Newsletters

Church: Profit-driven culture leads to exploitation

Fr Maurizio Pettenà CS, the director of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office, appeared before the Senate Select Committee on Temporary Migration on 18 November 2020.

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How Is Forced Displacement Affecting Families?

The International Catholic Migration Commission brought together an expert panel to discuss experiences of families on the move and how ICMC and other Catholic-related organisations work to assist them.

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Pope Francis has chosen the theme, “Like Jesus Christ, forced to flee.”, for the 106th World Day of Migrant and Refugees, commemorated in Australia on Sunday, 27 September 2020. Included in the Migrant and Refugee Kit are stories from local communities, reflections and prayers to be used in preparation for World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sunday, 27 September 2020. We hope that the Kit will assist parishes and schools in commemorating this important event.

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Migrant and Refugee Kit 2020

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office is doing its best to restrict transmission of coronavirus and protect the members of our communities. This year, the Migrant and Refugee Kit will transition to online copy only. The kit and poster will be available for download on 14 September 2020 on this link bit.ly/WDMR2020.

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New Pope video towards WDMR2020: “To listen in order to be reconciled”

Every month, a new video of Pope Francis explores the sub-themes present in the Message of the Holy Father for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
We invite you to watch the third, most recent video in which the Holy Father explores the sub theme “To listen in order to be reconciled.” It offers the real-life testimony of an internally displaced person and explains how teamwork and mutual acceptance can create a brighter future and peaceful coexistence between people of different religions.

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Like Jesus Christ, forced to flee. Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating internally displaced persons.

Pope Francis has selected “Like Jesus Christ, forced to flee” as the theme for the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) which will be celebrated on Sunday, September 27, 2020. His reflections originate in the experience of Jesus Christ and his parents as displaced persons and refugees.

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Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Cardinal Michael Czerny and Cardinal Konrad Krajewski call EU Bishops’ Conferences to launch relocation projects for refugees in Greece.

A letter to EU Episcopal Conferences for a strong call for relocating refugees stuck indefinitely in Lesbos and other temporary camps in Greece is signed by three leading Cardinals of the Catholic Church.

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Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Cardinal Michael Czerny and Cardinal Konrad Krajewski call EU Bishops’ Conferences to launch relocation projects for refugees in Greece.

A letter to EU Episcopal Conferences for a strong call for relocating refugees stuck indefinitely in Lesbos and other temporary camps in Greece is signed by three leading Cardinals of the Catholic Church.

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The Advent Calendar for Migrants and Refugees

The Migrants and Refugee Section for Integral Human Development presented a gift of an advent calendar that is dedicated to World Day of Migrants and Refugees. It can be used at home, parish hall, oratory, community or wherever possible. Every day you can open a box that contains a thought from Pope Francis, a reflection, a prayer intention and much more.

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World Day, Pope Francis: “Not just about migrants, it is about all those in existential peripheries”

On 29 September 2019, more than 40,000 people gathered with Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square to celebrate a Holy Mass for World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

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Pope Francis celebrates Mass for World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

On 29 September 2019, Pope Francis noted in his homily that the Lord has a particular concern for foreigners, widows and orphans because they are without rights, excluded and marginalized.

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Ninth Bishop Joseph Grech Colloquium on Ethics and Migration: ‘It is not just about Migrants”.

On 5 August 2019, Fr Fabio Baggio CS, Under-Secretary of the Migrant and Refugee Section of the Holy See and Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta and Chair of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service marked the start of a three-day national conference on missionary clergy and religious in Australia. Bishop Long spoke about Nurturing of Culture of Encounter and Hospitality. Bishop Long, the chairman of the Bishops Commission for Social Justice — Mission and Service, emphasized that we are all responsible in a way that “We are all living in an interconnected world and what we do has an impact beyond our own environment.”

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The ACMRO Migrant and Refugee Kit 2019 is now available online

Pope Francis has chosen the theme, “It is not just about migrants”, for the 105th World Day of Migrant and Refugees, commemorated in Australia on Sunday 25 August 2019. Included in the Kit are stories, reflections and prayers to be used in preparation of and for Migrant and Refugee Sunday. We hope that the Migrant and Refugee Kit will assist parishes and schools in commemorating this important event.

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More speakers for the national conference announced!

Br Anthony Crook

Head of Applied Psychology | Head of Chaplaincy Studies University of Notre Dame Australia | Sydney

Br Anthony is a chaplain with the Royal Australian Navy, currently posted to HMAS Kuttabul. Apart from the face-to-face counselling and pastoral care that RAN chaplains provide, Anthony also provides professional supervision for other Navy chaplains around Australia, and manages the RAN Chaplaincy Branch’s continuing professional development programme.

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Early bird tickets to the ACMRO 6th National Conference is on sale now.

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office invites you to join us on 5-7 August 2019 for the 6th National Conference on Missionary Clergy and Religious in Australia: Challenges and Opportunities. Everyone is welcome to attend the conference and in particular we would like to extend a warm invitation to all priests, religious men and women, and all those who work with missionary clergy and religious who have come to minister in Australia from overseas.

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ACMRO 6th National Conference

Missionary Clergy and Religious in Australia: Challenges and Opportunities

Registrations Open

On 5-7 August 2019, the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office will be hosting the ACMRO 6th National Conference Missionary Clergy and Religious in Australia: Challenges and Opportunities. The Conference takes inspiration from the book International Priests in America: Challenges and Opportunities and adapted to the Australian context. The themes contained in the book adapted to the Australia context, will form the basis of the keynote and discussion forums at the Conference.

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Holy Mass for the opening of the Meeting “Free from Fear”

On 15 February 2019 the Holy Father Francis travelled to the Fraterna Domus of Sacrofano, Rome, to celebrate the Holy Mass for the opening of the Meeting “Free from fear”, promoted and organized by the Migrantes Foundation of the Italian Episcopal Conference, by Italian Caritas and the Astalli Centre from 15 to 17 February 2019..

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Save The Date

ACMRO 6th National Conference
6-7 August 2019
Missionary Clergy and Religious in Australia: Challenges and Opportunities

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ICMC: An Introduction to the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration

The recently adopted Migration Compact can transform the lives of nearly 250 million migrants around the world. But what is it, exactly? Why and how was it developed? What is it trying to achieve? How will it change the reality of migrants? Does it have shortcomings? And what role can NGOs play in its implementation?

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What Are the “Global Compacts” and How Will They Affect Migrants and Refugees?

Geneva, 27 November 2018 - In December 2018, UN member states will adopt the Global Compact for Migration and the Global Compact on Refugees. These international agreements introduce a new, comprehensive approach to address the needs of migrants and refugees around the world.

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Address by Pope Francis to the General Chapter of the Congregation of the Missionaries of St Charles, Scalabrinians

I am pleased to meet you on the occasion of your General Chapter and to address to each one of you my cordial greeting, starting with the new Superior General, whom I thank for his words and to whom I wish all the best for his ministry.

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Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office launched Third Volume of Thinking Migration

In His message on the occasion of the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis wrote that:“Every stranger who knocks at our door is an opportunity for an encounter with Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed and rejected strangers of every age”. (Matthew 25:35-43).

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8th Annual Bishop Joe Grech Memorial Colloquium on Ethics and Migration

On 22 August 2018, the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office and Australian Catholic University, Melbourne collaborated in hosting the 8th Annual Bishop Joseph Grech Memorial Colloquium on Ethics and Migration.

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ACMRO Media Release: Manus Island: Five years on

On 19 July 2013, the then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill, signed the regional resettlement agreement between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

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Priest leading national support for refugees, migrants says parishes need to ‘hear their cry’

Fr Maurizio Pettena firmly believes the key to welcoming migrants and refugees into parish life is listening to their stories. “Let’s be attentive to details,” Fr Pettena, director of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office said, launching the 104th World Day of Migrants and Refugees to be held on Sunday, August 26.

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ACMRO Kit 2018

“Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees”

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A Joint Catholic Statement on SRSS Income Cuts for People Seeking Asylum in Australia

The Status Resolution Support Service (SRSS) is a vital safety net for people seeking asylum in Australia. It provides basic income support, casework services, and access to torture and trauma counselling services to many women, men, and children.

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International Catholic Migration Commission Meeting: 6-8 March 2018

I offer you a warm welcome on the occasion of this Plenary Council of the International Catholic Migration Commission. I thank your President, Cardinal Njue, who has a good sense of humour, for his greeting and his brief overview of your work.

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Mass for World Day of Migrants and Refugees

On Sunday, 14 January 2018 Pope Francis presided at mass at St Peter's Basilica, for the celebration of World Day of Migrants and Refugees. Below are excerpts of his homily. The Catholic Church in Australia celebrates Migrant and Refugee Sunday on the last Sunday in August. This year it will be celebrated on 26 August 2018.

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ACMRO Media Statement - Closure of Manus Island Regional Processing Centre

The safety and wellbeing of over 600 asylum seekers on Manus Island are at risk following the closure of the regional processing centre. These men, most of whom are proven refugees were held in mandatory and indefinite detention under an agreement between the Australian and PNG Governments. Now after more than 4 years, this agreement has not worked.

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Rohingya – Frequently asked Questions, by Cardinal Charles Bo

What does everyone generally ask as they try to understand who are the Rohingya’s? With this in mind, Salesian Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon (Myanmar), which His Eminence has provided to ZENIT on Oct. 4, 2017, responded to various such questions to help people better understand.

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Papal Launch of Share the Journey Campaign

On 27 September 2017 Pope Francis launched Caritas’ Share the Journey Campaign during the Wednesday General Audience in St Peter’s Square.

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Migrant and Refugee Week in the Catholic Church: 21-27 August 2017

On 21-27 August 2017, the Catholic Church in Australia celebrated the contribution migrants have made in our communities. This week-long celebration culminated with Migrant and Refugee Sunday, on 27 August.

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Call for Australia to ensure safety of those seeking asylum in our region

“Mr Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, yesterday made the statement that, ‘Australia’s policy of offshore processing in Papua New Guinea and Nauru…has caused extensive, avoidable suffering for far too long.’”

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Cast into the deep

Dear Friends,
With two weeks to the ACMRO National Conference, I would like to write to you for your continued assistance in promoting this important event in the life of the Catholic Church in Australia.

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Urbi et Orbi

Pope Francis has delivered his traditional message from the central loggia of St Peter’s Basilica.

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ACMRO Fifth National Conference on Pastoral Care in a Multicultural Church and Society

We are pleased to announce that the registration for the ACMRO’s Fifth National Conference on Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees is now officially open!

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International Forum on "Migration and Peace"

Address by Pope Francis

Migration, in its various forms, is not a new phenomenon in humanity’s history. It has left its mark on every age, encouraging encounter between peoples and the birth of new civilizations. In its essence, to migrate is the expression of that inherent desire for the happiness proper to every human being, a happiness that is to be sought and pursued...

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Vatican's Migrant and Refugee Section - First Media Campaign

In the lead up to the 103rd World Day for Migrants and Refugees in Italy on 15 January 2017, the Migrant and Refugee Section of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development launched its first media campaign to raise awareness about the issues surrounding the refugee crisis engulfing Europe over the last few years.

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Pope Francis on Sweden and Migration: In-flight Press Conference 1 November 2016

Pope Francis, on his return trip to Rome from Sweden was asked the following question regarding Sweden and the current European migration crisis.

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Pope Francis Appeals for Peace in Iraq

After the Angelus on 23 October 2016, Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with the people of Iraq and in particular those in Mosul. He prayed for those in the city of Mosul in particular as '...hearts are shocked by the heinous acts of violence that for too long are being committed against innocent citizens...'.

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ACMRO Migrant and Refugee Sunday 2016 News

On 28 August 2016, the Catholic Church in Australia commemorated the 102nd World Day of Migrants and Refugees.

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Sixth Annual Bishop Joe Grech Memorial Colloquium - 25 August 2016

On 25 August 2016, as part of the commemorations for Migrant and Refugee Sunday 2016,

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ACMRO Migrant and Refugee Kit 2016

On 23 June 2016, the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office published this year’s issue of the Migrant and Refugee Kit.

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Pope Francis' Meeting With Refugee Children

On the 28th of May 2016, Pope Francis has held meeting with hundreds of children at the Vatican.

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Papua New Guinea Supreme Court Decision

The decision of the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court that the detention of asylum seekers on Manus Island is illegal is a welcome sign of hope for those currently in detention on Manus Island, Fr Maurizio Pettenà, Director of the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office, said today.

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Easter: A Message Of Life For All Those Who Live At The Margins

Pope Francis, since the very beginning of his papacy, has had the ability to focus the attention of the Church and of the world on the human beings who live on the margins of society.

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Media Statement from Bishop Vincenet Long Van Nguyen OFM Conv

Australian Catholic Bishops Delegate for Refugees regarding the High Court's decision on offshore processing.

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Words of welcome - 2016

Fr Maurizio Pettena CS - National Director ACMRO

Dear Friends,
I would like to take this opportunity to express my hope that you all had a blessed Christmas and New Year.

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UNHCR 2015 NGO Consultation

"In Pursuit of Solutions"
On 23-24 November the ACMRO was invited to attend the UNHCR Annual NGO Consultation. The theme for the meetings was 'In Pursuit of Solutions'.

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Episcopal Vicars and Catholic Immigration Offices Meeting

14-15 October 2015
Directors and Episcopal Vicars for Migration from Diocesan and Archdiocesan Catholic Immigration Offices gathered in Canberra on 14-15 October for the second of its annual meetings.

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2015-2016 Social Justice Statement

The title of the 2015-2016 Social Justice Statement has been taken from the second verse of the National Anthem. In this Social Justice Statement, Australia’s Bishops ask us to re-examine our responses to refugees and asylum seekers.

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The Option to Turn Back Boats

By Fr Maurizio Pettena cs
ACMRO National Director

In the current debate on how to stop boat arrivals, the question to consider is how should Australia respond?

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Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen elected Bishop Delegate to ACMRO

At the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference plenary meetings earlier this month, Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen was elected Bishop Delegate to the ACMRO. Bishop Long is an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.

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Moss Review

The Moss review - a report relating to recent allegations of conditions and circumstances at the regional processing centre in Nauru was released last week Friday. Some of the findings in the review highlight incidents of rape, indecent assault and sexual harassment.

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IOM may assist in Nauru-Cambodia refugee relocation

IOM has announced that at the request of three of its Member States - Cambodia, Nauru and Australia – it will develop a program aimed at facilitating the relocation and integration of refugees from Nauru to Cambodia.

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Hearing the Evidence

On the 14 March 2014 the Australian Human Rights Commission held its first public hearing to receive evidence about the conditions faced by children in immigration detention.

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What the Catholic Church Teaches on Asylum and Migration

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office launched a pamphlet yesterday on what the Catholic Church teaches about the pastoral care and rights of asylum seekers and migrants.

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New National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 

Ten years ago, the Australian Human Rights Commission produced its report, ‘A Last Resort? National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention’.

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Crossing Borders

On Friday 14th February, the University of Notre Dame will host a one-day symposium of lectures and public discussion on the mental health issues that asylum seekers and their families face in relocating to Australia.

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