National Briefs
OCEANIA’S oldest Eastern Christian community, the Melkite Greek Catholic Eparchy of Saint Michael the Archangel, is celebrating 130 years of ecclesiastic existence in Australia. Melkite Greek Catholics formed communities in inner Sydney in the 1880s and prompted the arrival of Fr Sylvanos Mansour in 1889, the first Eastern priest in Australia.
- The Catholic Weekly
DONATIONS from Australia to the Holy Land last year were less than one third of pre-COVID times. Holy Land Commissary for Australia Franciscan Fr Mario Debattista warns the caretakers are in dire need of donations. He said in the Holy Land “all the shrines are closed” and “obviously there are no tourists coming”. “With the Good Friday collection being cancelled basically across the whole world… it’s been tough.”
- The Catholic Leader
ONE of Australia’s longest running appeals, Project Compassion, was launched this week. Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten appeal runs for the six weeks of Lent. This year’s theme “Be More” to help vulnerable communities is inspired by the words of St Oscar Romero, to “aspire not to have more, but to be more”.
- Caritas Australia
MELBOURNE Archbishop Peter A Comensoli has welcomed the arrival in Australia of the first batch of coronavirus vaccines. This follows medical regulator the Therapeutic Goods Administration approving the use of the Pfizer and the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccines. “For the common good, it is appropriate that our governments work together to roll out a nationwide process of vaccination for all residents,” he said. “Likewise, everyone should respect the decisions of individuals who, for medical, safety or moral reasons, are not ready to receive a vaccination immediately.
- Melbourne Catholic
THE St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia has reiterated the call for the Federal Government to raise the rate of JobSeeker as a permanent feature of the income support system. National President Claire Victory added her voice to many politicians, business leaders and others who say the payment must never again fall below $50 a day, or $700 a fortnight.
- The St Vincent de Paul Society