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ACMRO News - February 2026
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In this edition:
| Pilgrimage of the Migrant Jubilee Cross in NSW and the ACT
| Strengthening Collaboration to Protect the Peoples of Oceania
| The Presence of the Church Among Migrants
Upcoming events:
| Save the Date: 8th ACMRO National Conference 2026
| International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking: 8 February
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The Migrant Jubilee Cross concluded its journey throughout New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. During its almost 5,000 kilometre journey, it visited close to 60 parish and school communities in the dioceses of Broken Bay, Bathurst, Wollongong, Lismore, Armidale, Maitland-Newcastle and Parramatta; the Eparchies of St Thomas the Apostle of Sydney (Chaldean) and St Maroun of Sydney (Maronite); and the archdioceses of Canberra and Goulburn and Sydney.
The diversity and richness of faith expressions across many communities were evident in the range of organised activities, including celebrations of Mass, processions, Jubilee pilgrimages, liturgies and talks highlighting the significance of the Cross’s visit.
Lew Wallace of the Lismore Diocese affirmed that the visit of the Cross was touching hearts and inspiring parishioners throughout Australia. Inspired by and in thanksgiving for the Cross’s visit to the Carmelite Monastery in Goonellabah, the Prioress, Sr Mary Paul San Jose, OCD, also composed and dedicated a cantique. She reflected on how the boat journeys to the crib – one of the relics housed within the Cross – became pilgrimages of adoration to the Lord himself, our Anchor of Hope.
Fr Paul Aguilar of the Armidale Diocese reflected on how the visit of the Cross to parish and school communities enabled the faithful to experience hope in profound ways, particularly during the celebration of the Jubilee Year. He highlighted that the Cross became a tangible sign of the great gifts and contributions that migrant communities bring to the local Church.
Edsel Parke of the Wollongong Diocese shared that one parishioner considers the visit of the Cross to have been the most significant experience of the entire Jubilee year.
The Ugandan Community of Sydney highlighted that the Cross has touched so many in their community. One woman from the Kenyan community had been in hospital for many months and found the strength to keep going because of the visit of the Cross. She has since been discharged from hospital and now feels a deep sense of hope for her future.
Kylie Cullen, Catholic Immigration Manager for the Archdiocese of Sydney and the regional coordinator for the Cross’s visit on behalf of the organising committee, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to everyone who contributed to ensuring a fruitful and meaningful visit of the Cross across the region. “Leading the pilgrimage has been an absolute privilege,” she said.
Kylie met many wonderful, self giving people across numerous dioceses and eparchies. “I have encountered the best of people – their willingness to arrange pick ups even when it ate into their time off; their flexibility in rearranging events when the Cross did not arrive because of logistical mix ups; and hearing how parishioners were touched by the presence of the relics in the Cross,” she added.
Kylie is personally very grateful to John Kerklaan, who made the Cross. “Without his love and thoughtfulness, none of this would have been possible… People have connected because of love,” she noted. She has seen how much joy has been shared among communities and how people have been brought together.
The Cross has now arrived in Victoria and is expected to commence its visit to parish and school communities in mid February.
The organising committee would greatly appreciate it if you could continue sharing your experiences and photos on the ACMRO Facebook page.
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At a recent gathering of the Oceania Migrants and Refugees Network (OMRN) in Sydney, the President of the Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO), Bishop Anthony Randazzo, issued a strong call for enhanced collaboration between governments, regional institutions and civil society to protect the homelands and livelihoods of people throughout Oceania. He emphasised that whole communities in the Pacific are increasingly under threat due to climate change, displacement pressures and labour mobility challenges, requiring coordinated policy frameworks supported by strong pastoral responses.
Bishop Randazzo articulated a shared regional vision that places human dignity, protection and accompaniment at the centre of responses to migration and displacement. He stressed that the Church has a responsibility to speak and act decisively for justice, mercy and the common good, ensuring that displaced and vulnerable people encounter genuine care and solidarity. This vision positions the Church in Oceania not only as a pastoral presence but also as a credible and coordinated advocate within regional and international policy spaces.
The Network, announced and launched in Rome in 2024, brings together the four episcopal conferences of Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands and the Pacific. It provides a unified regional platform to strengthen advocacy, share expertise and improve service coordination for migrants, refugees and people displaced by climate impacts across the Pacific. The Network is supported by partners including the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the International Catholic Migration Commission and the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Several priority areas were identified as central to the Network’s ongoing work. These include the growing number of people displaced or affected by climate change, as rising sea levels, soil salinity and extreme weather threaten island communities; the protection of seasonal and migrant workers facing heightened vulnerability; and the situation of refugees and asylum seekers, including those from West Papua and others seeking safety within the region. Bishop Randazzo noted that climate change is already reshaping migration in Oceania, making collaboration with scientific and disaster response experts essential to ensure informed and effective pastoral and policy responses.
The Sydney gathering demonstrated strong momentum to further strengthen regional cooperation. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to developing the Network as a practical and strategic mechanism to support dioceses and national churches across the Pacific. It underscored a shared recognition that sustained collaboration is essential to protect vulnerable populations and to ensure the Church’s response in Oceania remains cohesive, credible and forward looking.
We extend our acknowledgement and gratitude to the Diocese of Broken Bay, the original publisher of this article.
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The collaboration between the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and local Catholic churches has led to the creation of the project “The Presence of the Church Among Migrants”, an initiative designed to highlight and share the Church’s concrete commitment to migrants and refugees. Through a series of video tutorials, the project features powerful stories from local Church people who are directly involved in welcoming, assisting and accompanying people on the move. These real-life experiences illustrate how faith-based communities respond compassionately and practically to the needs of migrants and refugees within their local contexts.
By showcasing projects focused on reception, integration and ongoing support, the initiative bears witness to the active presence of the Church alongside some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. At the same time, it serves as a practical resource for dioceses, parishes and organisations seeking to develop or strengthen similar initiatives in their own communities. The materials offer useful insights and guidance, with the intention of making these projects replicable across different regions and cultural settings, fostering a spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility among churches around the world.
We extend our acknowledgement and gratitude to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the original publisher of this article.
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Upcoming events:
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The ACMRO team is pleased to announce that it will host the eighth iteration of its National Conference on 25–26 August 2026 at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney.
The aim of the conference is to acknowledge and celebrate the faith, gifts, contributions and resilience that migrant communities bring to both our local Church and the wider world, with a particular emphasis on their role in a synodal Church.
More details will be posted on the ACMRO website soon.
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Each year on 8 February, the feast of St Josephine Bakhita, Pope Francis designated this day for the global Church to observe the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, following a request from Talitha Kum, the worldwide network of consecrated life against human trafficking.
The theme for 2026, Peace Begins with Dignity: A Global Call to End Human Trafficking, highlights the urgent need to protect human dignity and work together to end modern slavery.
The Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) encourages participation in the online Pilgrimage of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking on Friday, 6 February. This global event will unite participants across all continents and time zones – from Oceania to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas – in prayer and solidarity.
Please follow the link below for Oceania regional times and further details on how to join this important global event.
We extend our acknowledgement and gratitude to ACRATH, the original publisher of this article.
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