SOCIAL JUSTICE STATEMENT 2025/2026 - SEE JUDGE ACT

Signs of Hope on the Edge: Serving homeless people with mental ill-health

On the 12th of September, Ms Acitelli accompanied the four newly elected Youth Engagement Leaders, as we travelled to Holy Spirit College, Bellambi to participate in a social justice workshop based on the Australian Catholic Bishops Statement for 2025-26. The Statement theme for 2025-26 is Signs of Hope on the Edge: Serving homeless people with mental ill-health. In celebration of this document, Year 10 students from across the Diocese participated in a See, Judge, Act Workshop to put our faith into action. We participated in 3 sessions. The first was about seeing homelessness. The host went through a slideshow presentation where we learnt what the Bishop's statement was about and how homelessness exists every day. A representative from St Vincent de Paul came to talk about the work they do to combat homelessness and lend a helping hand. The next session was about judging homelessness. We heard people’s stories about being homeless with mental health issues, and we had to discuss with different students from other schools about what we learnt and how homelessness affects people. We then went into our school groups and discussed different initiatives we can introduce to assist the homeless. After that, all of the students made sandwiches with kind little notes which were going to be given out later that night by the Vinnies night patrol van. Overall, the experience was enriching and made us more aware of the issue of homelessness, and the importance of helping those in need, just like Christ did.

- Grace L, Year 10, Youth Engagement Leader 

CATHOLIC MISSION LAUNCH

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10)

In celebration of the Catholic Mission Launch 2025, students from across the Diocese were invited to Magdalene Catholic College on Thursday 11th September. The Catholic Mission Launch is an event in Australia when the yearly Catholic Mission Appeal, or World Mission Month, is officially launched, typically in October. This campaign aims to raise awareness and donations for international social justice initiatives benefiting people in developing countries.Throughout the liturgy and presentation of this mission, St Francis Catholic College was called to action and responded to God’s call to help those in need. The day has greatly inspired the Youth Engagement Leaders at St Francis Catholic College to lead our community to be God’s hands on earth in the month of October and going forward. We are mostly looking forward to the Socktober Appeal!  

- Trisha G and Carolina J, Year 10, Youth Engagement Leaders.