Enforced disappearance has frequently been used as a strategy to spread terror within the society. The feeling of insecurity generated by this practice is not limited to the close relatives of the disappeared, but also affects their communities and society as a whole. Special attention must also be paid to specific groups of especially vulnerable… Read More »International Day of the Victims of Forced Disappearances
Biodiversity Month is held in September each year and aims to promote the importance of protecting, conserving and improving biodiversity both within Australia and across the world.
National Wattle Day has been officially celebrated since 1992. "On 1 September 1988, Golden Wattle was declared officially as Australia's national floral emblem. While Golden Wattle had long enjoyed that status informally - note its prominent place within the Commonwealth Coat of Arms dating from 1912 (frontispiece) and on the insignia of the Order of… Read More »National Wattle Day
"In 1815, Mary Aikenhead, with Alicia Walsh, after completing their novitiate, founded the Religious Sisters of Charity in Ireland. They were the first, so-called Walking Nuns who visited the sick in their homes and tried to alleviate the wide spread poverty. Mother Mary Aikenhead’s dependence on Divine Providence – “God will provide” – was the… Read More »1815: Founding of Sisters of Charity by Mary Aikenhead
Action Does your parish, school or Catholic organisation have a Reconciliation Action Plan? Today might be a good day to check on your progress, or to start the process of developing a Reconciliation Action Plan. What is Reconciliation? ANTaR describe reconciliation as "a process where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, non-Indigenous Australians and Australian… Read More »1991: Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act passed by Parliament
"Gregory was born about A.D. 540 in Rome, the son of a wealthy senator. Like most of the nobility of his time, he was well educated. But unlike many, he was generous and concerned about those who were poor. One of the four key Fathers of the Western Church, Gregory is sometimes accredited with Gregorian… Read More »Saint Gregory the Great
“The cry of Jesus on the Cross, ‘I thirst’ (Jn 19: 28), expressing the depth of God’s longing for man, penetrated Mother Teresa’s soul and found fertile soil in her heart.” Pope John Paul II, 19 October 2003 Mother Teresa served the poor for 69 years and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.… Read More »Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa)
What do you think of when you hear the word 'charity'? For Christians it is something more than philanthropy or giving to worthy causes. Nor is it an alternative to justice for those made poor or pushed to the margins. It is about the fullness of love, of which justice is the bare minimum. "Love… Read More »International Day of Charity
The idea of celebrating a Season of Creation began in the Lutheran Church in Adelaide, Australia in 2000. Now many different churches all over the world take part. In 2016 the Catholic Church joined in. The season embraces the four Sundays of September before the Feast of St Francis of Assisi - 4 October. Norman… Read More »Season of Creation begins
"On September 5, 2013, the ILO Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers (Domestic Workers Convention or C189) entered into legal force. This groundbreaking new treaty and its accompanying Recommendation (No. 201) establish the first global standards for the more than 50 million domestic workers worldwide—the majority of whom are women and girls, and many… Read More »2013: Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers
"National Threatened Species Day is commemorated across the country on 7 September to raise awareness of plants and animals at risk of extinction. The day also celebrates the amazing work that is being done to save them by passionate conservationists, researchers, volunteers, and community experts."NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
"On this day in 1936, the last known survivor of the thylacine species, better known as Tasmanian tigers, is said to have died in captivity in Hobart, Australia, having only been captured a few years earlier in 1933. It was renowned as the largest carnivorous marsupial to survive into the modern age, and now that… Read More »1936: Death in Hobart Zoo of the last Tasmanian tiger in captivity
"The Church has celebrated Mary’s birth since at least the sixth century. A September birth was chosen because the Eastern Church begins its Church year with September. The September 8 date helped determine the date for the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8."Franciscan Media Image: The Birth of the Virgin | fresco by Giotto
"International Literacy Day, celebrated annually on 8 September, is an opportunity for Governments, civil society and stakeholders to highlight improvements in world literacy rates, and reflect on the world's remaining literacy challenges. Sustainable Development Goal 4 has as one of its targets ensuring all young people achieve literacy and numeracy and that adults who lack these… Read More »International Literacy Day
"When he was 29 years old, Peter left his home in Spain and went to Cartagena (in what is now Colombia), South America. There he continued his studies and was ordained a priest. Cartagena was the main market for the slave trade in the New World. Whenever a ship carrying Africans arrived in port, Peter… Read More »Saint Peter Claver
Organized by the International Association for Suicide Prevention, World Suicide Prevention Day provides the opportunity for people across the globe to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention. Access resources and find out more here: World Suicide Prevention Day #WSPD2021 In their Social Justice Sunday Statement 2020-2021 To Live Life to the Full: Mental Health… Read More »World Suicide Prevention Day
"On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside… Read More »2001: ‘9/11’: Terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C., killing nearly 3,000 people
"In the early years of European settlement on the Darling Downs relations between the two races were mostly friendly. However, by the 1840s relations had turned sour. The European settlers did not understand the indigenous population's deep spiritual connection to the land and so often treated their sacred sites (natural features of the land) poorly.… Read More »1843: Battle of One Tree Hill near Toowoomba, QLD, between Aboriginal landowners and European settlers
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the General Assembly on Thursday, 13 September 2007, by a majority of 144 states in favour, 4 votes against and 11 abstentions. Today the Declaration is the most comprehensive international instrument on the rights of indigenous peoples. It establishes a universal… Read More »2007: Adoption by the UN of Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
"The cross is a sign of suffering, a sign of human cruelty at its worst. But by Christ’s love shown in the Paschal Mystery, it has become the sign of triumph and victory, the sign of God, who is love itself."Loyola Press
"Pope John Paul II issued Laborem Exercens to mark the ninetieth anniversary of Rerum Novarum. It is also known by the English title On Human Labour. John Paul II’s own experience as a manual labourer and his personalist philosophical ethics shape this social encyclical. Unemployment and the impact of technology on work are major concerns of this encyclical. As… Read More »1981: Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Laborem Exercens (‘On Human Work’)
"As we mark Democracy Day, I urge all governments to respect the right to active, substantive and meaningful participation; and I salute all of you who strive tirelessly to make this happen." — UN Secretary-General, António Guterres United Nations
Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker) was born Kathleen Jean Mary Ruska, on Minjerribah (the Stradbroke Island). She was a poet, political activist, artist and educator. Oodgeroo Noonuccal means Oodgeroo of the tribe Nunuccal. Oodgeroo was a strong promoter of Aboriginal culture and a campaigner for indigenous rights. As the Australian Women's Register explains: "Oodgeroo's work has… Read More »1993: Death of Oodgeroo Noonuccal (Kath Walker), Aboriginal poet, activist and artist
"As we rightly focus our energies on tackling climate change, we must be careful not to neglect the ozone layer and stay alert to the threat posed by the illegal use of ozone-depleting gases." — UN Secretary-General, António Guterres Concern about the hole in the ozone layer was in many ways a precursor to contemporary… Read More »International Day for Preservation of the Ozone Layer
Robert Bellarmine was a Jesuit scholar who was eventually made a Cardinal. His major work Disputations on the Controversies of the Christian Faith, helped to discredit the divine right of kings theory. This paved the way for Catholic Social Teaching's contemporary understanding of the Pope's role in temporal affairs, and of the role of the… Read More »Saint Robert Bellarmine
"Mr. Hammarskjold, whose name is on buildings in and around the United Nations headquarters in New York, was an iconic Swedish diplomat, the organization’s second secretary general and a strong advocate for decolonization in Africa. He is the only person to have been posthumously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and was described by President John… Read More »1961: Death of UN Secretary General Dag Hammarskjöld
For Reflection "In sending his disciples forth on mission, Jesus told them: 'Whatever house you enter, first say, "Peace be to this house!" And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you." (Lk 10:5-6). Bringing peace is central to the mission of… Read More »International Day of Peace
The Australian Consumer Association is now known as CHOICE. It describes its aim as "to tackle the issues that really matter to consumers, arming them with the information to make confident choices and lobbying for change when consumers are getting a raw deal." It played an important role in the drafting of the Trade Practices… Read More »1959: Launch of Australian Consumer Association (ACA)
When you think of shipping, do oil spills and cargo being washed up on beaches come to mind - or do you think of the sustainable movement of goods around the world? The theme for World Maritime Day this year is Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet.
The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office's kit for Migrant and Refugee Sunday 2021 is now available: https://www.acmro.catholic.org.au/resources/migrant-refugee-kit The theme for this year is, Towards an ever wider 'we'. Migrant and Refugee Sunday is celebrated in Australia on the last Sunday in September. This brings the practice of the Church in Australia into line with… Read More »Migrant and Refugee Sunday
"In each of our faith communities, we believe we are called to pursue peace and to love and care for all humanity and all creation. Collectively, our faith leads us to reject weapons designed to cause mass death and destruction and instill terror and fear. It is this faith that compels us to act for… Read More »International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
The Nobel Prize website explains that Peace Prze Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is "the daughter of the legendary liberation movement leader Aung San. Following studies abroad, she returned home in 1988. From then on, she led the opposition to the military junta that had ruled Burma since 1962. She was one of the founders… Read More »1988: Formation of Burma’s National League for Democracy by Aung San Suu Kyi
“Love the poor. Honour them, my children, as you would honour Christ himself.” - St Vincent de Paul The St Vincent de Paul Society website explains that as a young man, "St Vincent de Paul ministered to the wealthy and powerful. However an appointment as chaplain to a poor parish, and to galley prisoners, inspired… Read More »Saint Vincent de Paul
What do you know about David Unaipon, the man on the fifty dollar note? He was a preacher, writer and inventor and was the first Aboriginal published author. David was born in 1872 on the Point McLeay mission in the town of Raukkan, just 80 km southeast of Adelaide. Find out more on the NITV… Read More »1872: Birth of David Unaipon, Aboriginal writer and activist
Noel Olive explains in the Australian Dictionary of Biography: "On 28 September 1983 several members of the Roebourne police force attended a meeting of the Western Australian Police Union of Workers at Karratha. They adjourned to the local golf club for drinks, and then proceeded to the Top Bar of the Victoria Hotel at Roebourne.… Read More »1983: Death of John Pat in Roebourne Prison WA, prompting the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
The Franciscan Media Saint of the Day website notes that "angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named." It goes on to explain that "each of the archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides". For reflection: What are the names of some of… Read More »Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels
International Podcast Day™ is an initiative of a group of podcasters. They explain the origin of the day in this way: "In the summer of 2013, Steve Lee heard a radio announcement for National Senior Citizens' Day. thinking that was pretty cool, it begged the question of why there wasn't a day for the celebration… Read More »International Podcast Day
"The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination 1966 was one of the first human rights treaties to be adopted by the United Nations (UN). The Convention is widely supported, with more than 156 countries (four-fifths of the membership of the UN) having ratified it. Australia ratified the Convention on 30 September 1975."Australian Human Rights Commission… Read More »1975: Ratification by Australia of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
"Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face is the youngest of all the "Doctors of the Church", but her ardent spiritual journey shows such maturity, and the insights of faith expressed in her writings are so vast and profound that they deserve a place among the great spiritual masters." - Pope John Paul… Read More »Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Doctor of the Church
"The year 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations and the 30th Anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons. This year has also seen an emergence of COVID-19, that has caused an upheaval across the world. Considering the higher risks confronted by older persons during the outbreak of pandemics such as COVID-19, policy and programmatic… Read More »International Day for Older Persons
"Just peace is the goal, nonviolence is the way. A sustainable culture of peace can only be established by nonviolence that absolutely respects human dignity. Rooted in the interconnectedness of God's creation, it also opens the way to an 'integral ecology' , as expressed by Pope Francis in Laudato Si'. Violence undermines this interconnectedness. Nonviolence… Read More »International Day of Non-Violence
"Gandhi constantly highlighted the gap between what we do, and what we are capable of doing. On this International Day, I urge each and every one of us to do everything in our power to bridge this divide as we strive to build a better future for all." UN Secretary-General António Guterres