Community organising in Queensland has contributed to the State government announcing a $2 billion fund investing in renewable energy, storage, and hydrogen. Over 800 people gathered in the Queensland Community Alliance’s Budget Assembly, including members of the Brisbane Archdiocesan Justice & Peace Commission and parishes around South-East Queensland. The Queenslanders negotiated with the deputy Premier before the State Budget on a range of issues.
Dynamic and engaging resources to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday have been released by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council. NATSICC). Homily notes, liturgy notes, prayers of intercession, videos and activities are available, celebrating this year’s theme Healing Country. “Today our world is in need of healing… We must all come together … to fight the injustices of inequality, racism and environmental damage.”
Seafarers are currently working across the seas, transporting goods in a global pandemic. This Sea Sunday, on the 11th of July, our Christian community is being invited to pray, reflect, celebrate and support seafarers. Despite facing the possibility of catching the virus in the ports they enter, many are not seen as key workers and have not been vaccinated. Stella Maris, the Catholic maritime welfare agency provides practical, spiritual and pastoral support.
The Vatican has launched their new world wide tool – the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. This is purpose built for families, parishes, schools, diocese and communities to make Laudato Si’ a reality. The first phase of the initiative begins today and is an opportunity for all to review initial information and get ready for the full plans to be released on St Francis of Assisi’s feast day – October 4.
A growing level of support if gathering for Seafarers as over 70 countries have signed on to the Neptune Declaration.
As the Laudato Si’ Special Anniversary Year draws to a close at the end of Laudato Si’ Week on 25 May, the next stage of the journey begins. Registrations for a Seven-Year Journey towards seven Laudato Si’ Goals will open at the end of the Season of Creation when the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development will launch its online Laudato Si’ Action Platform. The Platform will offer practical guidance on actions in line with the Laudato Si’ Goals, a supportive community of practice, and milestones for our journey together.
The Catholic Bishops have backed the call for a National Voice for the First Peoples. They say it should involve as many First People as possible including faith-based groups like NATSICC. The Bishops back NATSICC’s call for the process to yield a tangible improvement in the lives of Australia’s First Peoples.
While Catholic Health Australia and the National Catholic Education Commission welcome government initiatives and new spending, Caritas Australia and the Refugee Council of Australia expressed disappointment with the 2021-2022 budget. $17.7 billion was allocated to implementing 126 of the 148 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care while Onshore Detention and Compliance costs ballooned to $1.26 billion. Injections of cash to support regional actions to suppress COVID-19 in the Pacific were welcomed, however little additional funding was added to combat growing global poverty.
“Home isn’t where you were born, home is where all your attempts to escape cease,” Kane, student and refugee. Four stories of overcoming at times insurmountable challenges have been told first hand by Kane, Idrissa, Len and Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen. All share their own personal stories as aslyum seekers, refugees and migrants in Australia this new video resource available free online. Available to use for Refugee Week or Migrant and Refugee Sunday, this Catholic resource by the Diocese of Parramatta gets behind the headlines to the personal stories in “My Journey, Our Journey.”
The voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics will be heard at Vatican talks in October focused on Climate change ahead of the COP26 global climate talks. Mr John Lochowiak, Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Council (NATSICC) will attend Vatican talks chaired by the Holy See on October 4. Sharing the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Mr Lochowiak has stressed the importance of connecting with the land and living in harmony and caring for the earth.