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ACMRO News - April 2025

In this edition:

| Online Resources Published for World Refugee Day (WRD) 2025

| Migrants, Missionaries of Hope: Theme for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) 2025 and the Jubilee of Migrants

| Congratulations to Seasonal Workers Advocate Denise Talbot for receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

| Vale Sr Janine Bliss FMM

| The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) Responds to Online Violence and Exploitation Affecting Refugee Communities

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Online Resources Published for World Refugee Day (WRD) 2025

The Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) has published online resources to support the celebration of World Refugee Day 2025 (WRD). The WRD is being celebrated internationally each year on 20 June to honour people who have been forced to flee.

Fr Khalid Marogi, the ACMRO Director, hopes that the online resources will support parishes, schools, and other Catholic communities in marking WRD 2025.

Fr Khalid adds that we are invited to unite with Pope Francis in prayer and action to welcome, promote, accompany, and integrate those who knock on our doors and advocate for states to strive to ensure humane conditions for refugees and to facilitate integration processes.

The WRD 2025 webpage includes liturgy resources for primary and secondary schools, homily notes, prayers of intercession, and parish bulletin notices.

            

Migrants, Missionaries of Hope: Theme for the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) 2025 and the Jubilee of Migrants

“Migrants, Missionaries of Hope” is the theme chosen by Pope Francis for the upcoming double celebration of the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) and the Jubilee of Migrants, which will be celebrated on 4 and 5 October 2025.

The theme highlights the courage and tenacity of migrants and refugees in light of the current Jubilee Year. They bear witness to hope for the future despite difficulties. It is the hope of happiness beyond borders that leads them to entrust themselves totally to God.

Migrants and refugees become “missionaries of hope” in their host communities, often helping to revitalise the faith of local communities and promoting inter-religious dialogues based on common values. They also remind the Church of the ultimate purpose of the earthly pilgrimage leading to the future homeland.

The ACMRO will soon publish an online resources webpage with various articles, videos, and liturgical materials for parishes and primary and secondary schools to mark the celebration of the WDMR 2025 and the Jubilee of Migrants.

With acknowledgement and thanks to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, where this article originally appeared.

Congratulations to Seasonal Workers Advocate Denise Talbot for receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)

On behalf of the Parish and Stakeholders Providing Pastoral Care for Seasonal Workers Network, the ACMRO congratulates one of our valued members, Denise Talbot of Perth, TAS for receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to the community and to women.

Denise has been a vocal advocate for seasonal workers, having, on numerous occasions, highlighted the importance of being welcoming and inclusive with seasonal workers in the home, parish, and community. During the ACMRO National Conference, she was one of the panel speakers who shared her many practical insights on how her local parish community manifests this welcome and inclusion. “We need to work together in our regions and our parishes, sharing ideas and networking to better support and include seasonal workers,” Denise said. “My idea of inclusion is having seasonal workers in your home for meal or a chat or afternoon tea; and including them in the parish and in the liturgy.”

Denise has also played a key role in the Days for Girls organisation for more than 10 years. She emphasised that “It all comes back to the faith and love you were brought up with. That is what Jesus’ love is all about.”

With acknowledgement and thanks to the Archdiocese of Hobart, where this article originally appeared.

Vale Sr Janine Bliss FMM

On behalf of the Parish and Stakeholders Providing Pastoral Care for Seasonal Workers Network, the ACMRO joins the Australian Catholic Religious Against the Trafficking of Humans (ACRATH) in remembering the extraordinary commitment and contribution by Sr Janine Bliss FMM.

Janine served as the ACRATH Queensland Regional Coordinator for a long time and was a member of the National Committee. She also gave special attention to and offered excellent support to the workers in Bundaberg who were at risk of labour exploitation. She was a great collaborator in this network and always provided timely updates and insights as well as ways forward to burning issues posted by other network members from other regions.

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) Responds to Online Violence and Exploitation Affecting Refugee Communities

On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2025, which was observed on 8 March, the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) examined Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence and its effects on refugee communities and heard from survivors who are supported by ICMC as they share their stories.

Over the last three decades, technological advancements have greatly expanded the methods in which individuals may communicate and share information globally. Social media and online apps have numerous advantages, but they also present new possibilities for violence, bullying, harassment, and exploitation.

            

With acknowledgement and thanks to the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), where this article originally appeared.


Have a story to share?
Submit your stories and photos from events, and we will consider publishing them in future newsletters at info@acmro.catholic.org.au  
 

Australian Catholic Migrant & Refugee Office    
GPO Box 2720
Canberra ACT 2601
(02) 6201 9848 
www.acmro.catholic.org.au




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The text of this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial - Share Alike 3.0 Australia Licence. Please attribute this publication to the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office, April 2025. This resource may be reproduced or photocopied in its entirety or in part. No copyright fee is payable.