Refugee Week

Refugee Week was celebrated during the last week of Term 2.

To help people understand the many challenges refugees face and to focus on how we as a community can provide a safe and welcoming environment for refugees, we spent the week informing students, staff and our community about refugees and celebrating the positive contributions they make to our society.

As part of our awareness raising activities, our Year 12 students, along with staff and members of our parish, formed a Circle of Solidarity and Silence to show their support for refugees.

Pope Francis frequently reminds us that migrants and refugees are not a problem to be solved, or a burden to be shared equitably among countries, but sisters and brothers to be welcomed, respected, and loved.

Their presence is not an imposition but presents us with the opportunity to contribute with them to building a better world.

In doing so, we are supporting the Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP), one of Kildare Education Ministries‘ Community Works.

BASP was co-founded in 2001 by Sr Brigid Arthur and St Joseph’s College past principal, Sr Catherine Kelly.

Sr Brigid continues to work tirelessly with refugees and was recently recognised for her work with an AO (Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia) in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

BASP relies on donations and volunteers’ work to provide accommodation, food, employment, financial support and help with visa applications.

This year we are collecting donations to purchase Myki Cards and phone cards for BASP clients.

We encourage you to contribute to the work of BASP by visiting: https://basp.org.au/you-can-help/ or dropping your donation into the school.

Claire Hogan

Justice Education Coordinator