.30pm AEST featuring four speakers on how we can all use our time, resources, heart and voice to advocate and take action alongside people seeking asylum.

The logo for the NATSICC Assembly in is the middle of the screen with a deep blue background that looks like the night sky. The emblem is an Aboriginal painting with a red and orange snake forming a circle and a white bird features prominently.

NATSICC Assembly – Holy Spirit in This Land

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) are this week conducting their national assembly in the diocese of Townsville. After needing to be rescheduled due to Covid-19, Indigenous Catholics from around the country are travelling to be together and share in their faith, knowledge, and community. The theme for this year’s assembly is, “Holy Spirit in this Land.”

Three images of women at a protest are pieced together, each with a green, purple or grey overlay. The text "Social Justice Statement 2022-23, Respecti, Confronting Violence and abuse" is in white at the top of the image. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is written in small white writing at the centre of the image at the bottom with the corresponding logo.

Bishops lament family, domestic violence in annual justice statement

Australia’s bishops have used their annual social justice statement to condemn the scourge of domestic and family violence, saying relationships must be “marked by respect and freedom rather than coercion and control”. This year’s statement is titled Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse. “The teaching of Christ urges us to promote relationships marked by respect and freedom rather than coercion and control.”

A water colour image shows a line of diverse people silhouetted standing on the shore of a lake with the sunsetting in front of them. A line of a skyline is in orange across the sky.

World Day of Migrants and Refugees Resource Kit

Migrant and Refugee Sunday is on
25 September. The Australian Catholic Migrants and Refugee Office will release the resource kit for this year’s celebrations on 15 August. The resources centre on this year’s theme, “Building the future with migrants and refugees”. It will include stories from local communities, reflection, primary and secondary schools’ prayer rituals and prayers of the faithful to be used for the 108th World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

Three images of women at a protest are pieced together, each with a green, purple or grey overlay. The text "Social Justice Statement 2022-23, Respecti, Confronting Violence and abuse" is in white at the top of the image. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is written in small white writing at the centre of the image at the bottom with the corresponding logo.

Social Justice Statement 2022-23

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Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse points out that the roots of domestic and family violence “lie in the abuse of power to control and dominate others” and that “this stands in contrast to the relationships to which God calls us”. Our relationships should be “marked by equality and reciprocity rather than domination and violence, respect and freedom rather than coercion and control”. We reject the manipulation of religious teachings to justify violence and abuse. We support women in calling for respect in relationships; their lives and those of their children are sacred.

A picture of Dr. Sandie Cornish looking to camera with a grey background.

Farewell to Dr Sandie Cornish

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Bishop Vincent Long says farewell to Director of the ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace, Dr Sandie Cornish. Sandie has been offered and accepted a full-time academic position with the Australian Catholic University. “As Sandie is moving to another chapter of her professional career, I wish her every blessing. This Commission and the Church in Australia are truly grateful for her witness, stewardship and service in challenging times.” 

Poster for Refugee Week with a light yellow background, picture of a young woman from Sudan in the bottom right corner smiling. The text in the middle of the image reads, "For those who've come from far and wide, we're happy you're safe, we're happy you're free, we're happy you're here. Refugee Week: 19-25 June 2022."

Refugee Week Resources

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The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office and the ACBC Office for Justice Ecology and Peace have created resources for Refugee Week. Made for parishes and schools, all are invited to the prayer service and to use these great resources with your community.