Written by Josh Lourensz, CSSV Executive Director
Shortly after Fr John Petrulis took up his role last year as Episcopal Vicar for Justice and Social Services in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Melbourne Catholic asked him in an interview “What’s your hope for those working in our Catholic social services across the Archdiocese?”
His answer was “for them to know that they’re not isolated as just organisations but they are held in a Church that’s growing to understand, growing in the spirit of justice, to connect and support them. And we’d hope that parishes, with the fruit of good communication, can continue to see the good work of Catholic social services in all its various ministries here.”
Recently The Australian had a series on wellbeing in which Archbishop Peter A Comensoli contributed “when we live by faith, rather than in want, we begin to see that life is not primarily about self-satisfaction. It is about connection – with God, with one another, and with the whole of creation”.
In this spirit of connection and support, a few weeks ago, the Archbishop, Fr John Petrulis and I jumped in the car to visit three different Catholic organisations and some of their centres of service and care on the west side of Melbourne. Connection and solidarity was the brief for these visits – a demonstration of pastoral care and concern in understanding better their hopes and challenges. Fr John and the Archbishop spent time asking questions and in dialogue with program workers and organisational leaders, as well as folk who were being served by the three centres, each of which had a different focus — supporting people living in situations of homelessness, with mental ill-health and with disability, respectively.
In quietly visiting and spending time in dialogue with a wide variety of people across these Catholic social service organisations and varied programs, and hearing the reflective questions they asked during this trip, it was like our two local Church leaders pre-empted Pope Leo’s address to the third World Meeting on Human Fraternity last week where he encouraged:
“I urge you to identify local and international ways of developing new forms of social charity, alliances between different areas of knowledge and solidarity between generations. These should be community-based approaches that also include the poor, not as recipients of aid, but as subjects of discernment and discourse. I encourage you to continue this work of silent sowing. This can give rise to a participatory process focused on humanity and fraternity, which is not limited to listing rights, but also includes concrete actions and motivations that make us different in our everyday lives. We need an extensive ‘covenant of humanity’, founded not on power but on care; not on profit but on gift; not on suspicion but on trust. Care, gift and trust are not virtues to be practiced only in one’s spare time: they are pillars of an economy that does not kill, but deepens and broadens participation in life.”
This Social Services Sunday in the Archdiocese of Melbourne is a chance to be inspired to follow the example set out by Fr John and the Archbishop in their visits – to reach out and connect with the work of Catholic agencies and beyond that is going on in our communities, and see what ongoing dialogue, connection and mutual support can be made. It’s only together that we can build up a ‘covenant of humanity’ that Pope Leo speaks of in the midst of broader moves of social fracture and dissonance. Shared concern for those doing it tough is a great place to start for bringing community together — rejecting the ease of scapegoating or indifference and instead gathering together to work for the common good, in a spirit of service and justice.
In the words of Fr John Petrulis: “Relationship is paramount in the emergence of justice. It’s the personal relationship that remains faithful for the long haul. It’s not just about delivering services but how we deliver them. That makes an enormous difference. When you start walking with someone in that real spirit of compassion, it’s very hard to walk away. But what I’ve learned is that you need a lot of resources, professional backup and, at the same time, holding the tension of ‘Why?’ Why has this person or this group of people found themselves excluded in our society and are suffering in such a way? It’s about creatively walking in the tensions of immediately responding as best you can, but also asking the bigger questions.”
Let’s keep asking questions, and together with our communities and agencies, creatively come up with some actions and answers.
Social Services Sunday is Sunday, September 21, 2025 in the Archdiocese of Melbourne.
Join our mailing list
Keep up to date with latest news, information and upcoming events.
We respect your privacy, as outlined in our privacy policy.