Faith, Justice & Formation

Youth Climate ‘Strike’

In the afternoon of the Friday before last, thousands of young Australians gathered online to participate in an online climate strike with the aim to #BuildaBetterFuture. Throughout the 4 hour livestream, we heard from key figures in the effort to spread climate awareness, including voices from across the globe who are fighting on the frontline of the climate and coronavirus crisis. New issues emerging due to the lockdown, as well as proactive ways to respond to current global challenges were discussed. Members of the SJAG and FIAT teams had the opportunity to hear from voices of similar aged activists and along with the 50,000 other viewers of the livestream, we helped spread the word that we care about the earth, we care about our home, and we care about the future. Similar events to this are a regular occurrence online and in our community and on behalf of the SJAG team, I would encourage you to find a way, even if it is only a small one, to be actively involved and engaged in the push for a better future.

See the attachment below for resources from the Pacific Calling Partnership at the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice suggesting ways you can advocate for climate justice – some good chances to get involved and be active in your passion.

Jack Richardson 

Sustainability Prefect

Fundraising at St Patrick's in the Current Climate

Recent months have been difficult financially for many, including for some members of our own community. Additionally, the most vulnerable in society, who our College supports in many ways, are always in need of assistance, but their struggles and concerns have been amplified at this time as their need increases and the usual aid lessens.

There are various times throughout the year when we ask for your help in raising funds and/or goods for significant causes – the Lenten Appeal, Winter Appeal, Christmas Appeal, Night Patrol donations and Year Group Justice Partnerships most specifically.  As a community founded on the need to ‘give to the poor in handfuls’ from the example of Edmund Rice who lived according to Gospel values, it is important that we maintain a commitment to giving and sharing. We acknowledge the tension of supporting our families and caring for those in need, so in all that we do going forward, as has always been the case, we will simply ask for you to contribute in whichever way you can. We plan to continue our fundraising efforts for the remainder of 2020 as there are many who rely on us. Across all faith traditions there is teaching about giving where we are reminded that there is always someone worse off than ourselves and if we cannot contribute with money then we are called to share of our time by working with and for those who are in greater need.

The end of Term 1 was a topsy-turvy time that cut short our Lenten fundraising efforts.  The Junior School was able to fit in the Fun Run which allowed for a good foundation for our appeal, however as a community we currently have less than half our usual total of around $100,000 for our Lenten Partners. The partners this year include Lucas Gardens School in Canada Bay and Callan Services in PNG who both work with people with disabilities (usually neglected in the Majority World) as well as local connections with St Joseph’s in Alice Springs and a community on the South Coast affected by the natural disasters earlier this year and who are still very much in need. To wrap up our Lenten Appeal for this year I ask any family or student who can, to bring in a one-off cash donation (or smaller amounts over many days) to the bucket at the Finance Office between now and Thursday 4 June. If needed, you are welcome to ring the Finance office to make a donation over the phone. This will mark the end of the ‘Lenten’ Appeal.

Later in the term we will also be running the Winter Appeal for the donation of blankets, beanies, scarves, socks and toiletries. There will be more information on this coming.

We thank you for your support and generosity at all times and pray that all of our families feel secure and ‘normal’ once again. We also thank you for your understanding of our need to continue to work for right relationships with others and the earth, as we care for our immediate community as well.

Gillian Daley

Director of Identity

National Reconciliation Week

In This Together

National Reconciliation Week takes place from Wednesday 27 May to Wednesday 3 June and is a chance for all Australians to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. The week fosters discussion of our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and explores how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. This year’s theme is In This Together.

Education plays a large part in NRW, especially of the past and current disparity in quality of life between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples. Currently, the ABS identifies that while Aboriginals represent only 3% of Australia’s population, they make up a third of Australia’s prison population. Also, ATSI peoples have an almost 9 year disparity in life expectancy when compared to their non-Aboriginal Australians. Both facts are a direct result from Aboriginal peoples missing a sense of agency due to Australia’s colonial history, the cause of lasting wounds. 

In a just, equitable and reconciled Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children will have the same life chances and choices as non-Aboriginal children, and the length and quality of a person’s life will not be determined by their racial background. It is important, as a newly nascent and liberally-minded generation of Australians, that we move forward, hand-in-hand with Aboriginal peoples and together strive for a more equal future for all. 

So, what can we do? During NRW, we can make ourselves more knowledgeable about the facts around Aboriginal history and culture. The vision of reconciliation is based and measured on five dimensions: historical acceptance; race relations; equality and equity; institutional integrity and unity. A greater historical acceptance can lead to improved race relations, which in turn bridges the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal thought bubbles and can lead to a greater sense of unity. 

We can also connect with organisations such as Reconciliation Australia and gain a greater understanding of the issues facing our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, issues that are often underrepresented or become misrepresented in common media cycles and local ‘backyard’ conversations. 

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We will have a video link up with our friends at St Joseph’s in Alice Springs this week, with a Zoom meeting with an Aboriginal Uncle, and pledge to work for Reconciliation at all times. Watch our video of support and the SPC Pledge for Reconciliation.

Luke Di Giacomo

Social Justice Prefect