Share the Signs of Our Times you encounter during this Christmas season in the joys and hopes, grief and anguish of those who live on the margins of our community.
Share this video invitation to make 2023 a year of a culture of encounter in your social and environmental action.
In 2015, Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si’ (The Letter); an encyclical letter about the environmental crisis to every single person in the world. A few years later, four voices that have gone unheard in global conversations have been invited to an unprecedented dialogue with the Pope. Hailing from Senegal, the Amazon, India, and Hawai’i, they bring perspective and solutions from the poor, the indigenous, the youth, and wildlife into a conversation with Pope Francis himself. This documentary follows their journey to Rome and the extraordinary experiences that took place there, and is packed with powerfully moving personal stories alongside the latest information about the planetary crisis and the toll it’s taking on nature and people. Because, in the words of the Laudato Si’ Movement chair Lorna Gold, “once you know, you CANNOT look away.” #LaudatoSiFilm Learn more about the protagonists and how you can take action at https://TheLetterFilm.org
This is NAIDOC Week (3 – 10 July). It is a weeklong celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and contributions. The 2022 theme is Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up.
Many NAIDOC events are being held across the Archdiocese this week. Here are just a few, but please keep an eye out for any changes that may happen because of wet weather:
· NAIDOC at the Pools, Beenleigh Aquatic Centre, City Rd., Beenleigh & Logan North Aquatic Centre, 2 Sports Dr., Underwood, Wednesday 6 July, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
· Ipswich Family and Cultural Day, Briggs Rd. Sports Complex, Flinders View, Thursday 7 July, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
· Gayndah NAIDOC Family Fun Day, Lions Park, Gayndah, Thursday 7 July, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
· Brisbane Family Fun Day, Musgrave Park 91 Cordelia St., South Brisbane, Friday 8 July, 10:00 Am – 4:00 PM
· Wan’dini Sunshine Coast Family Fun Day, Quota Park, Nambour, Saturday 9 July, 10:00 AM – 3:30 PM
· Gold Coast Titans NAIDOC Event, Viney Park, 1 Yaun St., Coomera, Wednesday 6 July, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
· Fraser Coast Family Fun Day, Scarness Jetty, Hervey Bay, Thursday 7 July, from 11:00 AM
· Inala NAIDOC Family Fun Day, C.J. Greenfield Complex Park, 149 Kimberley St., Richlands, Wednesday 6 July, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
· Cherbourg NAIDOC Celebration, Memorial Park (opposite the Ration Shed Museum), Cherbourg, Tuesday 5 July, from 10:00 AM.
The Logan NAIDOC Celebration at the Kingston Butter Factory Cultural Precinct has been postponed until mid-August.
All are welcome to the NAIDOC Mass to be celebrated in the Cathedral of St. Stephen, Elizabeth St., Brisbane, this Sunday 10 July at 12 noon.
Laudato Si’
Are you interested in exploring how your parish could get involved in the Archdiocese of Brisbane Laudato Si’ Action Plan? Your involvement can be as simple as asking for help to establish a study group to learn what Pope Francis teaches in his encyclical, Laudato Si’. Your involvement can be as simple and as flexible as you want it to be. Simply contact our Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, and he can discuss how we can support you. Either e-mail him at arndtp@bne.catholic.net.au or call on 0409 265 476.
You may even want to consider enrolling your parish in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. This can also be as simple as you want it to be. There is no obligation to undertake a time-consuming or expensive audit to participate. , please contact Peter as above and we can help you to tailor your participation to your needs and circumstances.
Individuals, families and schools are also welcome to consider enrolling in the Platform. Please contact us and we can offer you advice and support.
The Season of Creation is a special time of the year set aside for us to reflect on the gift of creation and our responsibility to care for it. It runs from September 1, the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, to October 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.
Promoting participation in the Season of Creation is one of the actions identified in the Archdiocese of Brisbane Laudato Si’ Action Plan. Why not organise a Season of Creation service in your parish, school or office during this time?
This year’s theme is : Listen to the Voice of Creation. Resources are now available to help you to get involved. Take a look at the resources, which include a celebration guide, at the Season of Creation web site.
The Queensland Churches Environmental Network (QCEN) will hold an ecumenical service for the Season of Creation on 1 September at 7:30 PM at the Albert Street Uniting Church, 319 Albert Street, Brisbane City. All are welcome.
Social Justice Statement 2022 – 2023
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference will launch their new Social Justice Statement, Respect: Confronting Violence and Abuse, nationally in early August. It explores the roots of violence and pays particular attention to the impact of violence on women and children. It proposes a number of responses from faith communities to violence in the community. The text of the Statement and other resources will become progressively available, but liturgy notes are already available here.
Printed copies of the Statement and the accompanying prayer card will only be available through a direct order from the printer.
A Brisbane launch of the Social Justice Statement will take place at St. James’ Hall, 92 Kirkland Avenue, Coorparoo, on Tuesday 23 August, at 7 for 7:30 PM. All are welcome to this event which will also be livestreamed.
Signs of Our Times
Signs of Our Times was officially launched a month ago by Archbishop Coleridge. Signs of Our Times is a collaboration between the Commission and the ACBC Office for Justice Ecology and Peace. It seeks to promote a culture of encounter in Catholic social action. It encourages action which is grounded in prayer, scripture and the Church’s tradition. It is a resource to help us to be a church on mission.
We are happy to help you to use these resources to enter more deeply into the daily struggles of the people around you. Take a look at the resources and, if you are interested in learning more, please contact Peter Arndt at arndtp@bne.catholic.net.au or on 0409 265 476 and we will help you to use these resources to become a more missionary Church.
National Sorry Day is this Thursday 26 May. It is a day on which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remember the many years of forcible removal of children from their families and its immense cost individually and communally. Sorry Day ceremonies will be held this week at Stolen Generations plaque sites around Brisbane:
· Sherwood Arboretum, Joseph Street, Sherwood, Thursday 26 May, 7:00 – 8:00 AM,
· Teralba Park, cnr. Osborne Rd. & Pullen Rd., Everton Park (entry via Pullen Rd), Thursday 26 May, 6:50 Am for 7:00 AM start, bring flowers to put on the plaque, free breakfast follows.
· Breakwater Park, Wynnum Foreshore, Thursday 26 May, 7:00 AM, free breakfast follows
· Kalinga Park, via Park Rd. entrance, Thursday 26 May, 9:00 Am elders’ morning tea, ceremony 10:00 AM, BBQ from 11:00 AM.
· Orleigh Park, West End, Friday 27 May, 8 – 10 AM, ceremony and free breakfast hosted by Link-Up Qld.
National Reconciliation Week is from 27 May to June 3. It’s a time to renew our commitment to build stronger relationships of respect and trust between First Nations Australians and non-Indigenous Australians. The theme for this year is Be Brave. Make Change. We are encouraged to make a commitment to deal with unfinished business so that change is possible.
An ecumenical reconciliation service will take place at St. Joseph’s and St. Anthony’s Parish, 30 Eldorado Street, Bracken Ridge, 7:00 – 8:00 PM, this Friday 27 May. All are welcome.
Don’t Forget to Register for the Signs of Our times Launch!
If you haven’t already registered for the on-line launch of Signs of Our Times by Archbishop Mark Coleridge on Tuesday 31 May, 6:00 – 7:00 PM, make sure you do so this week. Signs of Our Times is a collaboration between the Commission and the ACBC Office for Justice Ecology and Peace. It provides resources and support for Catholics to embrace a culture of encounter in their social action. It also encourages social action which is firmly grounded in scripture, tradition and prayer. During the launch, we will announce some opportunities for you to get a practical experience of what Signs of Our Times is all about. Register here.
Join Us for the Luminous Lantern Parade Welcoming Migrants and Refugees
Once again, the Commission is a community sponsor of the wonderful Luminous Lantern Parade. The parade will take place on Friday 10 June at Southbank Parklands (starting at Little Stanley Street). It kicks off at 6:00 PM, but contingents begin forming from 5:00 PM. For 15 years, we have been part of the parade which is a public expression of welcome to migrants and refugees. We encourage Catholics to join our contingent and help to carry our banner and lantern. Please register your interest in participating in the parade by e-mailing us at cjpc@bne.catholic.net.au.
Refugee Week 2022
Refugee Week 2022 is June 19 – 25. This year’s theme is Healing. You can find information and resources for Refugee Week at:
You can also find lots of information about refugee policy in Australia and much more at the web site of the Refugee Council of Australia
Urgent Help Wanted for Refugee Family
The Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance Program is urgently seeking donations to help a number of refugee families who have or will soon be evicted. Some do not have work rights. So, their situation is dire.
Donations can be paid to Communify: Direct deposit to the Communify Qld Gift Account: Reference: Asylum Seeker/rent BSB: 064123 Account: 10123138
Please email Communify’s Finance Team to request a tax-deductible receipt if you choose this method: janetp@communify.org.au
Laudato Si’
Laudato Si’ Week is currently being celebrated in Australia – 16 – 24 May. The Office for Justice Ecology and Peace has produced some resources for you to use each day for prayer, reflection and action. You can use these at any time during the year:
In other parts of the world, Laudato Si’ Week is just getting started. You can find information about resources and events in which you can get involved, including a series of webinars, at:
The Season of Creation begins on the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation, 1 September, and concludes on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, 4 October. This year’s theme is Listen to the Voice of Creation. You can find out more and start planning what you will do on the website
Listening to the Voices of the Pacific
There are two opportunities this week for you to listen to the voices of the peoples of the Pacific. In both cases, the General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Rev. James Bhagwan, will feature:
*A Pacific Islands Council of Queensland look at relations between Pacific countries and Australia. Register here.
*Talanoa 2022, an NCCA Assembly with the Pacific Ecumenical Community with Rev. James Bhagwan in Sydney or on-line. Register here.
Brisbane Laudato Si’ Action Plan
We’ve kept some of the best news till last! The Archdiocese of Brisbane’s Laudato Si’ Action Plan will be launched on World Environment Day, 5 June. The plan aligns with the Laudato Si’ Action Platform and will be the first of seven years of action to respond to Pope Francis for ecological conversion. Stay tuned for more soon!
This newsletter is authorised by the Commission Chair, Ms. Maree Rose.
The last few days have brought the devastation of flooding to our region and the horror of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Let’s pray and act in solidarity with all those affected by the floods in South-East Queensland and with the people of Ukraine.
As you know, the Russian military invaded Ukraine last week. Every day, we see the pain and suffering this is causing for the people of Ukraine.
Pope Francis has called for a global day of prayer and fasting in solidarity with the people of Ukraine on Ash Wednesday, 2 March. On Saturday, Archbishop Coleridge and Bishop Mykola Bychok, leader of Australia’s Ukrainian Catholics, supported the Pope’s call for prayer and also called on the Australian Government to provide generous support to Ukrainians who are forced to flee the violence.
We have spoken to Fr. Stefan Sapun, the Parish Priest of the Ukrainian Catholic Community in Brisbane. You are welcome to join the Ukrainian Catholic community to pray at 9:00 AM Mass this Ash Wednesday at Our Lady of Protection Church, 36 Broadway Street, Woolloongabba.
The Ukrainian Community of Queensland will also hold a rally this Sunday 6 March at 12 noon in King George Square, Adelaide Street, Brisbane. If you can, please consider standing with the people of Ukraine at this public act of solidarity.
Many Ukrainians have been injured and displaced. The Ukraine Crisis Appeal has been established to provide much needed support to all those affected by the invasion. The Appeal is a collaboration between the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, Rotary Australia World Community Service and Caritas Ukraine. Tax deductible donations can be made here.
You can keep in touch with further action and appeals by the Ukrainian Community of Queensland here.
Please continue to also pray for those in other parts of the world where violence and oppression continue – Myanmar, Hong Kong, Yemen, West Papua.
Responding to the Devastation of the Floods
Brisbane awoke this morning to the highest flood levels since 2011.(ABC News: Brian Hurst)
Many people have been seriously affected by the floods. Some have tragically lost their lives. Homes and businesses have been devastated and some people have been displaced. The Aboriginal community of Cherbourg has been cut off. Please continue your prayers for all those who have been affected and reach out with practical support when it is safe to do so.
We have been encouraging participation in Clean Up Australia Day activities this Sunday March 6. The priority now will clearly be to offer help to those whose homes and businesses have been flooded. As the flooding subsides, plenty of hands will be needed to help our neighbours to recover from this devastation.
This message is authorised by Ms. Maree Rose, Chair of the Catholic Justice & Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Brisbane.
On October 6, the Australian and PNG Governments came to an agreement that would result in the end of Australia using PNG as an offshore immigration processing centre. Read the full text of the Joint media release between the Hon Karen Andrews MP and the Hon. Westly Nukundj MP – Finalisation of the Regional Resettlement Arrangement here.
While the Catholic Bishops Conference of PNG and Solomon Islands welcomes the end of offshore processing in PNG, it expresses serious concerns about the continuing impact of Australia’s shifting of its responsibility to Pacific neighbours and the on-going hardship placed on the refugees in both PNG and Nauru.
Please read the comments from the Church in PNG and e-mail the Minister for Home Affairs, Karen Andrews, who announce the new arrangement. Urge her to stop shifting responsibility to support and resettle the refugees to our Pacific neighbours. Encourage her to bring all the refugees back to Australia so that we can take direct responsibility for the refugees: Karen.andrews.mp@aph.gov.au
Please continue to send a similar message to the Minister for Immigration, Alex Hawke, who was recently promoted to Cabinet. His e-mail address is: Alex.hawke.mp@aph.gov.au
Please continue to pray for our Pacific neighbours and for the refugees. In October, please especially pray the Rosary.
Peter Arndt, Executive officer, Catholic Justice and Peace Commission
Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has urged the Australian Government to accept the recommendation of a Parliamentary Committee that it seek to establish a human rights dialogue with Sri Lanka.
The Commission made a submission last year to an inquiry into human rights dialogues with China and Vietnam and its Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, appeared earlier this year before a public hearing conducted by the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, along with Pax Christi Queensland Coordinator, Fr Pan Jordan.
Mr Arndt said that the primary concern of its Submission to the inquiry was to encourage the expansion of the Australian Government’s human rights dialogues program with the Governments of China and Vietnam to include a dialogue with Sri Lanka.
“We began to express our concerns about the human rights situation in Sri Lanka at the height of the civil war in 2008 and 2009 and we continue to be concerned about what is happening there since the war ended in May 2009,” Mr Arndt said.
“The UN Human Rights Council passed a resolution in March this year calling for action by the Sri Lankan Government to implement the recommendations of its own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission as there was little action to address the grave concerns about human rights violations committed during the war,” he said.
“Sri Lanka’s human rights record came under scrutiny again this month when it was examined as part of a routine four-yearly Universal Periodic Review conducted by the UN Human Rights Council,” he said.
“Major human rights organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Crisis Group continue to raise their concerns about on-going extra-judicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances and the lack of judicial independence and media freedom,” he said.
“On the same day as the UN review of Sri Lanka’s human rights record commenced, the Sri Lankan Government introduced legislation into the Parliament to impeach the country’s Chief Justice,” he said.
Mr Arndt said that recent reports from Church bodies such as the Justice and Peace Commission in the Diocese of Jaffna in the north of Sri Lanka and discussions he has had with senior Church officials in Sri Lanka suggest that there has been no improvement particularly for the Tamil people in their homelands since the war ended,” he said.
“The military is still present in large numbers in the north and the east and they are a highly intimidating presence,” he said.
“One Church leader I spoke to said that he was safe as long as he did not speak out about the poor treatment of his people by the military and the Government,” Mr Arndt said.
“He clearly have good reason to fear reprisals if he complains or criticises the Government,” he said.
“Bishop Rayappu Joseph of Manna has been threatened repeatedly by Government Ministers for speaking out about human rights concerns in his diocese and a judge who complained recently about executive interference in the courts was assaulted,” he said.
“We have worked with other organisations in the local Sri Lanka Justice Forum to pressure the Government to implement the recommendation to seek a human rights dialogue with Sri Lanka,” he said.
“Australia cannot turn a blind eye to what is happening in a neighbouring country because we want their cooperation to stem the flow of asylum seekers,” he said.
“Indeed, one of the reasons why Sri Lankans are fleeing the country is that they continue to face serious repression and human rights abuses,” he said.
“We are grateful to local MPs and Senators who have taken our concerns to the Government and will continue to work with them to bring about improvements in the human rights situation in Sri Lanka,” he added.
For further information and comment, please contact Peter Arndt (Executive Officer, Catholic Justice & Peace Commission) on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.
This statement is issued by the Commission under the provisions of its mandate which enable it to speak in its own right and has been authorised by the Commission’s Executive.
The Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Brisbane, along with its Aboriginal partners and advisors, welcomes the recent dropping of police charges against a number of people who came to support local Aboriginal people and the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in May.
It is our hope that charges against others arrested by police will also be dropped.
We do not want to see the ugly confrontation between police, the Brisbane City Council, Aboriginal people and their supporters, which occurred on 16 May at Musgrave Park, repeated.
The sight of over 200 police officers surrounding Aboriginal people at the Tent Embassy at Musgrave Park was a sorry reminder to Aboriginal people of the troubled and difficult relations they have experienced with the police in this State over many years.
The indignity of being evicted by force by police at the request of Council authorities from land with which they have a long and deep connection was also a sorry reminder of their dispossession and all its negative consequences.
We welcome the conciliatory and respectful approaches and dialogue which have taken place between the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Brisbane City Council officers and elders and representatives of the local Aboriginal communities since the confrontation. It is hoped that this constructive approach will achieve positive outcomes for both the first peoples of this land and for the municipal authorities.
We implore both the State Government and the Queensland Police to follow the Council’s lead so that respectful and productive relationships can be established and cooperative partnerships can be formed to address the problems that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face across Queensland.
As we approachAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday on 1 July and NAIDOC Week (July 1 – 8), we acknowledge efforts by Church agencies, parishes and schools to develop relationships with local Aboriginal people. We encourage them to maintain and increase such efforts.
In particular, we encourage Catholics and people in the wider community to learn more about the history of Aboriginal peoples’ connection with Musgrave Park in South Brisbane and with other significant sites around south-east Queensland.
We also urge Catholics to learn more about the significance of the first Aboriginal Tent Embassy which was established in Canberra forty years ago and to walk with them on their on-going struggle for justice.
Finally, we wish to acknowledge the significant contribution of Aboriginal church workers and Aboriginal Christians who have worked tirelessly to support their sisters and brothers in the Tent Embassy in Musgrave Park since its establishment and for their long standing efforts to ensure that their people are afforded dignity in many difficult situations over many years. These humble and faithful people are extraordinary witnesses to God’s abundant mercy and love. May God continue to bless their work and inspire others to join them in their efforts to build a civilisation of love in Jesus’ name.
For further information and comment, please contact Peter Arndt (Catholic Justice & Peace Commission) on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476 or Ravina Waldren (Murri Ministry) on (07) 3891 5911 or 0408 707 101.
This statement is issued by the Commission under the provisions of its mandate which enable it to speak in its own right and has been authorised by the Commission’s Executive and its Aboriginal advisors before release.
Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission will host a World Environment Day screening of a documentary film depicting the struggle of Central Queensland communities against coal and gas extraction in their region.
Directed by US-based filmmaker Michael O’Connell, the film, Bimblebox, follows the story of Paola Cassoni, a resident of Alpha, Queensland, and co-owner of the Bimblebox Nature Refuge.
Bimblebox Nature Refuge is an 8000 ha property north of Alpha and directly in the path of the proposed ‘China First’ coal mine, an operation that, if given the go ahead, will be the world’s largest coal mine.
The documentary features interviews with leading academics, scientists, and former miners, as well as members of the communities impacted by mining. , It builds a picture of the broader implications of Australia’s mining boom, while focussing on one woman’s fight to protect the land she loves.
“This documentary was born out of the necessity” Ms Cassoni said, “to let the broader public know that our bush, our communities, our farms and our waters are going through a radical transformation.”
“It shows the daily battles and frustrations of ordinary people in dealing with both mining corporations and indifferent Governments,” she said.
It’s more than a hint that we need a new direction in energy consumption both at home and globally,” she added.
Mr O’Connell is an experienced environmental documentary film maker, having previously madeMountain Top Removal, a documentary which focussed on the issue of coal mining in the US region of Appalachia and received numerous awards including the ‘Reel Current’ award, presented by Al Gore, at the Nashville Film Festival.
“After making my film Mountain Top Removal I wanted to look at the global issue of mining and also explore the alternatives to fossil fuels. Australia was a perfect place to do that,” Mr O’Connell said.
The Justice and Peace Commission’s Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, said that the Commission was keen to promote the broadest possible discussion of the issues surrounding coal mining and gas extraction in Queensland.
“This film gives us the chance to hear the views and feelings of people living in the central west of Queensland whose lives and lands will be directly affected by very large mining developments,” Mr Arndt said.
“Christians have a responsibility to care for the earth and to defend the human dignity of all people now and in the future,” he said.
“It is not only the very powerful voices of Government Ministers and mining company executives which must be heard, but also those of graziers, workers and families living in areas affected by the decisions and actions of government and business,” he said.
A panel of speakers will discuss the film after its screening and light refreshments will be served.
Donations to help cover costs will be gratefully accepted. Bookings to help with catering may be made by e-mailing em.fl@bne.catholic.net.au or by phoning Sandi on 3336 9174.