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.
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.
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.