The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Australian Catholic University’s public policy think tank, the PM Glynn Institute, hosted an online roundtable this week to consider the Catholic policy response to COVID-19. The event drew together leaders from a range of ministries and fields, from within and beyond the Church. A discussion paper will be published after Easter summarising the key topics and themes addressed during the roundtable.

Catholic Social Services Victoria is eager to promote job opportunities on offer within the sector. Each month we gather and highlight a number of job, board (or other) vacancies that we encourage you to spread among your networks. We hope this 'Job List' will become a valuable resource among our network. Please email us with any future job vacancies so that we can help share and promote this. Here's the list for March 2021!

Each month, the Holy Father asks for our prayers for a specific intention.  For February, Pope Francis is drawing our attention and prayers to the devastating impact of family and domestic violence. We join with him in praying:

We pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded.

"World Social Justice Day offers an opportunity for broader reflection.  As with other events, we normally think locally about social justice. The issues on which we focus and the terms in which we discuss them are those that concern Australia: inequality, the treatment of people who seek protection, the adequacy of support for those who are unemployed, people who are elderly, or suffer from mental illness, and the discrimination against Indigenous Australians, for example. These failures are found in most nations, but they are given a particular shape by the local Australian economic settings and cultural attitudes.' 

Recently acknowledged by the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life as promoting “best practice” in lay formation, Leadership for Mission is a joint initiative of the Australian Catholic bishops’ National Centre for Evangelisation (NCE) and Australian Catholic University with the support of Catholic Mission. It is designed by and for women who are inspired by the Gospel vision of justice, freedom and the dignity of the human person. Applications for this program recently closed, however there are a number of vacancies for the 2021/2022 cohort which the NCE hopes to fill as soon as possible.

The Australian Young Christian Workers (YCW) is seeking a Youth Engagement Officer to coordinate youth-led projects in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, focusing on environmental sustainability, mental wellbeing and international students. Through the Youth Engagement Officer role, the YCW aims to engage young people (15-25) in action and establish teams of volunteers to address the issues most affecting young people today.  Download flyer for more information. Applications close Monday 23 November.

“The latest report from the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board is not a celebration of good healthcare, but a sad story of the loss of hope and care for vulnerable people." The Victorian Bishops of Victoria release a statement on 2 September 2020 in response to the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board’s Report of Operation January – June 2020.

Throughout September, the 'Season of Creation',  Catholic Earthcare Australia is hosting its Convocation, which features a number of sessions throughout the month. The program has been designed with a wide audience in mind and include sessions on the themes of Formation (our theological and moral imperative to Care for our Common Home); Foundation (explored with specialists in finance, economic, political and social spheres) and Action (exploring transformative ways in which we can realise the need to care for creation). Download and view the program here. 

Pentecost Sunday recalls the time when the Holy Spirit came down on the Church. It also continues to remind us that, both in our personal lives and society, God does not do everything at once but works in stages. Andrew Hamilton SJ reflects on this special Feast day in the life of the Church.

"Cultural diversity day points to the strength of a community that welcomes difference. The hard time that will follow coronavirus should also be a time to focus on respecting one another within our differences." Andrew Hamilton SJ reflects on World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, which is commemorated on 21 May 2020.