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The Laudato Si’ Action Platform Celebrates Its First Anniversary

The Laudato Si’ Action Platform is celebrating its first anniversary this week. The platform is a brilliant opportunity for families, parishes, schools, businesses, hospitals and organisations to work towards total sustainability and collate this information across the world. It is easy to pledge and receive the information needed and get to work in whatever your context. The first anniversary was celebrated with an online event available to watch anytime.

Anti-Poverty Week logo on an aqua background. Text reads "16-22 October 2022. Anti-poverty week. 20 years action on poverty."

Anti-Poverty Week

Anti-Poverty week (16-22 October) is being observed this week, and we are being called on to raise awareness and taken action against poverty and organisations such as Vinnies Australia are calling on all parliamentarians to halving child poverty by 2030. Recent reports show 761,000 children live below the poverty line. Pope Francis’ message for World Day of the Poor (Nov 13) states, “This is the moment for us not to lose heart but to renew.”

The five front-liner advocates showcased in The Letter stand together against a stone wall.

The Letter – Ground-breaking Laudato Si’ Film and Prayer Campaign

The Letter is a documentary showcasing the stories of frontline champions and promotes the message of Pope Francis’ letter to the world – Laudato Si’ Caring for Our Common Home. “Hello everyone. My name is Bilal Seck. My home has been affected by rising sea levels.” There is also a 40-day Laudato Si’ Prayer Campaign in the lead up to 14 November which marks when Laudato Si’ Planning Guides and all related materials will be published.

The silhouette of a person putting a ballot in a ballot box.

Bishops Call for a Better Kind of Politics

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The Australian Catholic Bishops have released a new election resource highlighting key issues for consideration this election. The guide doesn’t assign ratings to candidates or parties, but rather gives a background on the different issues that could affect the election and information on these issues from a Catholic perspective.

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Signs of Our Times Soft Launch

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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.

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Now is the Time to Act

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In his message to COP26, Pope Francis said that “now is the time to act, urgently, courageously and responsibly.” Dr Sandie Cornish suggests that rather than being a cause for despair, the modest outcomes of COP26 should serve as a call to renewed action by every part of society. She reflects on COP26 and enrolling in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. 

First Anniversary of Fratelli Tutti

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The first anniversary of the release of Pope Francis’ encyclical, Fratelli Tutti was celebrated on 3 October, 2021. The encyclical, which focuses on social friendship and overcoming racism and discrimination through dialogue and encounter has a new website which contains many resources all can use to share its message that we are all one human family. Videos, infographics, reflections, social media graphics, photos and prayers are available.

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World Day of the Poor 2021

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Around the globe, the Catholic Church will celebrate the World Day of the Poor on 14 November. Pope Francis’ Message for this occasion takes as its starting point the words “the poor you will always have with you” (Mk 14:7). This Discussion Guide offers some starting points for personal or group reflection and discussion.

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Migrant and Refugee Sunday

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“Towards an ever wider ‘we’” is the theme of the 107th Migrant and Refugee Sunday, celebrated on the 26th of September, 2021.  Pope Francis has released his message for Migrant and Refugee Sunday with an emphasis on creating a diverse and beautiful world which celebrates… Read More »Migrant and Refugee Sunday

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World Day of Peace Message 2021

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The theme of Pope Francis’ World Day of Peace Message for 2021 is A Culture of Care as a Path to Peace. It is a simple, timely message that goes to the heart of the matter. Francis begins by reflecting that 2020 has shown us “how important it is to care for one another and for creation”. He proposes a culture of care “as a way to combat the culture of indifference, waste and confrontation so prevalent in our time”.