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.
As part of the “Season of Creation” and in ongoing response to the Papal Encyclical “Laudato Si’ “, the Archdiocese of Brisbane Justice and Peace Commission and Evangelisation Brisbane co-host a panel discussion: ”Cultivating a Sense of Place: Contemplating Ecology in a Time of Loss”.
News from the Catholic Justice & Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Brisbane which has been mandated by successive Archbishops to promote understanding of Catholic social teaching in the areas of justice, peace and the environment since 1985.
COP 26 Approaches
The formal meetings of world leaders at the COP 26 in Glasgow are days away. Our world is faced with immense challenges because of dangerous climate change. The scientific evidence is overwhelming. Swift and decisive action is needed.
Many of you have already been working to impress on our leaders the need for urgent action. What is certain is that our work will not end when COP 26 in Glasgow ends. We will need to continue our advocacy well beyond this year. As Christians, we will also need to direct attention to the way we live and to the spirituality which shapes our outlook.
Nothing about Us without Us!!!
In their recent Social Justice Statement, Australia’s Bishops have stressed the importance of listening to the voices of First Nations people about caring for the earth. It is essential that our work for justice, peace and care for creation prioritises the concerns and advice of First Nations people in Australia and of Pacific peoples. They are already facing the harmful consequences of climate change and they have the least responsibility for it. In humility and respect, we should acknowledge their leadership in the struggle for climate justice. Unless we are committed to this way of acting, we have not heard the core message of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’. The Holy Father calls for a commitment to integral ecology. We need to hear the cries of the earth and the cries of those who are poor. In this current crisis, those who are the most vulnerable and have the least power must be at the heart of action to address it!
First Nations elders in Brisbane have been saying to us, loudly and clearly, “Nothing about us without us!” They are leading action to address the climate crisis and the social problems they face in Australia. The peoples of the Pacific are also seeking to shape the regional and global response to the climate crisis. They are living with the impacts of climate change right now. We need to listen to them and support their leadership in the struggle for justice.
In this spirit, I am sending messages on behalf of the Commission to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders and leaders and to church leaders in the Pacific offering our continued support for their priorities and their leadership during and after COP 26.
Supporting First Nations Leadership in Australia
The Commission encourages you to offer your support to campaigns led by First Nations people including:
Common Grace is running a number of actions on climate change as well as important issues like First Nations deaths in custody:
Our Islands, Our Home Torres Strait Islanders are campaigning for climate action to save their island homes from rising seas. Support the #TorresStrait8 who have taken action against the Australian Government at the UN for its failure to take action on climate change:
Get Up First Nations Team is taking action to support traditional owners who don’t want fracking on their country. They are also taking action to provide food security in remote communities, to address the on-going shame of First Nations deaths in custody, and to protect sacred sites from being damaged by the activities of mining companies
The Wangan & Jagalingou Traditional Owners Council has waged a David and Goliath struggle against the Adani company so they can protect sacred sites on their country in central Queensland. Queensland Police recently declared that they would not remove Wangan & Jagalingou people from their country as they had a right to perform traditional ceremonies on their country under the Human Rights Act. I had the privilege of spending 2 weeks last year on country as part of the solidarity contingent in their Standing Our Ground campaign. Wangan and Jagalingou people are on country now, performing ceremonies. They invite us to come and join them in solidarity as they continue to defend their right to be on their country and protect their sacred sites. . You can offer your support in a variety of ways including going up to country as part of the solidarity contingent.
Supporting Pacific Leadership
In the days leading up to COP 26, the Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) has issued a call for climate action. It is the result of 2 years of consultation across the Pacific. Please share this statement in your community, in your networks and with your MP. It may be found here.
Listening to the Call of Church Leaders
Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew recently issued a joint declaration offering us guidance in our response to the climate crisis. They called for 3 responses:
· Prayer for world leaders in the lead up to COP 26;
· Meaningful sacrifices by individuals for the sake of the planet;
· Actions by leaders which focus on people-centred profits and which lead us to a just and sustainable future.
As you reflect on their challenge, ask yourself how you will respond. You can read more here.
Calling for Action from Our Political Leaders
Please join the Commission which is sending messages to all Federal MPs in the Archdiocese. We are calling on them to support strong, urgent and decisive climate action which responds to the calls of First Nations people and of the peoples of the Pacific. E-mail them, ring their offices and even make an appointment to meet them to tell them what they should support. You can find contact details for all Federal MPs here.
A journalist friend in the Solomon Islands, Jeremy Gwao, has been investigating the impact of climate change on people living on Wagina Island in the Solomon Islands. They make a living by growing kelp, but things are changing as the climate changes. Jeremy’s article underlines the urgent need for decisive climate action. It’s well worth a read:
Media Statement Monday 4 October 2021 BRISBANE’S CATHOLIC JUSTICE & PEACE COMMISSION ANNOUNCES 40 DAY PRAYER CAMPAIGN 40 days of prayer lead up to next phase of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform
The Catholic Justice & Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Brisbane announces its co-leadership of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development’s 40-day campaign of prayers based on the Laudato Si’ Goals, for communities joining the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.
The prayer campaign supports the seven sectors joining the Laudato Si’ Action Platform with a dedicated day of prayer for each, connecting each sector with a Laudato Si’ Goal. 14 November will begin the next phase in the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. On that date, Laudato Si’ Planning Guides and all related materials will be published, and members of the universal Church will be invited to make a firm commitment to creating their own Laudato Si’ Plans.
While the next phase in the platform had been planned for 4 October, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development sees a need to continue building on the dynamic conversations taking place with the Catholic Justice & Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Brisbane and nearly 200 additional partners.
The Catholic Justice & Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Brisbane has been an integrally important co-leader of efforts to build the Laudato Si’ Action Platform. Serving as a member of the Parishes and Dioceses working group, the Commission has assisted in shaping both the model and the content of the platform.
Extending the date from 4 October to 14 November helps ensure that the Laudato Si’ Action Platform will truly serve the needs of Catholic parishes, schools, families and other institutions
All Catholic parishes, schools, families and households and other institutions are warmly invited to review the existing resources on the Laudato Si’ Action Platform website and to discern their commitment to creating a Laudato Si’ Plan.
For further information or comments, please contact Peter Arndt, Executive Officer of the Commission, on +61 409 265 476
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
World Refugee Week 2010 k theme was Freedom from Fear. The Refugee Council of Australia produced a series of resources for the Week including a poster, facts and figures about refugees, an event planning guide and teacher materials.
Fr Pan Jordan op and Sr Wendy Flannery rsm at World Refugee Rally , Brisbane June 20 2010
Among the more than 200 people who gathered in Reddacliff Square, Brisbane on World Refugee Day, June 20, were representatives from parishes, religious communities and the Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission.
Fr Pan Jordan OP was one of the speakers and spoke of the plight of Tamil refugees.Fr Jordan quoted the report from the International Crisis Group which has gathered evidence of the ongoing human rights abuses among Tamils. He also called on the Federal Government to lift the suspension of processing of refugee claims by people from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
In a recent statement the Brisbane Catholic Justice and Peace Commission noted that many significant international organisations and some major Sri Lankan bodies such as the Superiors of Major Religious Congregations have expressed serious concerns about the Sri Lankan Government’s lack of commitment to the rule of law, democracy, proper governance, human rights and freedom of the media.They also have doubts about the Sri Lankan Government’s commitment to political reconciliation which will see minorities such as the Tamils freed from discrimination and oppression.
Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission has vowed to continue its work to promote the universal abolition of the death penalty in the wake of the execution of the three Bali Bombers yesterday.
The Commission’s Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, said that the execution of the three Indonesians had done nothing to resolve the problems which caused the killing of 202 people in Bali in 2002 nor to heal the immense pain caused by the terrorist attacks.
“The grief and pain suffered by so many survivors and families of those killed in the bombings makes what the bombers did an immense wrong,” Mr Arndt said.
“However, State-sanctioned killing does not make things better,” he said.
“The psychological and physical damage of survivors and families of victims is still there from all we have heard,” he said.
“The unrepentant commitment of the Bombers themselves to violence may have been silenced, but their supporters are still voicing the same hateful ideas,” he said.
“The Bombers will now never have a chance to understand the pain they have caused and the victims will never have the opportunity to hear words of remorse from them,” he said.
“There will be no chance for reparations to be made by the Bombers to the victims,” he said.
“We are still faced with the threat of more violence and terror hanging over our heads and the prospect of other people being killed and families suffering dreadful loss,” he said.
“Killing is not the answer to killing,” he said.
“Our Commission will continue to promote universal abolition of the death penalty,” he said.
“Our Federal Government needs to have an uncompromising commitment to this goal and we will do what we can to encourage this,” he said.
“In relation to the threat posed by violent religious extremists in our own region, there needs to be a stronger commitment to supporting inter-religious dialogue and action to respond to this problem,” he said.
“It is good to see that some work is being done in this area and we will do what we can to support it,” he said.
“We urge Catholics to continue to keep the survivors and victims’ families in their prayers,” he said.
“We ask them to also pray for an end to all forms of violence and to support action which promotes peace and universal respect for the dignity of every human person,” he said.
For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.
NBThis release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Charter which enables it to speak in its own right.The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Australian Catholic Bishops Social Justice Statement 2008
Friday 17 October 2008
Brisbane’s Catholic Justice and Peace Commission called on Catholics to pressure political leaders to take action to end poverty in Australia and around the world.
The Commission’s Executive Officer, Peter Arndt, was speaking after leading Archdiocesan staff in pledging a commitment to action on world poverty in the grounds of the Cathedral of St Stephen on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Friday 17 October.
Similar gatherings, involving tens of millions of people,were held in parishes, schools, workplaces and communities around the world between 17 and 19 October to remind world leaders of their commitment to end world poverty and hunger.
“We gathered on the same day as the Prime Minister sat down with the leaders of Australian business to discuss responses to the current global financial crisis,” he said.
“We gathered to say that almost a billion people around the world are hungry and malnourished and that this is as important a crisis which demands urgent and substantial action,” he said.
“We must keep reminding our leaders that they made important promises at the United Nations in 2000 and that they must keep them for the sake of our suffering sisters and brothers,” he said.
Mr Arndt said that Catholics should also be asking our leaders to take concerted and sustained action to address the poverty which over two million Australians face,” he said.
“The Social Justice Sunday Statement of Australia’s Bishops indicates that poverty in Australia is a critical issue which needs sustained action and Catholics should be tirelessly advocating this,” Mr Arndt said.
Mr Arndt is a member of the Queensland Facilitating Committee for Anti-Poverty Week which coincides with the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.The Committee helped community groups and agencies around the State to organize events and activities to raise awareness about poverty.
Anti-Poverty Week was launched by the Speaker of the Queensland Parliament, Mike Reynolds, at the Parliamentary Annexe earlier in the week (on Monday 13 October).
“The Bishops told us that much of poverty in Australia is structural which means it is caused by the way society and our economic system are organized,” he said.
“The Bishops urge us to be advocates for change which makes it possible for our fellow Australians to throw off the shackles of poverty and live dignified lives,” he said.
“I encourage Catholics who have not yet read this year’s Social Justice Sunday Statement to get a copy or read it on the internet and use it as a basis for action,” he said.
For further information, please contact Peter Arndt on (07) 3336 9173 or 0409 265 476.NBThis release is issued with the approval of the Commission or its Executive under the provision of its Charter which enables it to speak in its own right.The views expressed in it do not necessarily represent the views of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.
Catholic Justice and Peace Commission of Brisbane 