National wage case decision gives low-income earners breathing space but still well below poverty line
The decision today by the Fair Work Commission to increase the National Minimum Wage (NMW) by 5.2 per cent is welcome but workers on low incomes will still struggle to make ends meet, Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia, Francis Sullivan, said today.World Meeting of Families 22-26 June 2022
Families will be placed at the centre of pastoral attention as the tenth World Meeting of Families (WMOF) takes place in Rome this week. With the theme “Family Love: a vocation and a path to holiness,” the week aims to highlight family love as a vocation, focus our attention on the ways family members are called to holiness, and explore ways the Church community can support families in their mission.
Mr and Mrs Baldwin 65 Years of Marriage
On 15 June 1957, Julie Heaphy and Darrel Baldwin were married in St Malachy’s Church, Nagambie by Father George Shanahan. Last Sunday on 19 June, parishioners of St Malachy’s, together with Fr Tony Hill and Monsignor Frank Hickey, celebrated Julie and Darrel’s 65th Wedding Anniversary in that same church with Mass followed by a delicious morning tea. Knights pitch in to restore Grotto of Crucifixion
The Grotto of the Crucifixion on the grounds of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo is sparkling with new life thanks to Knights Eddie Davies, Kevin Egan, Kevin Umina and John Mooney.
In January this year, the Grotto was in a state of disrepair. In consultation with Cathedral Administrator, Fr Brian Boyle, Knights of the Southern Cross member Eddie Davies recruited a team of workers to undertake maintenance works.
St Peter's Primary School to celebrate 50 years of learning
For most of the young pupils at St Peter's Primary School, this year's 50th anniversary is hard to fathom, but for others it runs in the family. Brothers Andre and Nikiri Bysouth are following in the footsteps of their mother, Shaniqua who also attended the school.
Along with their classmates, they have enjoyed looking over vintage photos from the school's history as the community prepares to mark the milestone.
Bishop Joe Grech Youth Scholarship 2022
By Jenni Kennedy
For the first time in three years recipients of the Bishop Joe Grech Scholarship were able to receive their award in person. Eight of the eleven worthy recipients gathered at an awards ceremony in Bendigo on 16 June. Executive Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst, Mr Paul Desmond was delighted to present the scholarship in person. "To speak with these incredible students and to get a sense of the calibre of young people in our schools is truly inspiring," he said.
Finding Peace in Ballarat
A Mercy Works story for Refugee Week
When Peace Aziawor, 19, arrived in Ballarat from Togo, West Africa in 2011, she was scared, painfully shy and didn’t want to be seen as different. She was so worried about standing out that she asked not be removed from the classroom at Phoenix College for her one-on-one sessions with her Mercy Connect volunteer, Margaret Adams.MND Global Awareness Week 19-25 June
By Mary Pianta
Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a term used to describe a group of diseases for which there is no cure. They affect people in every country of the globe, with over 400,000 currently living with MND.
The date chosen for MND Day, 21 June is a solstice – a turning point, in summer or winter depending on where you live – so it is hoped this day will be another turning point in the search for cause, treatment and cure of this brutal disease. Our vision is of a world free from MND.
Reconciliation Mass for Healing and Justice
The St Augustine's community in Kyabram came together on National Sorry Day to remember the Stolen Generations and commit to working for healing and justice. The day commenced with a Smoking Ceremony and Welcome to Country led by Traditional Elder, Uncle Rik Ronnan, followed by Mass celebrated by Bishop Shane Mackinlay. PRF Caring for Retired Priests and Priests living with illness
The Priests Retirement Foundation of the Diocese of Sandhurst (PRF) has been operating for 21 years and has supported many Sandhurst priests throughout their retirement. Now, as approved by the Australian Taxation Office, the Foundation can not only support retired priests, but also priests living with illness.
As the end of the financial year approaches, you might like to consider making a tax donation to the PRF as a means of assisting Sandhurst priests who have retired or are too unwell to serve.
