On Saturday 15 September 2018, more than 30 people from 12 parishes gathered at St Francis Xavier and St Clare Combined Parish of Greater Box Hill to share insights into how parishes might respond to Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ on care for our common home, the earth.

Pastoral letters from Pope Francis and from Archbishop Comensoli, and the response by the Church in Australia to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, make deep commitments to solidarity with victims and survivors, to a just and compassionate response, and to prevention of abuse and of cover ups.  The living out of these commitments is a challenge to us all, and will be a touchstone of the integrity of the Church in Australia.

The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Social Justice Statement for 2018–19 is titled A Place to Call Home: Making a home for everyone in our land. It confronts the growing challenge of homelessness and housing insecurity in Australia.

Homelessness is a challenge for all levels of society: for government, for Church and community, and for us as individuals. Each one of us can make a difference and, when we join with others, we can be a real force for change that ensures everyone has a place to call home.  The statement provides a way forward for all.