Religious Dimension

Refugee Week

Refugee Week in Australia is celebrated from Sunday 18th June to Saturday 24th June. The theme this year is 'finding freedom'.

Refugee Week is an important opportunity for us all to experience and celebrate the rich cultures of refugee communities through all kinds of events including theatre, music, dance, film, and food.

The key aims of Refugee Week are:

• To celebrate the ways in which people from refugee back grounds enrich our communities and culture.

• To educate the public about who refugees are and why they have come to Australia, and to understand the many challenges they face in doing so.

• To foster empathy and understanding and in doing so, encourage a safe and welcoming environment for people seeking safety in Australia.

• To enable communities and individuals to take positive action and stand in solidarity with people seeking asylum and displaced people in Australia and around the world.

Prayer for Refugees

Almighty and merciful God,

whose Son became a refugee and had no place to call his own,

look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger,

homeless and hungry.

Bless those who work to bring them relief.

Inspire generosity and compassion in the hearts of all of us.

Guide us and every nation of the world                                                                                                towards that day when all will rejoice in your Kingdom of justice and of peace;

Through Jesus Christ, our Brother and our Lord .  

Amen.