HOLDING THE LIGHT
Now in its ninth year, the service is invitational and held in a spirit of welcome. While it is held within the Christian tradition, it is open to anyone who might wish to join together and take part in a ritual and is a time for anyone to engage in a period of quiet, lament, and prayer/reflection on the tragic results of violence and in hope for a better future for our communities.
Past Events
Let’s build respectful Communities Launch
Join us for this online event to launch new resources about family and domestic violence prevention for use in parishes and beyond.
Join CSSV at NAIDOC Week March 2024
Walk with CSSV in the 2024 NAIDOC Week March
CSSV Annual General Meeting 2024 and Housing Discussion
All are welcome to join our members, staff, leaders, volunteers and friends of Catholic social service agencies as we gather to celebrate our mission of justice and service on Friday 19 April.
Mission Inspired Leadership Program 2024
Mary MacKillop Oration and Dinner
Please join us for the Mary MacKillop Oration and Dinner – Wednesday 21 February 2024.
Catholic Social Services National Conference 2024
The Catholic Social Services National Conference 2024, February 21-23, Melbourne. Please join us!
‘Shining A Light’ Evaluation Report Launch
You are invited to join CSSV and the Catholic Diocese of Sale as we launch the evaluation report on the Shining A Light pilot program workshops.
One Journey, Together – Prayer for the Referendum
All are invited to join One Journey, Together in a time of prayer ahead of Referendum Day.
CSSV 2023 Annual Dinner
We are pleased to invite members, friends and supporters of CSSV to join us for the 2023 Annual Dinner.
A Catholic Social Services Webinar Series – Indigenous Voice to Parliament: Part 3
Part 3 in our webinar series allows us to hear from First Nations Australians in a panel discussion.
A Catholic Social Services Webinar Series – Indigenous Voice to Parliament: Part 2
Part 2 of this webinar series will look at The Church, Catholic Social Teaching and engagement with First Nations Peoples.
A Catholic Social Services Webinar Series – Indigenous Voice to Parliament: Part 1
Part 1 of this Webinar Series on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament will examine: What is The Voice to Parliament all about?
An Indigenous Voice to Parliament WEBINAR
Join Fr Frank Brennan, SJ, AO and Vicki Clark OAM as they explore the planned referendum suggesting an alteration to the Australian Constitution that establishes a First Nations Voice.
Palm Sunday Walk for Justice and Freedom for Refugees 2023
The annual Palm Sunday Walk for Justice for Refugees will be taking place on 2 April 2023 and we’d love you to join us!
Book Launch – An Indigenous Voice to Parliament, Fr Frank Brennan
You are invited to attend the launch of Fr Frank Brennan’s new book exploring the Voice to Parliament Referendum.
2023 International Women’s Day Event
Wellsprings for Women is excited to be partnering with Chisholm Institute to celebrate International Women’s Day with a diverse range of female voices. Join them as they talk all things equity on March 9th at 9:30am.
HOLDING THE LIGHT
Holding the Light, an ecumenical service to remember victims and survivors of family and domestic violence. We stand in solidarity with victims and survivors of domestic violence and remember those who have been killed as a result of domestic violence.
Clothing Swap to end hyper-consumerism
Do you have pre-loved clothes that you no longer wear? Swap them for someone else’s pre-loved clothes. The Mercy Hub in North Carlton is hosting a ‘clothing swap to end hyper-consumerism’ on Sunday 13 November (during National Recycling Week), from 11am-5pm, at The Mercy Hub, 617 Nicholson Street, Carlton North.
CSSV Annual Dinner
CSSV Annual Dinner 2022 11 November 2022 Don’t miss out!
(CANCELLED) Regional Matters: Horsham Forum
The ‘Regional Matters’ Horsham Forum will be held on Thursday 3 November. We look forward to seeing you there!
Is Australia doing enough to support West Papua?
Public identities will debate a long-standing contest between Australia’s human rights obligations and the need to safeguard our geo-strategic security on Sunday 30 October, in Melbourne City Council’s Yarra Room, Cnr Collins and Swanston Street, Melbourne, at 2pm.
A presentation and discussion on Vatican II and its implications for the Church today
The Second Vatican Council commenced 60 years ago, in October 1962. The influence of the Council on the life of the Church and of Catholics has reached into all aspects of their life and mission. On this anniversary, St Dominic’s Parish East Camberwell cordially invites attendance at this event.
Regional Matters: Bendigo Forum
CSSV’s ‘Regional Matters’ forum will be held in Bendigo on Thursday 6 October. We hope to see you there!
Regional Matters: Bairnsdale Forum
You are invited to CSSV’s ‘Regional Matters’ Forum in Bairnsdale, the first in the series in the lead up to the 2022 Victorian Election.
Ecumenical Mental Health Liturgy
On Sunday 11 September the Canterbury Council of Churches is holding its second annual Mental Health Liturgy, to give thanks for the gift of good health and to open eyes and hearts to the challenges of mental health today. All welcome.
Order of Malta – Youth Camp Australia 2022
Order of Malta will be hosting it’s third Youth Camp in September 2022. This camp is open to 18-35 year old people who have a disability. The camp is provided at no charge to guests. Those who have attended previous camps have reported a very positive experience and have created enduring friendships.
Yarck to Yea Walk/Ride/Run
Highways and Byways will be running its Yarck to Yea Walk/Ride/Run. Participants ride, walk and run the Great Victorian Rail Trail between Yea and Yarck to raise funds to support Highways and Byways.
The relationship between Australia and Papua New Guinea and its importance to us today
Papua New Guinea is our nearest neighbour. How much do you know about this modern nation to our North? Learn more about contemporary life, culture and social development in modern Papua New Guinea.
Reconciliation Conversation
Please join CSSV for this important conversation regarding the progress of reconciliation in Australia, with special guests Sherry Balcombe (Coordinator, Aboriginal Catholic Mission) and Fr Frank Brennan SJ (Rector, Newman College).
Canterbury Council of Churches 2022 Winter Breakfast
All are welcome to join the Canterbury Council of Churches 2022 Winter Breakfast, Saturday 30 July 2022
Worth A Second Chance webinar
Jesuit Social Services is hosting a free Q+A panel webinar about the role employment and training play in keeping young people out of the justice system and helping them to reset their lives. It’s happening on Wednesday, 20 July, from 4-5:30pm AEST, and is open to all.
Soul Searching in Light of the Plenary Council: A time of prayer and discussion
Join us to keep the Plenary Council Members in our prayers as the 2nd Assembly begins, and to consider the voice and place of Catholic social services and those we seek to serve: a Church on the margins, for the margins
Walk-a-thon for Opening the Doors Foundation
In the lead up to NAIDOC Week 2022 (4-11 July) and in line with the theme for NAIDOC Week, Get Up! Show Up! Get Walking!, the Opening the Doors Foundation is inviting schools to show up by hosting Walk-a-thons with their students to raise money to support educational opportunities for Aboriginal children.
Catholic Social Services: Commissioning Mass and AGM (Wednesday 27 April 2022 at 3.00PM)
All are welcome to join our members, staff, leaders, volunteers and friends of Catholic social service agencies as we gather to celebrate our mission of justice and service.
REPORT LAUNCH: Scarring Effects of the Pandemic Economy:COVID-19’s Ongoing Impact on Jobs, Insecurity and Social Services in Victoria
Worth a Second Chance: youth justice education webinar
Marginalization and exclusion, including from school, increases a young person’s risk of getting involved with the criminal justice system. Two in three young people in Australian prisons had been suspended or expelled before their arrest – yet we know school provides the support, structure and purpose young people need to get their lives back on track after making bad decisions and becoming involved with the justice system. School provides a pathway to rehabilitation. But how do we get young people on it?
Implementing Laudato Si’ – online forum
St Dominic’s Parish, Camberwell invites all to an online forum for parishes, Implementing Laudato Si’ on Tuesday 8 March 2022, from 7.30pm-9.30pm. The forum will focus on how parishes might implement the principles and recommendations found in the encyclical Laudato Si’. It will highlight methodologies and resources that are readily available, and provide a forum for exploring others queries and ideas.
ACRATH’s National Conference
National Conference: Register now for ACRATH’s two-day national conference on 22nd and 23rd of February. Join the online Gathering Voices conference, and hear two outstanding keynote speakers provide a global and Australian perspective on human trafficking.
Blessing of Michael Scott Fountain and book launch
Author and critic, Michael McGirr, will launch five books published by Newman College including Raining Angels: poems by Peter Steele SJ.
John Pierce Centre celebrates 40 years of service to Catholic Deaf Community
Our friends at the John Pierce Centre are celebrating 40 years of service to the Deaf and hard of hearing community with a special Mass and 3-course lunch on Sunday 5th December 2021.
Holding the Light – ecumenical service of lament
Holding the Light is an ecumenical service where all are invited to remember victims and survivors of family and domestic violence. We stand in solidarity with victims and survivors of domestic violence and remember those who have been killed as a result of domestic violence.
Spirituality and Disibility symposium
Join an expert panel to explore how pastoral care beneficially informs the provision of a range of services for people with disability – as well as how this approach can potentially inspire the broader health and community services community in new and unexpected ways.
Churches working together to make a difference for homeless people
Over recent years groups of churches in various parts of Victoria have joined together to provide winter shelter to people who are homeless.
Social Services Sunday, 19 September
Sunday 19 September has been designated ‘Social Services Sunday’ within the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. This is a good day to pray for the 7,000 committed staff and 17,000 volunteers across Victoria in the 43 member organisations of Catholic Social Services Victoria and the 200,000 people they together work to serve each year.
Breakfast Briefing – Reflections on the 2021 National Summit on Women’s Safety.
Join us for a free online breakfast briefing on September 9, 8.30am-9.30am (AEST) to hear from a number of incredible panelists will be sharing from a range of perspectives their reflections on the National Summit on Women’s Safety (set to take place 6-7 September 2021).
ACRATH’s August Conversation Series
ACRATH invites all to join its special Conversation Series, with the next to be held via Zoom on Wednesday 25 August 2021. It will feature ACRATH co-founder Louise Cleary CSB and Dr Lisa McDonald, Group Mission Leader with St Vincent’s Health Australia.
Mission Inspired Leadership
Catholic Social Services Victoria is presenting our 2021 program of Mission Inspired Leadership evenings online. The Mission Inspired Leadership program is a professional development opportunity for senior leaders in the Catholic social services and other affiliated organisations within health and education, which focuses on this mission-oriented dimensions of leadership.
NAIDOC Week Learning Circle
As part of NAIDOC Week (4-11 July), The Mercy Hub in North Carlton, in collaboration with Indigenous Hospitality House, warmly invites all to its learning circle event on 7th July.
Invitation to attend truth-telling event
The Victorian Government’s Yoo-rrook Justice Commission is the first indigenous truth telling inquiry into historical and ongoing injustices against Aboriginal Victorians since colonisation. Sherry Balcombe will speak on its significance to First Nations People, and non-indigenous Australians in an event being organised by Pax Christi and Religions for Peace.
Cultivating connection to nature for refugees and asylum seekers
Cultivating a connection to nature can have a huge impact on human health and well-being. Commencing on Wednesday 2nd June, Kevin Heinze Grow will be running free weekly gardening sessions at the Asylum Seeker Welcome Centre, 212 Sydney Road, Brunswick for all refugees and people seeking asylum. The gardening sessions will be held each week from 1pm-3.30pm.
Engaging Your Faith online sessions
Catholic Theological College and University of Divinity are hosting 8 online sessions on ‘Engaging Your Faith’, 11-31 May 2021. This is a series of short sessions offering an opportunity to explore one’s faith through a variety of topics including: Spirituality, Women in the Early Church, Church History, Reading the Church Classics, The Eucharist, and Science and Religious. Choose as many you like. Each session is $20.
Great Aussie Hike supporting Vinnies Victoria
Are you looking for a new challenge in 2021, and a way to reset and reconnect with your friends and family? The Great Aussie Hike is proudly supporting Vinnies Victoria this year and registrations are now open until 28th February. Experience the picturesque Gippsland region with a team along the East Gippsland Rail Trail from 30th April and raise money for Victorians in need. There are limited places available.
A Moment to Dream: Pope Francis’ Pathway to a Better Future
Pax Christi Australia is hosting a webinar on Sunday 18th April, 2pm-3:30pm featuring Pope Francis’ recent encyclical Fratelli Tutti. Titled ” A Moment to Dream: Pope Francis’ Pathway to a Better Future”, the gathering is an opportunity for members of parishes, and the wider community, to participate in a conversation on Fratelli Tutti’s vision of a world at peace.
Walk for Justice for Refugees, Palm Sunday 28th March
Join the Palm Sunday Walk for Justice for Refugees with individuals and groups who want to welcome people seeking refuge and to treat all those who have arrived with dignity and care. In walking, we show solidarity for the release of all refugees, the end of offshore processing, a call to ‘bring them here’ and grant permanent visas and income support, and to promote family reunion.
Ecumenical liturgy addressing the mental health challenges of today
As part of its response to the social justice statement on mental health that was issued by the Australian Catholic Bishops last year, St Dominic’s Parish in Camberwell is hosting an Ecumenical Mental Health Liturgy in Camberwell at 7.30pm on Wednesday 10th March.
Movie fundraiser for St Mary’s House of Welcome
Join St Mary’s House of Welcome for a special screening of Nomadland, a contemporary drama directed, written, edited, and produced by Chloé Zhao. The film follows Fern (Frances McDormand), a woman who loses her job during an economic collapse in 2011 and then travels America searching for work. From 6:30pm on Thursday 4th March at Palace Kino Cinema, 45 Collins Street, Melbourne.
Clemente Fitzroy program offering a fresh start
CatholicCare Victoria’s Clemente Fitzroy program offers supported tertiary education to adults from disadvantaged backgrounds. Semester 1 this year starts on 2nd March and enrolments are now open. It’s a free 2-year Liberal Arts program which includes tutoring and mental health support, with entry into mainstream university upon completion.
VCOSS Disaster Recovery Conversation
The VCOSS Disaster Recovery Conversation series provides an opportunity for leaders, staff and volunteers of community and social service organisations to network and gain access to in depth expert knowledge on topical issues relating to emergencies and disasters.
Grants of $3000 on offer
The Missionary Sisters of Service’s mission entity, Highways and Byways – A Community of Service has funding of up to $3,000 available to assist people and communities to address disadvantage and inequality particularly in rural, regional and remote areas of Australia. Grants close 23rd February 2021.
#ChangeTheHeart prayer service
Australia Day is fast approaching! Our Indigenous Communities continue to suffer many disadvantages and injustices today. Let us pray together for a nation built on truth, justice, love and hope.