October is Catholic Mission Month

The Catholic Church teaches that human life is sacred because we are all created in the image and likeness of God and all people have the right to live a dignified life in their homeland. In 2019 the UN Refugee body advised a new record of 71 million displaced people around the world. War, natural disaster, persecution and discrimination have deprived millions of people of their home, employment, family and homeland. The dignity and human rights of people seeking asylum must be respected regardless of citizenship, visa status or mode of arrival. Many people seeking asylum are already survivors of crimes, torture and trauma and indefinite detention adds further stress and suffering and may impact mental and physical health. Jesus and his family became refugees when they fled to Egypt after Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem. During his mission, Jesus identified himself as a stranger to be welcomed, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in” (Matthew 25:35). All people everywhere have a right to be welcomed as part of a community.

Catholic Mission’s vision is that all may have life in Christ. “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). They work to provide people the opportunity for a full, enriched life—physically and spiritually—regardless of race, stigma, religion or gender.

The theme of this year’s World Mission Day Message is “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20), and is a summons to each of us to do the following:

• See– open our eyes to really see injustices in the world (keep informed, hear and read stories, study social systems)
• Judge– analyse what is happening in our world using our faith, our values, our intelligence
• Act– take action to right wrongs in an ongoing cycle: seeing, judging and acting

St Mary’s School Values

This school term, our focus values are JUSTICE and SERVICE. We will follow in Jesus’ footsteps and support Catholic Mission by being…

Jesus’ feet - walking with others in the spirit of Justice

Jesus’ hands - offering Service to others

Please help us promote a just world by supporting our Mission Month awareness and fundraising activities. Stay tuned to hear more.

There are many ways we can use our voices to speak out for justice on behalf of those in need “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20)

• Sign up to volunteer and support the work of the End Child Detention Coalition, Catholic Mission’s advocacy work for the protection of children.
• Learn more about the work of the International Detention Coalition and how positive change happened in Thailand.
• There are a range of ways you can get involved with CAPSA, the Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum, and their work to achieve a compassionate welcome of people seeking asylum in Australia.
• Watch this TEDx talkwhere the experience of seeking asylum by boat is brought to life.

Challenge stereotypes and misinformation when you hear them in the playground, in class or at home and use social media to highlight what’s happening in Australia and overseas.

“Go therefore to the highways and byways, and invite everyone you find” (Mt 22:9). No one is excluded, no one need feel distant or removed from this compassionate love.