Do you intend to write letters to your MP on burning issues, but never translate it into action? Here’s your chance! Catholic Social Services Victoria's Welcome the Asylum Seeker Parish Support Program is hosting a lunchtime letter writing session on Tuesday, 5 December 2017 in East Melbourne.

Catholic Social Services Victoria, together with Edmund Rice Ministries and Presentation Sisters will host a Catholic Social Teaching Train the Trainer day on Tuesday 28 November from 9.30am to 4pm at St Joseph's by the Sea, 16 Esplanade, Williamstown. Titled, 'Catholic Social Teaching: A lived, reflective experience of the guiding principles', those responsible for mission and culture development within their organisations, are encouraged to attend.

You are warmly welcomed to join us for an interactive forum on integral human development in Catholic social teaching: looking back to 1967, and looking forward in Australia today, within the context of the Australian Bishops' 2017 Social Justice Statement Everyone's Business, on Thursday 19 October, from 12pm - 2pm at Cardinal Knox Centre. Click here for the flyer. 

Fifty four people seeking asylum have left Manus Island and Nauru for the US. We don’t know how many will be accepted into the US, but it is likely that many hundreds will be left behind in Manus and Nauru in danger, with no hope and no future. Come to hear and discuss how parishes and communities can support asylum seekers already in our midst, and change our political parties’ policies towards asylum seekers.

Mental Health Week is celebrated nationally from 8 - 14 October 2017. Catholic Social Services Victoria, in collaboration with the St Pius X Parish West Heidelberg, is marking the occasion across the Catholic community with a Mass for all those touched by mental health issues on Saturday 14 October at St Pius X Church, 491 Waterdale Rd, West Heidelberg, at 11am.
 

Catholic Social Services Australia and Catholic Social Services Victoria are hosting the National Catholic Social Services Conference, Hearing Healing Hope - Enlivening the Church to respond humbly, which will be held at the Catholic Leadership Centre Melbourne from 21 - 23 February 2018.The conference will bring those working in Catholic social services, from across the country, and provides a fantastic opportunity to share resources, to increase knowledge and best-place practice, and to continue our work in solidarity and co-operation.

As we approach national Social Justice Sunday later in September, on Sunday 17 September let us pause to reflect on how Catholic parishes and organisations are responding to the Gospel call to loving service to those among us who are vulnerable or marginalised. Click here for flyer.