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- Communities in crisis - Caritas and Catholic Mission and Bishops
- Petition presented - but still open
- New connections for Earthsong
- 6000km round road trip
- Catholic identity - a burning question
- Albania wants Mother Teresa's remains
 CARITAS AUSTRALIA
Across Asia and the Pacific, Caritas Australia is responding to the desperate need of communities in India, Nepal, Samoa, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. An initial allocation of $250,000 has been made but more donations are needed to help rebuild devastated lives.
Donations can be made online or call the hotline 1800 024 413.
further information
 CATHOLIC MISSION
An Australian Sister working in Samoa evacuated 320 children in the wake of the tsunami and earthquakes that struck there. Salesian Sister Doris Barbero (pictured) said the disaster struck as the children were walking to St Joseph's School, Leauva'a, in coastal Samoa. She and the Sisters at the neighbouring convent hastily gathered the children together and moved them to higher ground. more details
Catholic Mission urges all Australians to help provide care to the many families who have suffered hurt and heartbreak through the loss of relatives and destruction to their homes Tax deductible donations can be made by phoning Catholic Mission on 1800 257 296
Bishop Peter Ingham (Wollongong) who is the President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania has asked Bishops from around the world gathered in Rome at the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops to pray for those affected by the tsunami that hit Samoa and Tonga.
The President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Philip Wilson, joined with Pope Benedict XVI in praying for the victims of the Asia Pacific disasters and calling on people to give generously to assistance appeals. Pope Benedict invited pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square to join him praying for the victims of the natural disasters in Asia and the Pacific and called on the international community to give generously.
Petition presented - but still open
  The petition for an award for Timor-Leste has been tabled in Federal Parliament by David Bradbury (pictured right ), the Labor member for Lindsay (Sydney). The petition contained 22,717 signatures when Susan Connelly RSJ presented the petition in September on behalf of the Mary MacKillop East Timor Mission (pictured lef t). By October 12, the number had risen to 23,532 - and is still open for signatures.
The petition calls on the House of Representatives to support the nomination of Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste - then a colony of neutral Portugal - as a recipient of the Companion of the Order of Australia (Honorary) in recognition of the unique role played by the East Timorese people in supporting Australians during World War II.
 New connections for Earthsong
Earthsong, a cooperative ecological-spiritual-educational venture supported by several religious congregations, planned to launch a new interactive website at its October 14 annual general meeting. All people interested in celebrating the sacred in all creation have been invited visit the site and to subscribe to publications such as enotes and other updates about events and programs. Visit the Earthsong website and enter your email address on the right column and click the "subscribe" button. You will then be asked to type in a series of letters to protect against spam.
6000km round road trip
 The Holy Spirit is in this Lan d was the theme for the 2009 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) assembly which was held on the traditional land of the Turrbal people in Brisbane in September. The keynote address was delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma.
NATSICC assemblies are held every three years. The previous assembly celebrated the 20th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's visit in 1986. Held in Alice Springs, it attracted 700 delegates.
This year's assembly focussed on youth and honouring the Elders with a special emphasis on past NATSICC councillors. The assembly drew participants from around Australia. Among them was a group from near Alice Springs who drove 6000km to be able to attend. One of them, Sister Liz Wiemers SGS, from Santa Teresa, writes of the experience in The long road beckons.
Catholic identity - a burning question
Why is Catholic identity the hot question for the Church right across the western world? What does it mean to say that a school, hospital, aged care or welfare agency is 'Catholic'? In the context of the massive shift from clerical and religious leadership of key Church institutions into the hands of lay people, what are the challenges facing the Catholic Church? How will the Church face the question of Catholic Identity in the context of the diminishing profile of religious institutions and the rise of Public Juridic Persons? How do we avoid falling into an ecclesial deficit, where we run good businesses but are they the Church?
Recently Archbishop Mark Coleridge (Canberra and Goulburn) gave a keynote address to the Australian diocesan financial administrators on this important topic.
Albania wants Mother Teresa's remains
The Albanian government has asked India to hand over the remains of Mother Teresa, which are at the congregation's mother house in Kolkata. The government wants her remains to be handed over by the 100th anniversary of her birth in August next year, according to Telegraph India. However, India has said no. Top of page
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