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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

A beautiful Aboriginal painting of a tree where there are intricate circles at the ends of each of the branches with a sky made of yellow, orange and red concentric circles.

One Journey, Together

In the Gospel, Jesus compels us to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35). Welcome in this context involves both an attitude and an action. It is our attitude which constantly needs to be assessed in light of the Gospel to ensure that we are carrying out the Lord’s commandment to love our neighbour as ourselves.

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Get Active for the Voice

In the Gospel, Jesus compels us to welcome the stranger (Matthew 25:35). Welcome in this context involves both an attitude and an action. It is our attitude which constantly needs to be assessed in light of the Gospel to ensure that we are carrying out the Lord’s commandment to love our neighbour as ourselves.

Bishop Vincent

Easter Reflection

The Chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service, Bishop Vincent Long, offers us an Easter reflection on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

A photograph of Uluru, taken at sunrise/sunset

Saying Yes to the Voice

Peter Arndt, Director of the Office reflects on Advent and particularly on seeing God with us each day. The hustle and bustle of this time of year can stop us seeing and hearing God in our day-to-day lives. He urges us to keep Christ in our celebrations of Christmas by remembering and including people excluded from society and our brother and sisters in the environment in our celebrations. Peter farewells Patrice Moriarty who is moving on from her support of the Office.

A picture of the Closing the Gap report which has a red dust coloured background and a simple dot painting on the right hand side of several concentric circles linked together by a path of white dots.

New Commonwealth Closing the Gap Report

The first Commonwealth Closing the Gap report has been released after the National Agreement on Closing the Gap in 2020. The National Agreement focuses on prioritising partnerships between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Community-Controlled Organisations with four priority areas. There are also 17 socio-economic outcomes, four of which were on target.

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 Videos

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council ran their national assembly in September of this year in Townsville. It was an incredible event especially given this was the first time the community has been able to get together since COVID-19 began. The website now has a video available with photos of the assembly as well as a twenty minute wrap up video which summarises the event.

Yellow speech bubble is in the centre of the image with "FROM THE HEART" in white writing next to it. Underneath is black text reading "www.fromtheheart.com.au". All on a background of red sand.

Uluru Statement from the Heart

An update is provided on the Uluru Statement from the Heart after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing that the referendum for the Voice to Parliament will occur in the 2023-2024 Financial year. The Australian Catholic Bishops endorsed the Statement last November and Dean Parkin spoke at the NATSICC Assembly. Resources and ideas for grass roots promotion are available through a new website.