St Joseph the Worker pastoral letter
Honorary University Degrees
Budget responses
St Joseph the Worker pastoral letter
The Chairman of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, Bishop Christopher Saunders (Broome) concludes Migrant Workers in Australia: Our responsibility as a global citizen, his Pastoral Letter for the Feast of St Joseph the Worker (May 1) ...
Reflecting on the life of Saint Joseph, who knew the true value of work and braved the upheaval and challenges of migration for the well-being and future of the family, we remember today the circumstances of vulnerable migrant workers. Let us also give thanks for the hard work of generations of migrant workers. Australia would not be the prosperous and vibrant community it is without their contribution.
Honorary University Degrees
On Tuesday, May 6, at the University of Ballarat Graduation Ceremony, Sister Rita Hayes, was awarded an Honorary Degree by the University of Ballarat in recognition of her public service. She also presented the occasional address. Following is the Citation which accompanied the awarding of the degree
UNIVERSITY OF BALLARAT
Award of the Degree of Doctor of the University Honoris Causa
CITATION
Sister Rita Ann Hayes RSM
Sister Rita Hayes was born in 1928 and in 1946 joined the Sisters of Mercy in Ballarat. She trained as a primary school teacher and then taught for many years at Sacred Heart College and St Martin's in the Pines.
During the 1970s Sister Rita Hayes began working as an honorary probation officer in Ballarat and was subsequently instrumental in setting up Lisa Lodge, a hostel for adolescent girls in Ballarat.
Lisa Lodge has continued to deliver much needed services to the Ballarat community during the past 38 years. It is now a multi-care agency providing support for families and young people through a comprehensive range of services.
The adolescent support program, called Lisa Lodge-Hayeslee, is named after Sister Rita, and is currently involved in an innovative program designed to target high risk adolescents in the Grampians Region.
Sister Rita lived at Lisa Lodge as an unpaid supervisor helping and mentoring girls and young women in need. Sister Rita still continues to take an active interest in the activities of Lisa Lodge and has been made a life member.
Academically, Sister Rita continued to build on her teacher training by completing a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in sociology and then pursuing postgraduate studies in Denver, Colorado, completing a Master of Arts degree majoring in community development.
Her work in community development is reflected in her many contributions to the Ballarat community. In 1994, she was elected to a five year position as Leader of the Ballarat Congregation of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy. In this position she brought a wealth of experience and wisdom to the task of leading a group of 96 Mercy Sisters into a challenging phase of its history.
Sister Rita was a founding member of Lifeline in Ballarat. She was involved in the development of the Ballarat Refugee Support Group and has been active in the Ballarat Regional Multi-Cultural Centre. Sister Rita also was instrumental in the establishment of GROW, an organisation for people recovering from psychiatric illness. In addition, she helped establish the Ballarat Diocesan Family Service known as Centacare, and was subsequently involved in the establishment of Centacare in Cairns.
Sister Rita was active as a Board Member of the Ballarat Children's Homes and Family Services. She has been involved with the West Papuan Association and has been Chairperson of the Association's local Central Highlands group. In 2006, Sister Rita was presented with the Council on Ageing Achievement Award, in recognition of her services to the community.
In recognition of her eminent public service, particularly to the community of Ballarat, the University of Ballarat is pleased to honour Sister Rita Hayes RSM with the degree, Doctor of the University Honoris Causa.
Sr Veronica Lawson, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Mercy, Ballarat East, and Professor David Battersby, Vice Chancellor, University of Ballarat.
The Sisters of Mercy
Mercy Matters reports that Pat Linnane RSM (Bathurst) also received an honorary doctorate from Charles Sturt University on May 9 for her service to the community.
Budget responses
Catholic Bishop welcomes Govt move to abandon Temporary Protection Visas
JRS reacts to Budget speech
CSSA: May be a turning point
St Vincent de Paul Society: Robin Hood's First Arrow
Catholic Bishop welcomes Govt move to abandon Temporary Protection Visas
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference today welcomed the Federal Government's Budget announcement that it will abandon Temporary Protection Visas, saying it was an important step in restoring integrity to Australia's protection visa system.
The ACBC delegate for immigration issues, Bishop Joseph Grech, said, while much of the detail of the measure was yet to be seen and considered, in principle, the move restored equality of treatment to all protection visa seekers, regardless of how they arrived in Australia.
JRS reacts to Budget speech
Jesuit Refugee Service has welcomed changes to the Australian Government's policy on refugees announced in last night's budget, but has called for further reform of the system.
CSSA: May be a turning point
Frank Quinlan, Executive Director, Catholic Social Services, Australia, summarised his initial comments as:
This budget may mark a turning point. It may mark a shift towards a fairer more inclusive Australia. If we are to ensure that all Australians can live a fairer, more dignified life there is still much to be done, and not all of it is funded by this budget. This budget does represent a substantial change in direction. Time will tell whether that new momentum can be sustained.
St Vincent de Paul Society: Robin Hood's First Arrow
"Robin Hood may have just fired off his first humble arrow", said Dr JohnFalzon, CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society. "More, however, must follow. Either we strongly invest in excluded Australians or we continue to make them pay. And in the end we will all pay the price for their continued exclusion..."
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