Painting the Spirit of the Land
Cessnock teenagers and their families joined local Aboriginal elder and artist, Uncle Les Elvin, at Cessnock Regional Art Gallery for the annual CatholicCare Indigenous Art and Culture program, held over three weekends in June.
Stranger than Fiction
Catholic high school students Michael Almond, Lilli Thompson, Billie Wheildon, Eden Whitchurch and Emily Shakespeare are all performing in this year’s ASPIRE production, Stranger than Fiction. They explain the allure of this unique production and the joy of being part of the cast.
Making memories at a shared table
St Joseph’s Primary School in Gloucester has come up with a rather unusual twist to the traditional school lunch. On Mondays you won’t see any hot chips or lollies on the menu in the school’s canteen. Instead, students and staff pay five dollars to have a three course meal, made from fresh, wholesome and seasonal local produce, prepared with love in the school kitchen.
The Importance of Space and Place
The theme of NAIDOC Week this year is, ‘We all Stand on Sacred Ground: Learn, Respect and Celebrate’. As we commemorate this week, Professor Peter Radoll reflects on the meaning of space and place for Indigenous people and the real impact the proposed forced closures of remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia would have.
CARE TALK: Helping young children to focus
CARE TALK is a monthly advice column in Aurora Magazine where a registered psychologist offers answers to common questions around mental health and counselling.
Following a missionary call at home
Claire McWilliam followed her heart and strengthened her faith while engaging in missionary work in Timor Leste last year. The experience encouraged her to continue, just closer to home this time, where she is currently a participant in the Catholic Diocese’s Pastoral Placement Program.
Keep Calm and Stop Islamophobia
With debate intensifying over the government’s proposed citizenship and anti-terror laws, David Whitson reflects on the impact anti-Muslim sentiment has within our own Muslim community, and what we can do to stop it.
Should Maths be compulsory ?
There has been some debate recently on the necessity of making Mathematics compulsory in Years 11 and 12. Carmel Tapley, Education Officer (Secondary Curriculum) in the Catholic Schools Office and former mathematics teacher, gives some insight into the pros and cons of this argument.
Conversations that really matter
The benefits of sitting together for a meal at dinner time are acknowledged as fundamental in building positive, loving relationships with your children. But what do you talk about in that precious half hour? Michael Parker offers some advice.
Pope Francis’ Encyclical : A call for ecological Conversion
St Francis of Assisi’s Canticle, which sings of other creatures as our brothers and sisters, begins by addressing God with the words “Praise to you.” Pope Francis opens his new encyclical with these same words, in their original early Italian form, Laudato si’.
Advice From a Hypothetical Grandmother
As the mother of three young adults, I think it’s reasonable to hope that sometime in the imaginable future, I might become a grandmother. With that status will come the opportunity (welcomed or not by my offspring) to offer some advice, including about schooling.
Moving from Chaos to Causes
Eighteen years ago, my life took a sudden shattering change when I was severely injured in a car accident. At the time I couldn’t possibly believe that there were any positives to come from this disaster. Luckily I was mistaken. Today, I endeavour to raise awareness and improve the lives of others who struggle with their dilemmas, to seek a fair go for all.
Kids Caring About kids
Initially, students were excited to hear that someone was coming to talk to them about life in the country of Madagascar. Images from the Madagascar series of animated movies and cheeky cartoon animal adventures came quickly to mind.
Addressing Needs of Seafarers
The Mission to Seafarers Centre in Wickham cares for thousands of the seafarers who enter the Port of Newcastle every year. Rick McCosker, Port Chaplain for the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, reflects on the recent seafarer deaths at sea and the many challenges the often-forgotten seafarers face.
After the Intervention
The Northern Territory National Emergency Response (also known as ‘the Intervention’) was introduced by the Howard government in 2007. Michael O’Connor reflects on the Intervention through the insights contained in a new anthology by Rosie Scott and Dr Anita Heiss.
Backyard Becomes Field of Dreams
Have you ever wanted to know what the future might hold for someone else?
