Together as Church
When this issue of Aurora was beginning to coalesce around a theme of partnerships in Church ministries and how we are “stronger together”, I knew I wanted to write about the great partnership at the heart of Church life, that between the clergy and the laity.
Hello in there
Life Church Pastor Rick Prosser believes there was already a pandemic in our community before COVID-19 hit, and that pandemic was loneliness.
Mini advocates socially aware
Three decades after St Vincent de Paul first established Mini Vinnies in conjunction with the Catholic Schools Office in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, the program continues to gain traction.
Down to Erth approach pays off
Dinosaurs, a rhinoceros, the mask for an ogre, various sets of wings, more dinosaurs – the workshop at Erth is a treasure trove of inspiration.
Experts add substance
What do a group of national and international academics, Australian Defense Force personnel, a managing director of a real estate company and a physiotherapist all have in common? Their commitment to sharing their expertise to ignite student learning!
IGAs carry great range of reading
When COVID-19 struck, the usual channels for sharing Aurora were suddenly blocked.
Family first is foster focus
I remember 15-year-old Harry sitting on the lounge with a grin on his face. He had just dished out a cheeky comment to his mother, Tegan. Much to Harry’s surprise, Tegan returned serve with an identical sense of humour.
"We are still here for you!"
Corruption, mismanagement and poverty are all obvious barriers to seeing communities around the world thrive and develop, and the Church has a unique role in delivering hope in places where governments and corporations can’t or won’t.
School’s back in for disconnected
CatholicCare Director Gary Christensen acted quickly in 2018 when the Principal of St Mary’s Catholic College, Gateshead, Larry Keating, identified a student cohort disconnecting from school. It was a result of a range of reasons including social disadvantage, mental health and behavioural problems, and the St Mary’s counsellors and learning support staff were at capacity.
Route cleared to early education skills
St Nicholas Pathways and Maitland Five Star Family Day Care are connecting to provide students involved in the Pathways Industry Immersion Program with an opportunity to gain valuable workforce skills, along with insights into early education and the important role it plays in a child’s development.
Lochinvar students bag a charitable chance
St Joseph’s Catholic College, Lochinvar, continually seeks and explores opportunities for service and to enact the words of Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop to “never see a need without doing something about it”.
Community kitchen feeds on Taree’s success
Forster Tuncurry has a new place of welcome for those in need.
If she can, I can
Nadene Barretto is the founder of Eight Recruitment, a consultancy that is different, a little bold and pushes the boundaries, but very Novocastrian.
Child-centred resolution welcomed
Michelle McEntyre has strong aspirations to facilitate human connections that place children’s wellbeing at the fore. And now, as the lead facilitator of the Office of Safeguarding’s (OoSG) newest service, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), she has an opportunity to do just that.
New rhythms spring to life for Earth’s Jubilee
What is a Jubilee? In the tradition of the Church, life has an age-old rhythm. It begins with the story of creation and the rich theology of Sabbath found in the Book of Genesis. After all the work creating the world, “God rests” (Genesis 2:3). Well-known Catholic priest and writer Ronald Rolheiser describes this as the first sabbatical. Sabbath, he tells us, means seventh day.
