The Sisters of Mercy and the Sacred Heart College community in Geelong have this month celebrated the 160th anniversary of the arrival of the first Mercy Sisters from Dublin to the Victorian town.

The Brigidine Sisters have provided a short prayer on their website to help us as we keep in our thoughts and prayers all who’ve lost their lives, those suffering horrific burns and injuries, the missing and the rescuers working in extremely difficult circumstances following the volcano tragedy on New Zealand’s White Island.

The Redemptorists have tapped into current events over the past year, such as the bushfires, the Christchurch shootings, and youth-led climate change rallies in a video Christmas card which prompts us to reflect on our ongoing need for the coming of Emmanuel in our world.

Religious were a strong and vibrant presence at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Perth this month, with some giving keynote presentations to the 5,500 young people from across the country and many more sharing their charism and mission at the Encounter Expo.

On Sunday December 1, 2019 - 58 years after it was first raised, West Papua’s Morning Star Flag was raised again at the Mary MacKillop Centre, South Perth, writes Sr Margaret Keane RSJ.