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2018 Year of Youth

The ‘Year of Youth 2018 in Your Parish’ program was conducted last Saturday

21 October by the Archdiocesan Office for Youth (AOY).

Mental Health Week was held in Australia from 7-14 October. With this in mind, a small group gathered at St Pius X Parish, West Heidelberg on Saturday 14 October to conclude Mental Health Week 2017. Fr Wayne Edwards and the parish community, together with Catholic Social Services Victoria, welcomed people to join with them to pray for all people touched in whatever way by mental health issues.

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.

Our latest Catholic Parishes Serving the Community newsletter contains news about local parishes serving in their community including St Dominic's East Camberwell and Holy Eucharist St Albans South; events of interest, in particular an upcoming evening forum to assist parishes in supporting asylum seekers, on 11 October; along with important in depth articles that will assist the parish community to understand more deeply the issues of homeless and youth justice, and what role we can play in lessening their detrimental effects within the community.

Download the full newsletter, here.

Australians are called to work for an economy that is based on principles of justice and equity – one that is at the service of all, particularly the most vulnerable and marginalised, says the Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen. Bishop Long was speaking at the launch of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ 2017–2018 Social Justice Statement, entitled Everyone’s Business: Developing an inclusive and sustainable economy, which is commemorated on the last Sunday of September each year.

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.

CSSV Newsletter September 2017

Responding to sexual abuse; ensuring our children are safe, Human Dignity honoured in living life, not taking it, Hearing Healing Hope - National Catholic Social Services Conference 21-23 February 2018. Click here to read more in our September Newsletter.

It’s been a great night here in Melbourne for the annual dinner of Catholic Social Services Victoria (held Friday 4 August 2017). Life members Kevin Mogg, Bernie Geary and Vicki Clark were in attendance. Sherry Balcombe welcomed us to country and we honoured Sr Joan Healy RSJ and David Beaver as the new life members. It was a very joyful night for all. Good energy in the room. As Joe Caddy said, "there was a room full of people bringing together love and knowledge."

Read Fr Frank's full Facebook post, here.

Amid the bombardment of information and sometimes-polarizing effect of social media, Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO, Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Social Services Australia invited participants at a recent workshop to use technology “to help break down silos, to provide links to where you can find the space for silence, and for the deep and considered thinking.”

He was addressing more than 50 participants from across the Catholic social services and mission sector, who gathered at the Cardinal Knox Centre in East Melbourne on Wednesday 26 July to participate in a social media workshop. This page includes links to resources requested by participants on the day.

Catholic parishes play an important role in supporting and serving the most vulnerable within their local communities. Whether it be in the assistance of material, financial or relational support to newly arrived asylum seekers, or being aware and knowing what to do in the situations of family and domestic violence, or reaching out to an elderly or isolated neighbour, we all have a role to play in bringing to life the Gospel message.

Our latest Catholic Parishes Serving the Community newsletter contains news, events and updates relating to Parishes as centres of service; Welcome the Asylum Seeker parish support program and Catholic communities responding to domestic and family violence.