Sydney
6 April 2003
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Peace ... harmony
Rugby league scores a try in a GPS college
Passing the baton
Peaceful action for peace
Catholic Weekly takes a holiday over Easter
Tissue project wins archbishop’s grant
A voice for the disabled
Faith centre moves
Younger set is 50
Fr Chris is guest
Ecumenical Stations of the Cross in wetlands
US move welcomed on partial birth abortion
Project Compassion 2003 - Leyte farmers can face better future
Editorial - Victims of war
Letters - Ash Wednesday
Conversation - Fr Patrick Byrne, Rome-based head of Children’s Mission: Big project or small, ‘it must be for kids’
Voice of Youth - Renaissance of thinking about the Middle Ages
Celebrate Love? Live it to the ‘max’
Heading off conflict before it hits crisis point
Crucifixion story wouldn’t go away
New home for new breed of priest
Christian Brothers spread social justice net
Luke’s Story wins award
300 at social justice forum
Music lets Andrew ‘share my faith’ ...
Christian Brothers spread social justice net
Paul O’Shea and Tom Gleeson of St Patrick’s College, Strathfield, on Vinnies’
Night Patrol
The Christian Brothers have extended their social justice program to their mainstream high schools in NSW, with each now having a social justice co-ordinator on staff.
The program had its beginnings 10 years ago as part of the order’s rededication to the ideals of its founder, Blessed Edmund Rice, to help people at the margins of society.
It now involves students not only learning about injustice in society, but becoming involved in a practical way to help others.
The social justice program is “intended to add another dimension to education, combining the gaining of wisdom with knowledge”, says Br Laurie Needham, NSW province leader of the order.
“While fund raising for those in need has been an element of the program, the intention is that students give something of greater value, which is their own time, to helping the needy in a practical way.
“The program also involves a wider range of education on the topics of inequality and justice in society, in Australia and globally.
“At a local level we are encouraging our schools to look for needs in their communities and to put in place ways of alleviating them.
“Ultimately we are trying to produce students from our schools who will have a greater awareness of the disadvantaged in our society, as well as the skills and incentive to do something about it to change our world in a positive way.”
Some of the activities in the social justice program are: projects to find areas of need in the local community and to devise plans for meeting those needs; seeking work experience placements in institutions to help the disadvantaged; helping out at family crisis centres; by assisting children with homework and giving guidance on the use of computers; taking responsibility for improving the local environment; involvement in the aboriginal reconciliation movement, with acknowledgement of original land owners at school assemblies; participation in Night Patrol, a service which feeds the homeless; creation of hampers for needy families nominated by the St Vincent de Paul Society; letter writing for Amnesty International and participation in recognised charity events such as the Red Shield Appeal and Walk Against Want.
Christian Brothers schools with a social justice co-ordinator include St Pius X College, Chatswood; St Patrick’s College, Strathfield; Christian Brothers High School, Lewisham; Edmund Rice College, Wollongong, and St Dominic’s College, Penrith.
The programs run from Year 7 to Year 12, with voluntary extra-curricular time for community work increasing as boys get older.
Some of the fundraising efforts are directed towards other Christian Brothers social justice activities, such as the refuge for troubled families at Bidwell, the school for truants and disadvantaged youth at St Mary’s and Corrimal, and schools at Walgett and Bowraville in regional NSW which have mostly indigenous students.
The social justice program also includes visits to St Edmund’s School, the Christian Brothers school for the sight impaired at Wahroonga, where students from mainstream schools can learn what life can be without sight.