“For All Future Generations” is the theme for this year’s Project Compassion. Supporting over three million people around the world each year, Caritas Australia is the International Aid and Development Agency of the Catholic Church. Caritas’ Lenten program, Project Compassion is one of the foundations allowing it to work across dozens of countries around the world and build futures with and for all.
As part of the celebrations of Word of God Sunday, the ACBC Office for Justice, Ecology and Peace has created two new podcast episodes that delve into how Scripture and Justice, Ecology and Peace come together. Featuring Sr. Veronica Lawson, theologian and scripture scholar who looks at an ecological perspective and Fr. Khalid Marogi, Director of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office this is freely available to all.
Along with the discussion guide, the Office has created a series of quote images that highlight the key themes from Pope Francis’ World Day of Peace 2022 Message. These quote images can be used as part of a reflection or liturgy, meditation, advocacy presentation or on social media to promote the message.
Pope Francis has released his message for the World Day of Peace 2022. This takes place on the first of January every year and this year Pope Francis focuses on dialogue between generations, education and the value of work. The Office has created a Discussion Guide for individuals and groups to use throughout the year.
The Signs of Our Times Project had its soft launch on 30 November where Bishop Vincent Long welcomed the project “as a means of going deeper in our appreciation of the tradition of social teaching and action and engaging in it.” The project which started from living out Pope Francis’ call for a Culture of Encounter has produced resources parishes and schools can use to reflect on our times as we pray with scripture, reflect on CST and share our stories.
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council has created a new online cultural competency course which provides a foundational knowledge for any Catholic worker, volunteer, Clergy or religious. To be used with engagement with local Traditional Custodians, this cultural competency course is available online and is the first of its kind to be created from a Catholic perspective. All are encouraged to participate.
Over 21 November – 24 November, NATSICC held its first ever online retreat through zoom. Over 120 people participated across the 4 days which included talks from Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green on Caring for Creation, Aunty Dulcie Isaro on Aboriginal culture and spirituality as well as online yarning circles and prayers. The talks and two beautiful prayer reflections are now available online for all the view.
The International Day of People with Disability is on 3 December. The theme for the day is ‘Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world’. Over 4.4 million people in Australia live with a disability and this United Nations observed day aims to increase awareness, understand and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements.
In this reflection from Andy Hamilton SJ, he reflects on how Advent and times of fasting and feasting reflect the difficult and joyous times in our own lives. While we wait for the joy and celebration of Christmas, we may experience difficulty, but we wait in hope for Emmanuel. Just as Jesus’ coming gives us hope in the dark, our compassion and care for others, particularly refugees and asylum seekers experiencing difficulty, can be that hope.
Fr Richard Lennan, Professor of Systematic Theology at Boston College, addressed the First Assembly of the Plenary Council as one of its expert advisors. He explained that we need an ‘integral ecclesiology’ to parallel Pope Francis’ ‘integral ecology’.