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Also of interest….

Walk for Justice for Refugees - 14 April

The annual Palm Sunday Walk for Justice for Refugees will take place on Sunday 14 April, from 2pm at the State Library (corner of Swanston Street and La Trobe Streets), Melbourne. Show your support for a fair and welcoming society, particularly for those refugees still on Manu and Nairu.

To raise money for the Walk, three films are being shown over three nights on 28 February; 14 March and 4 April.

Spend a day with Northern Irish theologian, poet and peacemaker, Pádraig Ó Tuama, on Tuesday, 12 February 2019. Pádraig will lead two sessions across the day addressing the theme 'Conflict, Reflection and Creativity'. People can attend one or both sessions.

A public lecture is also being held on Monday evening, 11 February 2019.

In his 2018 Christmas Message, Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli reminds us that it is in Jesus that our hope is born. "He is good for us now; we can find our future in Him; our trust is assured through Him; and we are invited to work with Him." Watch or read the Christmas message below.

Please note that the 9pm Christmas Eve Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne will be live streamed on the Melbourne Catholic Website.

Pope Francis Fellow 2019 events

All are invited to attend a series of free public lectures as part of the 2019 Pope Francis Fellow event series. All events will be held at The Oratory, Newman College, 887 Swanston St, in Parkville. The series includes guest speakers such as Dr Austen Ivereigh (noted UK Catholic writer and biographer of Pope Francis); Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez SDB of Honduras, Co-ordinator of Pope Francis’s  C9 group for the Reform of the church; Dr Bonnie Thurston, Scripture scholar, Thomas Merton expert, spiritual director, poet and ecumenical figure; Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle; and Archbishop of Manila and President Caritas Internationalis. All events are free, but registration is necessary. Download flyer here.

Save the date! On Sunday 2 December 2018, an ecumenical service to remember the victims and survivors of domestic and relationship violence, Holding the Light, will be held at St Peter's Anglican Church, 315 Gisborne Street, East Melbourne, from 2.30pm - 3.30pm. Find out more, here.

A new report recently released by researchers at Australian Catholic University confirms the significant benefits of pastoral care to hospital patients and aged care residents. The report, What are the benefits of Pastoral Care to hospital patients and aged care residents?, adds to the emerging literature on the impact of pastoral care in hospital and aged care settings. Read more about the report, here.

Social Policy Connections invites parish and church groups to a free public forum with Sr Brigid Arthur csb of Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project speaking on the topic, 'Refugees and their traumatised chidlren - a tale of smoke and mirrors'. The forum will be held on Wednesday 5 December, Study Centre at Theological Union, 34 Bedford Street, Box Hill, 7.30pm-9pm.

In response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, many organisations have redoubled their efforts to ensure they respond properly to known or suspected incidents of abuse. To facilitate learning, the Australian Safeguarding Network held an online webcast in October, Abuse in Organisations: Prevention is Better for Everyone, delivered by Professor Stephen Smallbone. It provided information about preventing child sexual abuse by assessing and mitigating the situational risks in community services organisations and activities.

This is a wonderful opportunity to hear the magnificent Cathedral Organ in a program of works by Johann Sebastian Back (1685-1750), performed by acclaimed Australian musician and composer Calvin Bowman.

Join a conversation between three of this country’s most perceptive and respected social justice advocates and activists — Cassandra Goldie CEO of the Australian Council of Social Services, Frank Brennan CEO of Catholic Social Services Australia and Cornelia (Conny) Lenneberg, Executive Director of Brotherhood of St Laurence. The event will also feature a welcome address from La Trobe's Vice Chancellor, Professor John Dewar.