Media Release, 28 August, 2013

Christopher Saunders, the Bishop of Broome and Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, has called on all eligible voters to remain attentive to issues of justice at the next Federal Election.

“Each voter shares a responsibility to keep alive the critical faculty, to analyse carefully all policies put forward by the various political parties and individual candidates, and to judge carefully the moral worth of all proposals, before casting a ballot in the September 7th election. Continue reading →

Media Release, 27 August, 2013

The Truth Justice and Healing Council is currently engaging with church and other stakeholders as prepares its submission to Royal Commission’s third issues paper on child safe institutions.

Submissions to the paper close on 11 October and the TJHC’s will be distributing a consultation document to Church stakeholder on Friday 6 September.

Francis Sullivan, CEO of the Council, said the Council’s submission would represent the whole Church and would be a comprehensive statement on the current church environment and include recommendations for reforms.

“The process the Royal Commission is going through in calling for submissions to various issues will ultimately paint a picture of how different institutions across the country have responded to child sexual abuse,” Mr Sullivan said. Continue reading →

Media Release
26 August, 2013

Former Holy See Ambassador Tim Fischer, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paul Gallagher and Bishop Gerard Hanna addressed a crowd of over 100 people at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) Melbourne on Thursday 22 August about the pressing issues of migration and poverty.

The colloquium was held to honour Bishop Joe Grech, who was a steadfast supporter of migrants and refugees until his untimely death in 2010.

With a particular focus on the Catholic Church’s commitment to refugees and asylum seekers, each speaker brought his own personal experience to bear in their addresses.

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gallagher, focused on his diplomatic experience emphasising the need for a realistic, compassionate approach.

“I think that it is clear that the phenomenon (of irregular migration) cannot be eradicated. Refugees and migrants of all categories, like the poor, we will have with us always (cfr. Mt 26:11) and there will always be those whose circumstances are highly irregular. We must seek durable solutions, but we should not be scandalised if we do not find them. The ethical foundation of our response is in the authenticity and integrity of the response itself”, he said.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer noted the importance of education and employment opportunities in raising living standards of migrants and refugees from poorer nations.

“Firstly, we should never forget the power of education to lift the standards of living of migrants and indeed people right around the world be they in Bhutan or Botswana or beyond.”

Bishop Gerard Hanna spoke on the pressures facing developing countries who accept much larger refugee numbers than Australia.

“We ask our neighbours, poor third world countries, to do what we, a very rich first world nation, are selfishly unwilling to do ourselves. We must open our hearts to refugees, listen to their hopes and welcome them into our communities. Solutions must be based in the real world and address the real needs of people”, he said.

The speakers all showed deep concern with developing viable solutions and better policy around the issue of asylum seekers and refugees. Rather than focusing on partisan polics, the speakers looked at the human face of migration, and examined ethical solutions in their addresses.

A video will be made available of the colloquium in the coming weeks and photos can be ordered from the following link: http://bit.ly/14TqzXq

For media enquiries, please contact Beth Doherty on 0407 081 256 or Joe Moloney on (02) 62019895

Media Release, 19 August 2013

The Maronite Eparchy of Australia is delighted to announce the launch of two aged care projects for the Lebanese and Maronite communities in Western Sydney.

We established our first church in the Sydney suburb of Waterloo in 1894. Steady migration to this great land has seen our Maronite community expand significantly, resulting in a large ageing population. There is now a critical shortage of culturally sensitive facilities for our aged, particularly those suffering from dementia. All sectors of our community have been asking us to address these issues.

In response to the needs of our community, the Eparchy is pleased to announce that it has prepared plans to redevelop and complete the Our Lady of Lebanon Aged Care Centre at Harris Park, and to commence the St Charbel Care Centre in Greenacre. These two Maronite Care projects will be the first of several the Eparchy intends to develop in coming years in order to serve not only our local Maronite people, but also the wider and diverse Australian community. Continue reading →

Media Release
August 14, 2013

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) will celebrate Migrant and Refugee week (19-25 August) with a colloquium in honour of Bishop Joe Grech on 22 August, 2013 at Australian Catholic University’s Melbourne Campus (24 Brunswick St, Fitzroy) from 7-9pm. The theme is “Migration and Poverty: Exploring Ethical Solutions.”

Bishop Joe Grech was a tireless advocate for refugees and asylum seekers on behalf of the Bishops Commission for Pastoral Life (BCPL). He passed away suddenly in December 2010, and this is the third colloquium to be held in his memory.

Speaking at the colloquium will be Australia’s former Ambassador to the Holy See Tim Fischer; His Excellency Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia; and Bishop Gerard Hanna, Bishops’ Delegate for Migrants and Refugees.

Bishop Hanna spoke of the importance of continuing a dialogue and tradition in honour of Bishop Joe Grech, and emphasised its impact on policy-making.

“The Colloquium will take place just two weeks prior to the Federal Election, and it is our hope that all political parties will take the opportunity to listen carefully to what is said here, and to what the Church says about how we must protect the most vulnerable in our society”, he said. Continue reading →

Media Release
August 13, 2013

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) will launch their annual Parish Resource for the celebration of Migrant and Refugee Week (19-25 August) at Australian Catholic University in Strathfield on 19 August at 10am.

The Parish Resource is developed each year by ACMRO as a way of sharing and encouraging reflection on crucial information about migration, and the teaching of the Catholic Church in this area.

This year’s theme for the resource is taken from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s Message for the World Day for Migrants and Refugees: “Migrations: Pilgrimage of Faith and Hope.”

Bishops’ Delegate for Migrants and Refugees Bishop Gerard Hanna says that migration is deeply linked with faith, and that this year’s parish resource reflects that.

“Faith and hope are inseparable in the hearts of many migrants, who deeply desire a better life and not infrequently try to leave behind the “hopelessness” of an unpromising future. During their journeys, many of them are sustained by the deep trust that God never abandons his children and this certainty makes the pain of their uprooting and separation more tolerable and even gives them the hope of eventually returning to their country of origin”, he said in a letter introducing the resource. Continue reading →

Media Release, 13 August, 2013

Catholic Earthcare Australia is pleased to announce that we have received funding from the Australian Government’s Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program. The grant was awarded to Catholic Earthcare based on our strategy for the formation of a National Energy Efficiency Not-for-Profit (NEEN) Network that informs and supports energy efficiency awareness in the Australian not-for-profit sector.

The purpose of the NEEN Network Project is to educate, resource and connect small to medium sized, not-for-profit organisations across Australia in their efforts to reduce energy consumption, energy expenditure and ultimately their carbon footprint. Continue reading →

“We must ensure the participation of indigenous peoples – women and men – in decision-making at all levels. This includes discussions on accelerating action towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals and defining the post-2015 development agenda” – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

Media Release from NATSICC, 9 August 2013

Click here to view a photo gallery of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People (9 August) was first proclaimed by the General Assembly in December 1994, to be celebrated every year during the first International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (1995 – 2004).

This year’s theme resonates strongly as we strive for Constitutional Recognition in this country. NATSICC has long echoed UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s call for the participation of Indigenous people in making decisions that directly impact on the lives of our people. It is about giving people the opportunity to control their future and that of their children. Catholic social teaching calls for trust to be placed on the least centralised body (ie. the local community) to make decisions, resulting in more relevant and targeted outcomes. The principle builds self determination and leadership within these communities. Continue reading →

Media Release, 12 August, 2013

Photo: Mrs Therese Temby and Bishop O’Kelly in May 2013 at Mrs Temby’s farewell. Photo by Beth Doherty Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) met for the first time on Wednesday 7 August with a new mandate from the Bishops Commission for Catholic Education (BCCE).

After the NCEC meeting Chair of the BCCE, Bishop Greg O’Kelly, celebrated mass at the St Mary of the Cross (MacKillop) Chapel on the St Patrick’s campus of the Australian Catholic University. Mass was followed by a dinner hosted by Bishop O’Kelly to recognise the significant contribution of Mrs Therese Temby and Dr Bill Griffiths to the NCEC and the life of Catholic education in Australia. Mrs Temby was NCEC Chair for 5 years from September 2008 to July 2013. Continue reading →