Faith and Mission

Advent will be upon us next week and one of the ways we focus on this time of waiting is to ponder the words of Pope Francis. During Advent he asked what we should do for Jesus and others. At the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis said  the Advent Season is about asking ourselves how to prepare for Christmas and what we can do for Jesus and others, concretely, in our lives. 

Recently ACRATH (Australian Catholic Religious Against the Trafficking in Humans ) contacted us and asked if we could make a short video for the world day of prayer  against the trafficking of humans. This has been organised by Pope Francis and our video will represent the Oceanic region, raising awareness about the use of child labour to produce cobalt, a mineral used to make lithium. Forty percent of cobalt is produced in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and uses child labour. These children risk their lives working twelve hour days to provide the minerals used by big technology companies to produce their batteries. . ACRATH and Talitha Kum ( meaning Rise Up) are asking these companies to stop this practice. Our video hopefully will be part of an effective protest on their behalf. 

Finally, as another way to prepare for Jesus, in a concrete way, we ask if you could donate to the Brigidine Asylum Seeker Project for vulnerable people, who really need our help this Christmas. The list of items needed is below and BASP would greatly appreciate your help. If you could give your daughter an item we will gather them for our final liturgy and deliver them to BASP. In anticipation of your generosity I thank you on behalf of BASP.

After a year or change and transition back to school, I wish you a peace filled and joyous Christmas period.

Peter O’Neill

AP Faith and Mission