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.”

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.

Peter Hudson was part of the team which facilitated the Managers’ training day at St John of God ACCORD North Greensborough on Wednesday 31 May 2017.

This was the first opportunity that managers from the recently merged Marillac  joined their colleagues at St John of God for a day of reflection and dialogue around the vision and mission as seen through four core lenses of Catholic Social Teaching: Human Dignity, Common Good, Subsidiarity and Solidarity.

Annual budgets, and their lead up, are an opportunity for genuine dialogue between government and concerned stakeholders across a range of sectors. Communities engaging with governments can really help in setting budget priorities which hopefully help all in society to flourish. It is in this spirit that a range of Catholic social service personnel gathered yesterday to listen to Parliamentary Treasury Secretary, Daniel Mulino MP, share his insights into the 2017 State Budget.

The spirit of generosity, service and collaboration was truly alive as more than 60 people from across the northern suburbs, and beyond, gathered at St Francis Xavier Parish in Montmorency for the ‘Parishes as Centres of Service Expo’ on Saturday 6 May.
Hosted by Catholic Social Services Victoria and St Francis Xavier Parish, the expo provided an opportunity for parish representatives, social services agencies, groups and organisations, to gather in one place to network and collaborate, share ideas and resources, and to dream and plan the way forward for their parishes and service-outreach programs among the community.

In addition to the 17,000+ volunteers that contribute to the work of our member organisations, Catholic Social Services Victoria, as a peak body, relies on volunteers for some of our advocacy and organisational work. We would be much less productive, and less effective, without volunteer input on our committees and working groups, in organising our forums for parishes and agencies, in drafting our various advocacy papers, etc.  We are in their debt.
We currently have a vacancy for a volunteer to assist with our parish support work.