serving the faith communities of the Goulburn Valley
For the first time in decades, three major religious traditions – Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá’í Faith – will observe their sacred fasting periods at the same time. Lent, Ramadan, and the Bahá’í Fast will coincide, aligning billions of people in a collective act of self-discipline, spiritual reflection, and renewal.
From 10-21 March 2025, delegates from UN Member States, civil society, and other stakeholders will convene at the United Nations headquarters in New York for the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). This global policy-making body is dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in all their diversity. It is instrumental in promoting the rights of women and girls, shaping global standards and policy agendas, and documenting the reality of the lives of women and girls across the globe.
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The seminar on Indigenous Spiritualities, Land Rights, and Climate Justice introduced a Statement on Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, which emphasizes the following: Indigenous Peoples are created with God-given identities that are beautiful. God was present in their lands and among their peoples before colonizers arrived. When Christians brought the Bible, Indigenous People recognized the voice of their Creator in Jesus’ teachings. They did not hear a call to reject their identities.
Climate justice is inextricably linked to the human rights of Indigenous peoples, particularly as Indigenous communities occupy 20 to 25 percent of the earth’s land surface, of which 80 percent of that land mass holds the world’s remaining biodiversity.
Ramadan is an important religious period in the Islamic calendar that requires healthy adults to fast during daylight hours. Medicines usually work best when the level of medicine within the body (brain and blood) is kept at steady levels. If the medicine levels get too low, the medicine may not work. If they get too high, this can make side effects worse. The body can most easily do this when the medicine is taken at regular, evenly spaced times during the day. When Ramadan occurs in summer, the long hours of daylight may interfere with you taking your medicines, especially if you take them two, three or four times a day. Learn more about medicines and Ramadan.
To mark the month of Ramadan, which this year begins on Friday, 28 February or Saturday, 1 March—subject to the sighting of the moon—and shall end with the Eid Al-Fitr on 30/31 March, the Holy See’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue has recently published a message entitled “Christians and Muslims: What we hope to become together.” George Jacob Cardinal Koovakad and Msgr. Indunil Kodithuwakku (Prefect and Secretary of the Dicastery, respectively), express that this year’s Holy month of Ramadan (and Eid Al-Fitr) is unique inasmuch as it coincides with the Christian season of Lent.
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Harmony Day, 21st March, celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. We believe our diversity is our strength, and we are fortunate to live in a diverse multicultural community here in Shepparton where peoples have come from different lands and different cultures, living and working together with harmony and peace. Voices for Harmony will facilitate the Shepparton Harmony Day 2025 event at the Quality Hotel, Parklake on Friday 21 March 2025 from 1:30pm. Chris Gambian, Executive Director of Australians for Mental Health will speak on Mental Health in Australia as it is.
A special evening of deep insight and spiritual exploration of Awakening Sacred Intelligence to discover the profound intelligence that emerges through meditation. This event will bring together two renowned spiritual leaders and thinkers – Sister Jayanti and Dr Ian Gawler OAM. Sister Jayanti is an eminent spiritual teacher with almost 60 years of experience in meditation and a respected representative and teacher of the Brahma Kumaris. A free event on the evening of Thursday April 10th, 2025, at South Wharf, Melbourne.
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Cardinal Sean O’Malley delivered a lecture, part of the Bergoglio Lecture Series, at Sacred Heart University on Feb. 26 to an overflow crowd of students and faculty. Given his close collaboration with Pope Francis in the 12 years of this papacy — including 11 as one of the nine cardinals who the pope convened frequently as a council of advisers, the C9 — O’Malley’s lecture offered unique insights into the spiritual sources on which the pope has drawn, specifically the ways he embodies both the Franciscan and Ignatian traditions.
World Interfaith Harmony Week was observed in Ballarat with the raising of the Ballarat Interfaith Network Flag. The Ballarat Interfaith Network have been celebrating World Interfaith Harmony Week since its inception in 2010 by King Abdullah II of Jordan.
Palliative Care is care offered to persons at the end of their lives. It is care that offers dignity, respect and integrity for the life of the one who is about to pass over to the next life. Access to Palliative Care is not available in all cities and regions in Australia. It is a challenge, an extreme challenge for culturally and linguistically diverse people, disabled persons and those of other religions that require specific care. Now read on.
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Fasting is a practice embraced by many religions, including Abrahamic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—each incorporating it as a means of spiritual discipline and reflection. Here, reflections are offered on Ramadan as a time of hope and transformation.
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The terms “Islamophobia” and “antisemitism” have become increasingly prominent in public discourse, yet their meanings remain highly contested and often misunderstood. This ambiguity hinders efforts to address the real harms that the phenomena they describe inflict on both individuals and communities.
The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem have issued a plea defending the dignity and presence of the People of Gaza.
You are invited to join the Shepparton Region Reconciliation Group for the 2025 Shepparton Apology Breakfast. This event will be held near the William Cooper Statue, Welsford St, Shepparton, Yorta Yorta Country. The Apology Breakfast will take place on Thursday 13 February 2025, at 8:00am. All welcome.
Despite increased interest regarding the possible benefits of mindfulness meditation, there is still much we do not know about the types of mindfulness meditation programs that are most effective for different people, based on their personal circumstances, personality, and practice goals. The School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne invites participants in a 28 Day evaluation project. This research aims to identify the types of mindfulness meditation programs that are most effective for achieving defined changes in wellbeing.
Multiculturalism is a central part of Australia’s identity, and the country is considered one of the most successful multicultural societies in the world. It’s a result of the country’s history of migration, which has brought people from many different cultures, beliefs, and traditions.
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This image is from Sydney on Australia Day 2008, three weeks prior to the Apology. On 13 February 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly to the Stolen Generations whose lives had been blighted by past government policies of forced child removal and assimilation. The journey to National Apology began with the Bringing Them Home report – the findings of an inquiry instigated by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in 1995.
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For the vast majority of those in the industrialized, affluent west, death was – until the recent Covid pandemic – something exotic, foreign and outside of everyday experience. This distancing from death – and our expectation that we will enjoy a long, healthy, happy and pain-free life – is, so far as I can tell, an anomaly in all of human history. The luxury of viewing death as remote and “other” seems to be unique to our particular time and place.
“Ambassadors of Hope: Together Against Human Trafficking” is the theme chosen for the 11th edition of the International Day of Prayer and Awareness Against Human Trafficking, which is celebrated every year on February 8. There will be an online Marathon of Prayer (Friday, February 7 from 11:30 am to 4 pm) CET – people are invited to join in this prayer, especially in their own Region.