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ACMRO News - November 2026
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In this edition:
| ACMRO Directors’ 2026 Gathering in Perth
| Migrant Jubilee Cross Inspires Prayer and Welcome Across the Diocese of Darwin
| Migrant Communities in Melbourne Celebrate Unity at Mass for All Nations
Upcoming event:
| Parish and Stakeholders Providing Pastoral Care for Seasonal Workers Network Online Prayer Service – Friday, 4 December
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The ACMRO Directors gathered in Perth from 25 to 28 October for their annual in-person meeting. This year, the directors were hosted by the Archdiocese of Perth’s West Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (WACMRO), led by Deacon Greg Lowe. Participants included Fr Khalid Marogi and Deacon Don Gomez (ACMRO), Msgr Joselito Asis (Archdiocese of Melbourne), Ms Liliana Ortiz (Archdiocese of Brisbane), Fr Jun Perez (Divine Word Missionaries) and Ms Tracey Tessitore and Mr Sanjay Mohanaraj (Archdiocese of Adelaide).
The gathering offered a meaningful opportunity for prayer, fellowship, reporting and formation. A highlight was the retreat facilitated by Bishop Tim Norton SVD, Bishop of Broome, who led reflections and discussions on topics such as Laudato Si’ and the Cry of the Poor during the Season of Creation, as well as self-care for those accompanying migrants and refugees. Bishop Norton highlighted the need to reimagine mission with the “little ones” at the centre and reflected on how this perspective reminds us that ministry with migrants and refugees is fundamentally part of the Missio Dei.
During the meeting, the directors also had the opportunity to engage in conversations with some leaders of Catholic migrant communities in Perth, particularly with Fr Noel Latt, Chaplain to the Burmese Community and Mr Moses Sayula, coordinator of the East African Kiswahili Mass community. Ms Liliana Ortiz commended the commitment of community leaders in encouraging and promoting gatherings among their members. “Their focus on creating social spaces provides a valuable starting point for fostering relationships that may eventually lead to opportunities for faith formation, sacramental preparation and deeper engagement with the Church,” she said.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to review current ACMRO initiatives and plan future priorities, including a review of the journey of the Migrant Jubilee Cross. The gathering concluded with a tour of St Mary’s Cathedral and a dialogue session involving representatives from Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) WA and two agencies of the Archdiocese of Perth: Catholic Family Justice Support Services (CFJSS) and the Centre for Faith Enrichment.
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Throughout October, the Migrant Jubilee Cross journeyed across the Diocese of Darwin, uniting parish communities in prayer, reflection and solidarity with migrants and refugees. The pilgrimage served as a powerful reminder of the Church’s call to welcome those seeking safety, opportunity and a sense of belonging.
Beginning at St Mary’s Star of the Sea Cathedral, the Cross travelled to seven communities across Darwin and surrounding areas, where parishioners gathered for Mass, veneration and personal prayer. Many offered intentions before the Cross, reflecting on stories of migration, sacrifice, hope and gratitude that form part of the rich fabric of the local Church.
Cathedral Assistant Priest Fr Dean Taberdo reflected on the impact of the pilgrimage, describing it as a moment of blessing and encouragement for parish communities.
“Our experience in the Cathedral parish and indeed in every parish the Cross has visited, is that people from different cultures and walks of life feel deeply grateful for the opportunity to be so close to the relics of the Holy Family and St Mary MacKillop. They feel that God has drawn close to them in a special way through the Cross. They know that they can rely on Mary, Joseph and Mary MacKillop to bring their prayers to the Lord. Lots of prayers, both silent and spoken, written and 'liquid', were also offered before the Cross.”
As the pilgrimage concluded, it left a lasting message of hope, dignity and welcome, inspiring Catholics across the Northern Territory to continue building communities where every person is valued, respected and embraced.
We extend our acknowledgement and gratitude to the Catholic Diocese of Darwin, the original publisher of this article.
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Hundreds of Catholics from the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s diverse migrant communities gathered at St Patrick’s Cathedral on 18 October for the annual Mass for All Nations, celebrating the theme “Migrant Communities in a Synodal Church”. Before the Mass, participants took part in a Marian procession and prayed the Rosary in multiple languages, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the archdiocese while walking together in faith.
Representatives from communities participated in the liturgy through Scripture readings, prayers and cultural traditions. In his homily, Archbishop Peter Comensoli, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, reminded the congregation that, despite different national backgrounds, all Christians share a common citizenship in God’s kingdom. “We belong to God,” he said, emphasising that our true homeland is found in Christ.
Many attendees spoke of the welcome and sense of belonging they have experienced through the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s Catholic communities. Their stories echoed the central message of the celebration: that people from every nation and culture are united in Jesus Christ and called to journey together as one Church.
We extend our acknowledgement and gratitude to the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, the original publisher of this article.
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Since its establishment in 2022, the Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office (ACMRO) and the Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) Network has continued to support Catholic parishes and other stakeholders providing pastoral care to temporary migrant workers participating in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme.
With more than 110 members across the country, the network's quarterly meetings provide a valuable forum for sharing experiences, identifying emerging pastoral and welfare issues and receiving formation from invited experts and practitioners.
To celebrate everyone's gifts and contributions, the Network will hold an Online Prayer Service on Friday, 4 December, at 7:00 pm AEDT.
The prayer service will provide an opportunity for network volunteers, our temporary migrant workers-guests and members of the wider community to gather in prayer, celebrate their ministry and reflect on their experiences.
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