Faith and Mission
Refugee Week 2020
This year, Refugee week will run from Sunday 14 June until Saturday 20 June. Refugee week is Australia’s peak annual activity to raise awareness about the issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers. This year the 2020 theme for Refugee Week is Year of Welcome.
This week at De La Salle College, the community will all be supporting Refugee Week through the initiatives of St Austin’s House who are proudly committed to advocating for the Melbourne Catholic Migrant and Refugee Centre, who provide pastoral care to migrants and refugees in Melbourne.
As Lasallian’s, it is important to always recognise that we are called to be people of hope, of justice and inclusivity and that our message is to promote a culture of encounter with the other in an effort to combat indifference.
Pope Francis reminds us that “We ourselves need to see, and then enable others to see, that migrants and refugees do not only represent a problem to be solved, but are brothers and sisters to be welcomed, respected and loved,” (Pope Francis, 2014).
Throughout the week, St Austin’s House will be holding a number of activities to promote the awareness of Refugees and on Friday 19 June students are asked to make a gold coin donation and wear casual clothes to school in support of Refugee Week.
Let us remember we are in the holy presence of God…
Merciful God,
Whose own Son become a refugee and had no place to call his own;
Look with mercy on those who today are fleeing from danger, are homeless and hungry.
Bless those who bring them relief;
And inspire generosity and compassion in all our hearts;
Guide the leaders of our nation to embrace a spirit of compassion and concern for human dignity, especially when dealing with and developing Refugee and Asylum-seeker policies.
St John Baptist de La Salle – Pray For Us
Live Jesus in Our Hearts – Forever
Rana Brogan
Deputy Principal – Faith and Mission