The gifts of other cultures

If you have ever travelled overseas—particularly if you have emigrated—you’ll know that arriving in a new country can be both destabilising and enriching. When we open ourselves up to new peoples and cultures, our sense of the world and of ourselves can be challenged and expanded. We can also discover a new appreciation for our homeland, and a deeper reliance on God.

In this week’s stories, we hear about how a group of young people from St Christopher’s Parish in Syndal discovered a new perspective on service and a greater commitment to God on their recent mission trip to Bacolod in the Philippines.

Last Sunday, we marked World Day of Migrants and Refugees with the annual Mass for All Nations at St Patrick’s Cathedral, celebrating the gifts of all those who have come from around the globe to find a home in our Archdiocese.

And we hear from Prof Tracey Rowland, who spoke at the opening of the recent ‘Beholding Beauty’ art exhibition at St Peter’s Centre in Toorak, reflecting on the ways beauty can deepen our faith and connect us more closely to God.

Mass for All Nations
Faithful from across the Archdiocese—many wearing the traditional dress of their countries of origin—gathered at St Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday 29 September for the 2024 Migrant and Refugee Mass, or 'Mass for All Nations', an important annual celebration of the many cultures that make up the rich tapestry of our local Church.
Continue reading: Mass for All Nations
Love in action: St Christopher’s Elevate Connect mission to Bacolod, Philippines
In July this year, 20 people from St Christopher’s Catholic Parish in Syndal travelled to Bacolod, a city on the northwest coast of Negros Island in the Philippines, to embark on a mission trip that would ignite in them ‘a renewed sense of faith and responsibility’.
Beholding Beauty
On Friday, 20 September—as part of the Truth Goodness Beauty Project—Catholic artists gathered at St Peter's Catholic Church, in Toorak, to inaugurate the 'Beholding Beauty' art exhibition—an opportunity to explore works by artists who strive to convey a sense of the true, the good and the beautiful. Special guest Prof Tracey Rowland spoke at the opening night on the the ways beauty can enrich our spiritual lives, pointing us to God.
Continue reading: Beholding Beauty
Pope prays for collaboration: ‘Priests are not the bosses of the laity’
Every Christian, whether a layperson or member of the clergy, has a vital role to play in advancing the mission of the Church through collaboration, Pope Francis says in the latest video message from the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.
Celebrating the gifts of older people
Tuesday 1 October is International Day of Older Persons, celebrating the wisdom, dignity and invaluable contributions of older people in our communities—people like Aldo Celot, who at 94 regularly hosts an Italian coffee club, shares his home-grown veggies with fellow residents at VMCH Bundoora and makes sure everyone feels included.
Better angels: glimpsing our angelic companions
'The world doesn’t exist without angels,' Joe Doolan writes, 'nor do angels exist without the world.' These 'mighty guardians' stand in God's presence, ever ready to do God's will in the lives of human beings. As we prepare to celebrate the memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, Joe reflects on what it might mean to glimpse our angelic companions, asking how we might weave into our spiritual lives a greater consciousness of angels, and how, through them, we might become more attentive to God's word.
Jesuit Mission launches urgent appeal to help refugees in limbo in Indonesia
Jesuit Mission Australia is appealing for help for de facto refugees in Indonesia after a massive blow has been dealt to the more than 13,000 refugees in Indonesia who are not recognised under UN Law and who have been surviving in the most desperate and meagre circumstances. Due to a severe shortage of funds and the need to prioritise other global crises, the United Nations is cutting funding for some of the most vulnerable refugees in Indonesia—people like Sophie and her family, who are denied refugee status and are trapped in limbo.
‘Even if they had so little, they still found a way to be thankful and grateful. It taught me to always be thankful for God’s blessings in my own life. I returned with a renewed purpose to develop my relationship with God and help those around me.’
Solange, from the St Christopher's Elevate Connect youth group
on encountering the people of Bacolod in the Philippines on a recent mission trip
Come work with us

Applications are currently open for the following positions:

Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

  • Animation Consultant, East Melbourne (including travel to the Western Region)
  • Human Resources Partner, East Melbourne/Bendigo
  • Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, East Melbourne
  • Executive Assistant—Clergy Life and Ministry
  • Library Manager—Mannix Library, East Melbourne
  • Aboriginal Catholic Ministry of Victoria (ACMV) Coordinator, Thornbury
  • Relationship Support Officer, CDF, East Melbourne
  • Administration Assistant—Marriage Tribunal

Parish positions

  • Parish Secretary, Mary Help of Christians Parish, Altona
  • Parish Secretary, St Joseph Parish, Newport
  • Pastoral Worker at St Luke’s Parish, Lalor
  • Parish Secretary (temporary, 12-month maternity leave cover), Catholic Parish of Melton

If you are interested in applying for any of the above positions, further details can be found here.

Upcoming events
Holiness for All: St Thérèse of Lisieux exhibition
Tuesday 1 October 2024
– Thursday 31 October 2024
Hosted at St Patrick's Cathedral, the Discalced Carmelites warmly invite you to an exhibition on the life of St Thérèse of Lisieux, a remarkable young women who, despite passing at the age of 24, left us with her 'little way’ to holiness. All are welcome! Learn more about this great ...
Six30 Holy Hour at St Patrick’s Cathedral
Thursday 10 October 2024 6.30pm –7.30pm
Join with young Catholics from across the city for a time of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, music and an opportunity for confession. For more information, email udisciple@cam.org.au or call 9926 5677.
Theology @ the Pub with Tracey Rowland
Monday 7 October 2024
6.00pm–8.30pm
Join young people aged 18-35 for the next Theology @ the Pub discussion: Feminism from a Communio Catholic Perspective with Tracey Rowland. Hailing from Ipswich in Queensland, Tracey holds degrees in law and politics from the University of Queensland, political philosophy from the University of Melbourne, and theology from Cambridge ...
Service of Compline with Reconciliation, Newman College
Thursday 10 October 2024
8.30pm–9.30pm
Compline is a peaceful evening ritual, with hymns sung by the Newman College Choir. Newman College is a co-educational Catholic residential college at the University of Melbourne. Compline offers a serene way to wind down the mind, body and spirit before sleep. With soothing prayers, calming music and moments of ...
Christopher Trikilis recital, Our Lady of Victories Basilica, Camberwell
Friday 11 October 2024
7.00pm–9.00pm
Join acclaimed organist Christopher Trikilis—Director of Music at Brisbane’s Cathedral of St Stephen—at Camberwell’s iconic Our Lady of Victories Basilica as he honours the Blessed Virgin Mary with a twilight organ concert. Having performed extensively across Australia and overseas, Christopher will bring the basilica’s grand 1920 TW Magahy organ to ...
‘Song of this Land’, St Patrick’s Cathedral
Sunday 13 October 2024
2.30pm–4.30pm
St Patrick’s Cathedral warmly invites you to celebrate the unfolding of the Holy Spirit's work in our Archdiocese through worship, prayer, music and community with the ‘Song of this Land’ concert. This free concert will embrace rich musical traditions, showcasing the stories and cultures of our multicultural city, while honouring ...
God and Beer: ‘A Passion for Sacred Art’ with Tommy Canning
Monday 14 October 2024
6.30pm–9.00pm
The Knights of the Southern Cross warmly invite you to their next God and Beer event with special guest Tommy Canning. Thanks to John Canavan and the Divine Mercy apostolate, Tommy is visiting from Scotland to spread the message of Divine Mercy. He has spent a lifetime creating beautiful, scared ...
Short course on Catholic Marriage, ACU Centre for Liturgy
Tuesday 15 October 2024, 7.00pm
– Tuesday 12 November 2024, 8.30pm
The ACU centre for Liturgy is offering a short course titled 'A Faithful Promise: Catholic Marriage—Covenant and Calling'. Presented by Prof Clare Johnson, Director of the ACU Centre for Liturgy, this course will explore the Catholic sacrament of Marriage as a lifelong partnership between a baptised man and woman. This ...
Melbourne Catholic Professionals luncheon: Sr Mary Sarah Galbraith OP
Thursday 17 October 2024
12.00pm–2.00pm
Sr Mary Sarah Galbraith OP will be our guest speaker at the next Melbourne Catholic Professionals Luncheon on 17 October. Sr Mary Sarah is the local Superior of the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia and Principal at St Bernard’s Primary School in Bacchus Marsh. She has more than 30 years ...
Lay and ordained ministry in a synodal Church presented by Rev Dr Jake Mudge
Thursday 17 October 2024
7.30pm–8.30pm
This session, part of Catholic Theological College's Engaging Your Faith series, revisits a key document written in the lead-up to the current Synod on Synodality, highlighting ‘hopes and horizons’ for a collaborative and synodal Church in the context of ministry. Engaging Your Faith is a series of short, online, presentations ...
‘Religion and ethics: exploring some connections’ presented by Dr Frances Baker RSM
Monday 21 October 2024
7.00pm–8.30pm
Exploring some connections between religious belief and ethics, this session considers the implications of these for both personal and societal ethical decision making in the Australian context. Engaging Your Faith is a series of short, online, presentations that invite participants to reflect on what it means to be people of ...
Encounter evening: Caroline Springs
Friday 25 October 2024
6.00pm–9.00pm
This unforgettable evening is tailor-made for high-school students, offering a unique opportunity to encounter Jesus with prayer, fellowship, food and, of course, a whole lot of fun. Invite a friend along to our Encounter evening! It’s an invitation to share the joy, the love and the transformative power of faith ...
What Confirmation adds to Baptism presented by Rev Dr Joseph Vnuk OP
Tuesday 22 October 2024
7.00pm–8.30pm
Instead of asking how the Holy Spirit is given in Confirmation, we could ask how the Son is given in Confirmation. A comparison of how Jesus is proclaimed as ‘Son’ at his baptism and his transfiguration helps us to see what Confirmation might add to Baptism. Engaging Your Faith is ...
Jubilee of Families Pilgrimage 2025
Tuesday 20 May 2025
– Wednesday 4 June 2025
Bookings are now open for the Archdiocese of Melbourne's 2025 Jubilee of Families pilgrimage. The pilgrimage, which coincides with the Jubilee of Families, Grandparents and the Elderly, is open to all parishioners. This graced and hope-filled journey will take in the towns and cities of Italy, the homes of great ...
Jubilee of Youth Pilgrimage 2025
Monday 21 July 2025
– Tuesday 5 August 2025
We are pleased to announce that we are seeking expressions of interest for the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s Jubilee of Youth Pilgrimage 2025. This pilgrimage is open to Catholics aged between 18 and 30 years. Harvest Journeys is the pilgrimage provider, and Fr Jude Johnson will accompany the pilgrims as their ...

To learn more about upcoming events and opportunities, visit the Melbourne Catholic events page.

This newsletter is published by the Communications Office
of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.

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