World Day of Social Justice
As we approach the World Day of Social Justice on 20 February, we are reminded of our communal duty to foster social development and equality for all. Striving for justice is not a part-time vocation and should not be realised in solitude. As the Gospel so clearly indicates to us, our faith is tested in […]
World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023
On Sunday 24 September 2023, we celebrated the Vatican’s 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. In his message, Pope Francis has expressed that freedom must determine the decision to leave one’s native land. Free to leave, free to stay. World Day of Migrants and Refugees is a day to reflect and honour the resilience […]
World Youth Day 2023
World Youth Day (WYD) is an international event for young Catholics. This year, WYD took place in Lisbon, Portugal from 1-6 August. I was blessed to be one of the estimated 1.5 million pilgrims who gathered for the event. I travelled to WYD with the Sydney Archdiocese, and then completed most of the pilgrimage with […]
Age is no barrier
Joelle Sassine – Eco-Hero Profile An active member of the Josephite Action Group and Josephite Justice Network, Joelle Sassine is proof that age is no barrier to being an Eco-Hero. As a recent graduate from the University of Sydney, the 22-year-old has hit the ground running, working simultaneously on a variety of social justice and […]
National Volunteer Week 2023: Being a JAG Volunteer
This year we celebrate National Volunteer Week from 15-21 May with the theme The Change Makers. It is no doubt that being a volunteer enables people to be catalysts for change. As a Josephite Action Group (JAG) member, volunteering has become a large part of my life.
World Homeless Day 2022
When the Tent City was set up in Martin Place by homeless people in 2017, I was fascinated by the attention and care that had been given to its organisation. The tents were placed at regular intervals, hot beverage tables were set up and all comers were offered free tea and coffee. The residents sat […]
May Prayer Intention: Faith-filled young people
May – For Faith-Filled Young People video by The Pope Video. Each month, Pope Francis asks for our prayers for a specific intention. For the month of May, the prayer intention is for faith-filled young people. In an increasingly secular world, you often wonder if there are still many people of faith, especially young […]
Josephite Justice through the Generations
It has been 40 years since Sr Jan Barnett asked me to don a veil and speak about Mary MacKillop’s mission. I was addressing my peers, who were seated cross-legged on the hall floor in front of me at Saint Joseph’s Girls High School, Kogarah, NSW. The 45 young leaders attending the inaugural Young […]
Where to Start? And How to Begin?
International Women’s Day 2021 This weekend’s image of the young Josephite volunteers at the House of Welcome, as they began to sort the many gifts received for refugee families and those seeking asylum, struck me yet again, as I realised I had once again underestimated the generosity of those who have worked through this COVID […]
JAG Weekend Gathering
On the first weekend of February the Josephite Action Group (JAG) met on the Central Coast at the St Joseph’s Spirituality and Education Centre at Kincumber, New South Wales. The goal of this weekend was to meet as a group to plan future events whilst also strengthening our leadership skills and teamwork.
Training Weekend for JAG Leaders
Josephite Action Group (JAG) Training Weekend – November 2020 Saturday (29 November) saw many veteran JAG volunteers and some new volunteers meet at St Joseph’s Spirituality Centre at Baulkham Hills to develop skills to host refugee families on a weekend away at Telford Recreational Centre at The Royal National Park in 2021. We began with […]
JAG Partners with the House of Welcome
JAG (Josephite Action Group) volunteers have recently partnered with the House of Welcome to support asylum seeker families. Sixteen generous young people (and a few more mature helpers!) responded to a request from the House of Welcome to help prepare a home for a group of young homeless refugee women.