Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 47 SOCIAL JUSTICE First Nations Peoples Human Trafficking and Slavery “Purchasing is always a moral and not simply an economic act.” Pope Francis Laudato Si’ #206 2015. Migrants and Refugees The Diocese of Sandhurst is a member of the Victorian and Tasmanian Modern Slavery Taskforce which aims to encourage and assist the Church in Victoria and Tasmania to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking by developing slavery-free supply chain strategies in all Church agencies; providing anti-slavery education and engagement initiatives; and ensuring welfare services and justice are available for all human trafficking survivors. In 2020 the Catholic Education Office committed to slavery-free staffrooms in an endeavour to live by the values expresssed in Laudato si’, that “purchasing is always a moral and not simply an economic act.” The Diocese of Sandhurst acknowledges and deeply respects the spiritual beliefs and traditions of Aboriginal people. Sandhurst Social Justice aims to have: • a Message Stick permanently displayed in every parish; • acknowledgement of original custodians on every Parish Bulletin; and • acknowledgement of original custodians at the commencement of all meetings. Catholic Primary Schools in the Diocese have implemented the FIRE Carrier program designed to promote respect, fairness and inclusion for Aboriginal people. Each school has a FIRE Carrier covenant and commissions FIRE carriers to promote enculturation and reconciliation. In 2020 the theme for NAIDOC week was ‘Always was Always Will be.’ Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Naidoc Week was postponed from July to November. In 2020 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday was celebrated with the theme ‘Together in Spirit’, in the midst of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter protests. Unfortunately, a National Reconciliation Mass for Catholic Education at St Kilian’s, was delayed until May 2021. FIRE Carriers at St Mary’s Primary School in Mooroopna. In 2020, 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees was celebrated on 27 November. Pope Francis’ titled his annual message ‘Forced like Jesus to flee’ to focus on the pastoral care of internally displaced people, while understanding there are those who are feeling ‘displaced’ as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. On Palm Sunday, Mass celebrated by Bishop Shane Mackinlay was live-streamed from st Kilian’s in Bendigo. Homilist Fr Junray Rayna focused on empathy with those who are unable to be with people who matter to them, like refugees, like Jesus. On Palm Sunday parishioners were invited to join people from all faiths for an online rally, organised by the Refugee Advocacy Network. In the Diocese of Sandhurst parishioners with an interest in advocacy for the rights and welfare of migrants and refugees have the opportunity to join Rural Australians for Refugees, which is under the National Refugee Advocacy Network. While the values of RAR members are formed by a range of beliefs and philosophies, the response of Catholic members is shaped by Catholic Social teaching. RAR provides an umbrella for Catholics in the Diocese of Sandhurst to pursue their values and passion in this area.
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