Category: Domestic Violence

Holding the light for those impacted by family and domestic violence

As people gathered in silence, in a church in Melbourne’s CBD, a bell tolled 54 times—one toll for each women known to have been murdered in Australia since 1 January as a result of domestic and family violence. The ecumenical service, Holding the Light, is an annual opportunity to remember and pray for victims and survivors of family and domestic violence. It is also an occasion to name out loud, those who have died in the past year.

Empowering parish communities to deepen understanding and response to family and domestic violence

Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, the Hon. Vicki Ward MP, has shown her support for the work conducted by Catholic Social Services Victoria and the Catholic Diocese of Sale in helping to educate, inform and equip parish communities to address domestic and family violence. Together with Bishop Greg Bennet of the Diocese of Sale, Minister Ward launched the report, Shining a Light: A collaborative project working to build capacity for a whole-of-Church response to domestic and family violence last Friday in Warragul.

Action for those impacted by domestic violence

CSSV was pleased to join events held during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence including the Walk Against Family Violence and Holding the Light, an ecumenical service of lament.

Bishops lament family, domestic violence in annual justice statement

This year's Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Social Justice Statement was released in August and addresses the scourge of domestic and family violence in society.

Having the conversation on family and domestic violence

Parish communities from across the Diocese of Sale have been participating in a pilot program since March 2022, enabling key parish community participants to be better informed and equipped to respond to domestic and family violence. The latest was held in Berwick on 19 July with 15 participants.

Empowered to respond to domestic violence

Parish communities in Traralgon have been empowered with knowledge, tools and a deeper understanding in 'lifting the lid' on, and responding to family and domestic violence.

Creating communities where there is no place for domestic violence

A recent workshop in the south-east of Victoria, has provided participants an opportunity to better understand the experiences of those impacted by domestic violence and to consider how the causes of domestic violence can be addressed in our communities. 9 participants—clergy, volunteers and parish staff—from Wonthaggi and surrounding areas in Gippsland joined the Shining A Light workshop on 25 June at St Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Parish communities ‘Shining A Light’ on domestic violence

Parish communities in the Gippsland region continue to equip themselves with knowledge, tools and a deeper understanding in how to respond to family and domestic violence as part of a pilot program being coordinated by Catholic Social Services Victoria and the Catholic Diocese of Sale. A series of ‘Shining A Light’ workshops have been running across the diocese since March 2022, with 20 people attending the most recent worksop at St Joseph's in Warragul.

A faith community’s response to understanding domestic violence

Catholic Social Services Victoria, in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Sale, and with support from the Victorian Government via the Victorian Multicultural Commission, has continued to roll out its ‘Shining a Light’ Workshops to raise awareness of domestic violence within parish communities. The most recent sessions were held in Sale and Bairnsdale. 

Parish representatives deepen understanding and responsiveness to family violence

Sixteen participants from the western region of the Diocese of Sale, including Bishop Greg Bennet, priests, pastoral associates, parish staff and religious sisters gathered at St Michael’s Parish in Berwick for the first ‘Shining a Light: a workshop on domestic and family violence’. It is the first of at least six workshops that will be held across the Diocese of Sale in coming weeks and months as part of a pilot program auspiced by CSSV and led by Mercy sister Nicole Rotaru.